Important safety warnings for handling a car battery
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.
The vehicle battery is located under the floor panel in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and chemical burns as
well as the risk of accident or fire when working on the battery and
the electrical system.
• Wear safety glasses. Do not allow acid or lead particles to come
into contact with eyes, skin or clothing.
• Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear protective gloves and
safety glasses. Do not tilt the battery - acid can leak out of the
vapour vent. If electrolyte should splash into the eyes rinse at once
for several minutes using clear water. Then seek medical care
immediately. Neutralize any acid splashes on the skin or clothing
with soap solution, and rinse off with plenty of water. If acid is
swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immediately.
• Keep open flames, sparks, uncovered lights and lit cigarettes
away from battery. Avoid sparks (including those from static
charges) when handling cables and electrical equipment. Never
cross the battery poles. The resulting high-energy sparks can
cause injury.
• A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off when the
battery is under charge. Only charge battery in a well ventilated
area.
• Keep children away from the battery and battery acid.
• Switch off all electrical equipment before starting any work on
the vehicle electrical system. Remove the ignition key. The minus
cable of the battery must be disconnected. When changing a light
bulb, it is sufficient to only turn off the light.
• Before disconnecting the battery, turn off the anti-theft
system! Otherwise, the alarm will sound.
• When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle's electrical
system, first disconnect the minus cable and then the plus cable.
• Before reconnecting the battery, turn off all electrical equipment.
First connect the plus cable, then the minus cable. The
battery cables must not be connected to the wrong battery poles
- serious risk of cable fire.
• Never charge a frozen or thawed out battery - risk of explosion
and chemical burns! A battery must be replaced once it has been
frozen. When it is discharged the battery can freeze at temperatures
around 0°C.
• Make sure that the vapour hose is always attached to the
battery.
• Never use a damaged battery - risk of explosion! Replace a
damaged battery immediately.
Caution
• Never disconnect the car's battery with the engine running or
with the ignition turned on, otherwise the electrical system or electrical
components will be damaged.
• Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of
time, as the intense ultraviolet radiation can affect the battery
housing.
• If the car is left standing for long periods, protect the battery
from extreme cold temperature so that it does not “freeze up” and
become damaged.