Vehicle Battery - Skoda 2012 Citigo Owner's Manual

Vehicle battery

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Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the battery electrolyte level
Operation in winter
Charging a vehicle battery
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery
Replacing the vehicle battery
Automatic load deactivation
Warning symbols on the vehicle battery
Symbol

Always wear eye protection.
Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye protec-

tion.
Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the ve-

hicle battery.
When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture is

produced.
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Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
Improper handling of the vehicle battery can cause damage. We therefore recom-
mend that any work on the vehicle battery is carried out by a ŠKODA Service Part-
ner.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out any
work on the battery and on the electrical system. For this reason, it is essential to
comply with the warning instructions stated below and with the general applica-
ble rules of safety.
Importance
WARNING
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
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the greatest of care. Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection
when handling the vehicle battery. Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air
passages and lead to conjunctivitis and inflammation of the air passages in
the lungs. They corrode tooth enamel. After contact with the skin, the acid
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creates deep wounds which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with
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diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, skin cracks). Acids
coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant devel-
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opment of heat.
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Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the bat-
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tery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There is
the danger of suffering blindness! If any battery electrolyte comes into con-
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tact with your eyes, rinse the relevant eye immediately with clear water for
several minutes. Then consult a doctor immediately.
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
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possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. If acid was
swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.
Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
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When you charge a battery, hydrogen is released, and a highly explosive gas
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mixture is also produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling over
during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.
Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal objects,
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cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead struts, explo-
sion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or to carry
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out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating sparks when working
with cables and electrical devices. Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the engine,
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the ignition and all of the electrical components and disconnect the negative
terminal (-) on the battery. If you wish to replace a bulb it suffices to switch off
the relevant light.
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
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caustic burns! Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low –
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risk of explosion and caustic burns.
Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion! Replace a damaged
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vehicle battery immediately.
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Inspecting and replenishing
£