Jump Starting - Mercedes-Benz 1989 560 SL Owner's Manual

Jump Starting
If the battery is discharged, the en-
gine can be started with jumper
cables and the (12 V) battery of
another vehicle.
Proceed as follows:
1. Position the vehicle with the
charged battery so that the jum-
per cables will reach, but never
let the vehicles touch. Make
sure the jumper cables do not
have loose or missing insulation.
2. On both vehicles:
• Turn off engine and all lights
and accessories, except ha-
zard flashers or work lights.
• Apply parking brake and
shift selector lever to posi-
tion "P".
• Be sure the battery vent
caps are tight. Place a damp
cloth over the vent caps,
making certain it is clear of
all moving parts.
3. First clamp one end of the first
jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal on the charged battery
and the other end to the positive
(+)
terminal on the discharged
battery. Make sure the cable
clamps do not touch any other
metal parts.
86
4. Clamp one end of the second
jumper cable to the grounded
negative (-) terminal of the dis-
charged battery and the final
connection to a grounded heavy
metal bracket in the engine
compartment or on the engine
of the vehicle with the charged
battery. Make sure the cables
are not on or near pulleys, fans,
or other parts that will move
when the engine is started.
5. Start engine of the vehicle with
the charged battery and run at
high idle. Then start engine of
the disabled vehicle in the usual
manner.
6. After the engine has started,
remove jumper cables by re-
versing the above installation
sequence exactly, starting with
the jumper cable connected to a
heavy metal bracket in the en-
gine compartment of the vehicle
with the charged battery. When
removing each clamp, make
sure that they do not touch any
other metal while the other ends
are still attached.
Important!
A discharged battery can freeze at
approx. -10°C (+14
OF).
In that
case it must be thawed out before
jumper cables are used.
Jumper cable specifications:
• Minimum cable cross-section of
25 mm
2
or approx. 2 AWG
• Maximum length of 3500 mm
(11.5ft).
Warning!
Never lean over batteries while
jump starting, you might get
burned.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric
acid. Do not allow this fluid to
come in contact with eyes,
skin, or clothing. In case it
does, immediately flush affect-
ed area with water, and seek
medical help.
A battery will also produce
hydrogen gas, which is flam-
mable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from
battery, avoid improper con-
nection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc..