You could lose control of the vehicle, for
example:
R
when braking
R
in the event of abrupt steering manoeuvres
and/or when the vehicle's speed is not
adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar inci-
dent, contact a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Do not drive any further. Always
have work on the battery carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Further information about ABS (
Y
page 66) and
ESP
®
(
Y
page 71).
All vehicles except vehicles with a lithium-
ion battery:
G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highly flammable gas mixture is created
while the battery is charging and when jump-
starting.
Always make sure that neither you nor the bat-
tery is electrostatically charged. Electrostatic
charge is created, for example:
R
by wearing synthetic fibre clothing
R
by friction between clothing and the seat
R
when you pull or push the battery across car-
pet or other synthetic materials
R
when you rub the battery with a cloth
G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ-
ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or
sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R
Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con-
tact with vehicle parts.
R
Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R
It is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
R
When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R
It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jump leads.
R
Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running.
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do not
lean over the battery. Keep the batteries out
of the reach of children. Immediately rinse off
battery acid thoroughly with plenty of clean
water and seek medical attention at once.
All vehicles:
H
Environmental note
Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an
environmentally responsible
recycling system.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
!
Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
342
Battery (vehicle)
Breakd
own
assist
ance
