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 eye protection. Protect your eyes, skin and clothing from acid and particles containing lead.
• Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear protective gloves and eye protection. Do not tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through the vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes immediately for several minutes with clear water. Then seek medical care immediately. Neutralize any acid splashes on the skin or clothing with a soapy solution, and rinse off with plenty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immediately.
• Fires, sparks, naked lights and smoking are prohibited. When handling cables and electrical equipment, avoid causing sparks and electrostatic charge. Never short the battery terminals. High-energy sparks can cause injury.
• A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is under charge. The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room only.
• Keep children away from acid and batteries.
• Before working on the electrical system, you must switch off the engine, the ignition and all consumers. The negative cable on the battery must be disconnected. When a light bulb is changed, you need only switch off the light.
• Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlocking the vehicle before you disconnect the battery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
• When disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system, disconnect first the negative cable and then the positive cable.
• Switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting the battery.

Reconnect first the positive cable and then the negative cable. Never reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause an electrical fire.
• Never charge a frozen battery, or one which has thawed. This could result in explosions and chemical burns. Always replace a battery that has frozen. A flat battery can freeze at temperatures around 0°C.
• Ensure that the vent hose is always connected to the battery.
• Never use a defective battery. This may be fatally explosive. Replace a damaged battery immediately.

Caution
• Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the engine is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic components.
• Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time, as the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.
• If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect the battery from frost. If it “freezes” it will be damaged.