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5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■
Avoiding a discharged battery
●
Turn off the headlights and the audio system while the engine is turned
off.
●
Turn off any unnecessary electrical components when the vehicle is run-
ning at a low speed for an extended period, such as in heavy traffic, etc.
■
Charging the battery
The electricity stored in the battery will discharge gradually even when the
vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of cer-
tain electrical appliances. If the vehicle is left for a long time, the battery may
discharge, and the engine may be unable to start. (The battery recharges
automatically during driving.)
CAUTION
■
Avoiding battery fires or explosions
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidentally igniting the flam-
mable gas that may be emitted from the battery.
●
Make sure the jumper cable is connected to the correct terminal and that it
is not unintentionally in contact with any part other than the intended termi-
nal.
●
Do not allow the jumper cables to come into contact with the “+” and “-” ter-
minals.
●
Do not smoke, use matches, cigarette lighters or allow open flame near
the battery.