spare wheel Seat Arona 2018 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents
Automatic gearbox/DSG automatic gear-
bo x*
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Ge
ar-change indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Run-in and economical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Engine management and emission control sys-
tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Driv

ing tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Driver assistance systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Start-Stop System* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Cruise control system (CCS)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Speed limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Emergency brake assist system (Front As-
sis
t)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Adaptive Cruise Control ACC* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Blind spot detector (BSD) with parking assis-
tance (RCT
A)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
SEAT Drive Profile* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fatigue detection (break recommendation)* . . 231
Park Assist* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Parking aid (Park Pilot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Rear Assist “Rear View Camera”* . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Towing bracket device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Towing bracket device* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Care and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Accessories and modifications to the vehi-
cle
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Care and cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Care of the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Caring for the vehicle interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Checking and refilling levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
AdBlue ®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Working in the engine compartment . . . . . . . . 273 Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Windscreen washer reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Spare wheel (temporary spare wheel)* . . . . . . 288
Winter service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Important information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Information on fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Trailer mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Engine data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
6

The essentials
Action in the event of a punc-
t ur
e
R
elated video Fig. 73
Wheels What to do first
●
Park the vehicle on a horizontal surface
and in a s af
e p

lace as far away from traffic as
possible.
● Apply the handbrake.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights.
● Manual gearbox: select the 1s
t gear.
● Automatic gearbox: Move the sel
ector lever
to position P.
● If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from
your v
ehicle.
● Have the vehicle tool kit* ›››

page 65 and
the spare wheel ›››
 page 288 ready.
● Observe the applicable legislation for each
countr
y (reflective vest, warning triangles,
etc.). ●
All
occupants should leave the vehicle and
wait in a safe place (for instance behind the
roadside crash barrier). WARNING
● Alw a

ys observe the above steps and pro-
tect yourself and other road users.
● If you change the wheel on a slope, block
the wheel on the oppo
site side of the car with
a stone or similar to prevent the vehicle from
moving. Repairing a tyre with the anti-punc-
t
ur
e k

it Fig. 74
Standard representation: contents of
the anti-p u
nct

ure kit. The anti-puncture kit is located under the
floor p
anel
in the lug

gage compartment. Sealing the tyre
● Unscrew the tyre valve cap and insert. Use
the ›››

Fig. 74 1 tool to remove the insert.
Pl ac
e it
on a clean surface.
● Shake the tyre sealant bottle vigorously
›››
Fig. 74 10 .
● Screw the inflator tube ››
›
Fig. 74 3 into
the se al
ant
bottle. The bottle's seal will break
automatically.
● Remove the lid from the filling tube
›››
Fig. 74 3 and screw the open end of the
t ube int
o the ty
re valve.
● With the tyre sealant bottle upside down,
fill
the tyre with the contents of the sealant
bottle.
● Remove the bottle from the valve.
● Place the insert back into the tyre valve us-
ing the too
l ››› Fig. 74 1 .
Infl atin
g the ty
re
● Screw the compressor tyre inflator tube
›››
Fig. 74 8 into the tyre valve.
● Check that the air bleed screw is closed
› ›
›

Fig. 74 6 .
● Start the engine and leave it running.
● Insert the connector ››
›
Fig. 74 9 into the
v ehic
l
e's 12-volt socket ›››
 page 157.
● Turn the air compressor on with the ON/OFF
swit c

h ››› Fig. 74 5 .
64

The essentials
Raising the vehicle Fig. 83
Jack position points. Fig. 84
Fitting the jack. ●
Place the jack* (vehicle tools) on firm
gr ou
nd. If
necessary use a large, strong
board or similar support. If the surface is slip-
pery (for example tiles) place the jack on a
rubber mat or similar to prevent it from slip-
ping ››› . ●
Find the s up
por

t point on the strut (sunken
area) closest to the wheel to be changed
››› Fig. 83.
● Turn the jack* crank handle, located below
the strut s
upport point, to raise it until the
tab 1
› ››
Fig. 84
i
s below the housing provi-
ded.
● Align the jack* so that tab 1 “grips” onto
the hou s
in

g provided on the strut and the
mobile base 2 is resting on the ground. The
b a
se p

late 2 should fall vertically with re-
s pect
t
o the support point 1 .
● Continue turning the jack* until the wheel
i s
s

lightly lifted off the ground. WARNING
● Mak e s

ure that the jack* remains stable. If
the surface is slippery or soft, the jack* could
slip or sink, respectively, with the resultant
risk of injury.
● Only raise the vehicle with the jack* sup-
plied by
the manufacturer. Other vehicles
could slip, with the consequent risk of injury.
● Only mount the jack* on the support points
designed f
or this purpose on the strut, and
always align the jack correctly. If you do not,
the jack* could slip as it does not have an ad-
equate grip on the vehicle: risk of injury!
● The height of the parked vehicle can
chan
ge as a result of variations in tempera-
ture and loading. CAUTION
The vehicle must not be raised on the cross-
bar . On

ly place the jack* on the points de-
signed for this purpose on the strut. Other-
wise, the vehicle may be damaged. Removing and fitting the wheel
Change the wheel after loosening the wheel
bolts
and r

aising the vehicle with the jack.
Taking off the wheel
● Unscrew the wheel bolts using the box
sp anner and p

lace them on a clean surface.
● Take off the wheel ›››
.
P uttin
g on the s
pare wheel
When fitting tyres with a compulsory rotation
direction, observe the instructions in
››› page 69.
● Mount the wheel.
● Screw on the wheel bolts in position and
tighten them loosely
with a box spanner.
● Carefully lower the vehicle using the jack*.
● Tighten the wheel bolts in diagonal pairs
usin
g the wheel brace.
The wheel bolts should be clean and turn
easily. Before fitting the spare wheel, inspect 68

The essentials
the wheel condition and hub mounting surfa-
c e
s.
These surfaces must be clean before fit-
ting the wheel.
Wheel bolt tightening torque
The prescribed tightening torque for wheel
bolts for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
After changing a wheel, have the tightening
torque checked immediately with a torque
wrench that is working perfectly.
Before checking tightening torque, have any
rusty wheel bolts that are difficult to screw re-
placed and clean the wheel hub threads.
Never apply grease or oil to wheel bolts or to
the wheel hub threads. Even if the bolts have
been tightened to the prescribed torque, they
could come loose while driving. WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not properly tightened,
they c ou

ld come loose while driving and
cause an accident, serious injury and loss of
vehicle control.
● Use only wheel bolts which correspond to
the rim in question.
● Nev

er use different wheel bolts.
● Wheel bolts and threads should be clean,
free of oi
l and grease, and it should be possi-
ble to screw them easily.
● To loosen and tighten wheel bolts, only use
the wheel wrenc
h that came with the car from
the factory. ●
Loo sen the wheel

bolts only about one turn
before raising the vehicle with the jack.
● Never apply grease or oil to wheel bolts or
to the wheel hub thr
eads. Even if the bolts
have been tightened to the prescribed tor-
que, they could come loose while driving.
● Never loosen the screwed joints of wheel
rims with bo
lted ring trims.
● If wheel bolts are tightened below the pre-
scribed t
orque, the bolts and rims could come
loose while driving. If tightening torque is too
high, the wheel bolts or threads can be dam-
aged. CAUTION
When removing/fitting the wheel, the rim
ma y

hit and damage the brake disc. For this
reason, please take care and get a second
person to assist you. Tyres with compulsory direction of ro-
t
ation A directional tread pattern can be identified
b
y
the arr

ows on the sidewall that point in
the direction of rotation. Always observe the
direction of rotation indicated when fitting
the wheel to guarantee optimum properties
of this type of tyres with regard to grip,
noises, wear and aquaplaning.
If it is absolutely necessary to fit the spare
tyre* against the direction of rotation, drive with care as this means the tyre does not of-
fer optimum drivin

g properties. This is of par-
ticular importance when the road surface is
wet.
To return to directional tread tires, replace
the punctured tyre as soon as possible and
restore the obligatory direction of rotation of
all tyres.
Subsequent work ●
Alloy wheels: rep
l
ace the wheel bolt caps.
● Plate wheels: repl
ace the wheel hubcap.
● Return all tools to their proper storing loca-
tion.
● If the replaced wheel does not fit in the
spar
e wheel housing, store it safely in the
luggage compartment ›››
 page 158.
● Check the tyre pressure of the newly moun-
ted tyr
e as soon as possible.
● In vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure indi-
cator
, adjust the pressure and store it in
memory ›››
 page 287.
● Have the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts c
hecked as soon as possible with a tor-
que wrench (it should be 120 Nm). Mean-
while, drive carefully.
● Have the flat tyre replaced as quickly as
pos s

ible. 69

Self-help
Emergencies
Self -help
Emer g
ency equipment
Emergency warning triangle* The use of reflective warning triangles is
ob
lig

atory in emergencies in some countries.
As are the first aid kit and a set of spare light
bulbs.
The warning triangle is under the storage
compartment which is located under the lug-
gage compartment floor. Note
● The warnin g tri

angle is not part of the vehi-
cle's standard equipment.
● The warning triangle should meet legal re-
quirements. First-aid kit and fire extinguisher*
The first-aid kit can go in the storage com-
p
ar
tment

which is located under the luggage
compartment floor.
The fire extinguisher* is attached to the lug-
gage compartment carpet with Velcro. Note
● The firs t

-aid kit and the fire extinguisher
are not part of the vehicle's standard equip-
ment.
● The first aid kit must comply with legal re-
quirements.
● O

bserve the expiry date of the contents of
the first
aid kit. After it has expired you
should purchase a new one.
● The fire extinguisher must comply with le-
gal
requirements.
● Ensure that the fire extinguisher is fully
function
al. The fire extinguisher should,
therefore, be checked regularly. The sticker
on the fire extinguisher will inform you of the
next date for checking.
● Before acquiring accessories and emergen-
cy equipment see the in
structions in “Acces-
sories and spares” ››› page 259. Vehicle tools
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 65
Depending on the equipment, the tools and
anti-puncture kit* are stored under the floor
panel in the luggage compartment.
The tool kit includes:
● Adapter for anti-theft wheel bolts*
● Towline anchorage ●
Box s
panner for wheel bolts*
● Jack*
● Wire hook for pulling off the wheel cov-
ers* / wheel bo
lt cap clip.
Some of the items listed are only provided in
certain model versions, or are optional ex-
tras. WARNING
● The fact or

y-supplied jack is only designed
for changing wheels on this model. On no ac-
count attempt to use it for lifting heavier ve-
hicles or other loads. Risk of injury.
● Use the jack only on a firm, level ground.
● Never start the engine when the vehicle is
on the jack. Ri
sk of accident.
● If work is to be carried out underneath the
vehicl
e, this must be secured by suitable
means. Otherwise, there is a risk of injury. Note
The jack does not generally require any main-
ten anc

e. If required, it should be greased us-
ing universal type grease. 97
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Self-help
Contents of the tyre mobility system* Fig. 105
Standard representation: contents of
the anti-p u
nct
ure kit. The anti-puncture kit is located underneath
the floor c
o
v

ering in the luggage compart-
ment. It includes the following components
››› Fig. 105:
Valve insert remover
Sticker indicating maximum speed “max.
80 km/h” or “max. 50 mph”
Filler tube with cap
Air compressor
ON/OFF switch
Air bleed screw (it can also be integrated
in the inflator tube).
1 2
3
4
5
6 Warning provided by tyre pressure moni-
t
orin
g sy

stem (it can also be integrated in
the inflator tube).
Tube for inflating tyres
12 volt connector
Bottle of sealant
Spare tyre valve
The valve insert remover 1 has a gap at the
lo w
er end f

or the valve insert. The valve in-
sert can only be screwed or unscrewed in this
way. This also applies to its replacement part 11 .
WARNING
When inflating the wheel, the air compressor
and the inflat or t

ube may become hot.
● Protect hands and skin from hot parts.
● Do not place the hot flexible inflator tube or
hot air compr
essor on flammable material.
● Allow them to cool before storing the de-
vice.
● If

it is not possible to inflate the tyre to at
lea
st 2.0 bars (29 psi / 200 kPa), the tyre is
too badly damaged. The sealant is not in a
good condition to seal the tyre. Do not con-
tinue driving. Seek specialist assistance. CAUTION
Switch off the air compressor after a maxi-
mum of 8 oper ation

al minutes to avoid over- 7
8
9
10
11 heating! Before switching on the air compres-
sor again, l
et

it cool for several minutes. Check after 10 minutes of driving
Screw in the inflator tube
›››
Fig. 105 8 again and check the pressure on the gauge
7 .
1.3 bar (19 p s

i / 130 kPa) and lower:
● Stop the vehicle! The tyre c
annot be sealed
sufficiently with the tyre mobility set.
● You should obtain professional assistance
›››
.
1.4 b ar (20 p
s
i / 140 kPa) and higher:
● Set the tyre pressure to the correct value
again.
● Car

efully resume your journey, without ex-
ceeding 80 km/h (50 mph), u
ntil you reach
the nearest specialised workshop and re-
place the tyre. WARNING
Driving with an unsealed tyre is dangerous
and can c au

se accidents and serious injury.
● Do not continue driving if the tyre pressure
is 1.3
bar (19 psi / 130 kPa) and lower.
● Seek specialist assistance. 99
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Transport and practical equipment
Luggage compartment variable floor Fig. 168
Luggage compartment variable
floor:  r ai
sed po
sition;  lowered position. Fig. 169
Luggage compartment variable
floor: sloped po s

ition. Variable floor in the high position
●
Lift the floor using handle ››
›
Fig. 168 1 and pull it back until the front of the floor has
f
u
l
ly passed the supports 2 .
● Move the floor forward over the supports as
f ar a
s

the rear seat backrest and then lower
the floor with the handle 1 .
V ari
ab

le floor in the low position
● Lift the floor using handle 1 and pull it
b ac
k

until the supports 2 have fully passed
the fr ont
p
art of the floor.
● Now match the front part with the lower
groov
es of the supports and slide the floor
forwards as far as the rear seat backrest and
lower the floor at the same time with the han-
dle 1 .Variable floor in the tilted position
When the
v
ari

able floor is tilted you can ac-
cess the spare wheel/anti-puncture kit area.
● Lift the variable floor in the high position
usin
g handle 1 , pull it up and push it to-
w ar
d
s the backrest of the rear seats until the
floor folds along the hinge line and the mov-
able part of the floor is resting on itself.
● Rest the floor on its housings ›››
Fig. 169
(arrows). WARNING
During a sudden driving or braking manoeu-
vre, or in the ev ent

of an accident, objects
could be flung though the interior and cause
serious or fatal injuries.
● Always secure objects, even when the lug-
gage c
ompartment floor is properly lifted.
● Only objects that do not protrude more
than 2/3 the height of
the floor may be car-
ried between the rear seat and the raised lug-
gage compartment floor.
● Only objects that do not weigh than ap-
prox
imately 7.5 kg may be carried between
the rear seat and the raised luggage compart-
ment floor. CAUTION
● The max imum w

eight that can be loaded on
the luggage compartment variable floor in
the top position is 150 kg. » 161
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
The control lamp  ha
s the following func-
tions:
● It flashes whilst driving when the ASR/ESC
is activ
ated.
● It will light up if there is a fault in the ESC.
● As the ESC operates in conjunction with the
ABS, the ESC light
will also come on if a fault
should occur in the ABS.
If the ESC control lamp  lights up and stays
on after the engine is started, this may mean
that the control system has temporarily
switched off the ESC. In this case the ESC can
be reactivated by switching the ignition off
and then on again. If the control lamp goes
out, this means the system is fully functional.
The  lamp provides information about the
disconnection status of the system:
● It stays lit when the ASR is disconnected or
if y
ou select ESC Sport mode, only by means
of Easy Connect. WARNING
● Do not f or

get that the electronic stability
control ESC cannot defy the laws of physics.
Bear this in mind, particularly on slippery
and wet roads and when towing a trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the
condition of the r
oads and the traffic situa-
tion. The greater safety provided by the ESC
should not encourage you to run any risks. CAUTION
● To en s

ure that the ESC works correctly, all
four wheels must be fitted with the same
tyres. Any differences in the rolling radius of
the tyres can cause the system to reduce en-
gine power when this is not desired.
● Any modifications made to the vehicle (for
examp
le, to the engine, brake system, run-
ning gear or to the combination of wheels
and tyres) may affect the operation of the
ABS, EDL, ESC and ASR. Traction control system (ASR)
The traction control system prevents the driv-
en wheel
s
fr

om spinning when the vehicle is
accelerating.
Description and operation of the traction
control system during acceleration (ASR)
The ASR system intervenes by reducing en-
gine power and preventing the driven wheels
from slipping during acceleration.
TCS helps the car to start moving, accelerate
and climb a gradient in slippery conditions
where this may otherwise be difficult or even
impossible.
The ASR automatically switches on when the
engine is started. If necessary, it could be
switched on or off using the Easy Connect
system*. When the ASR is off, the warning lamp lights
up . The ASR shoul

d normally be left on.
Only in exceptional cases can it be discon-
nected, i.e. when you want the wheels to
slide; this done through the Easy Connect
system, by means of the  button and the
f u
nction b

utton SETTINGS> ESC system ,
for example:
● With compact temporary spare wheel.
● When using the snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on soft ter-
rain.
● When the v

ehicle is bogged-down, to free it
“by r
ocking it.”
The ASR should be switched on again as
soon as possible.
Control lamp
There are three control lamps for the traction
control system:  (for vehicles equipped
with M-ABS),  (for vehicles equipped with
ESC) and . Both control lamps light up to-
gether when the ignition is switched on and
should turn off after approximately 2 sec-
onds, which is the time taken for the function
check.
The  or  lamp has the following function:
● It flashes when the ASR is working if the ve-
hicl e i

s moving.
182

Driver assistance systems
The adaptive cruise control (ACC) is
an e xten-
sion of the normal cruise control system
(CCS) ››› .
The A C
C

function allows the driver to program
a cruise speed of between 30 and 210 km/h
(18 and 150 mph) and to select the distance
required with regard to the vehicle in front.
The ACC will adapt the vehicle's cruise speed
at all times, maintaining a safe distance with
the vehicle in front based on its speed.
When driving behind another vehicle, the
ACC function reduces speed until it is the
same as that of the vehicle ahead and main-
tains the set distance between the vehicles.
If the vehicle ahead accelerates, the adaptive
cruise control also accelerates, going no
higher than the target speed programmed.
If the vehicle is equipped with automatic
gearbox, the ACC can brake the vehicle until
it stops completely if a vehicle in front of it
stops.
The distance programmed should be in-
creased when the road surface is wet.
Driver intervention prompt
During driving, the ACC is subject to certain
limitations inherent in the system. In other
words, in certain circumstances the driver will
have to adjust speed him or herself, as well
as the distance from other vehicles. In this case, the instrument panel screen
will
warn
you to intervene by applying the brake
and a warning tone will be heard
››› page 216. WARNING
The intelligent technology in the ACC cannot
ov er

come the system's inherent limitations
or change the laws of physics. If used negli-
gently or involuntarily, it may cause serious
accidents and injuries. The system is not a re-
placement for driver awareness.
● Adapt your speed and safe distance to the
vehicl
e in front of you at all times to suit visi-
bility, weather, road and traffic conditions.
● Do not use the ACC when visibility is bad,
on steep r
oads, with several bends or in slip-
pery circumstances such as snow, ice, rain or
loose gravel, or on flooded roads.
● Never use the ACC when driving off-road or
on unpav
ed roads. The ACC has been de-
signed for use on paved roads only.
● The ACC does not react on approaching a
fixed o
bstacle, such as the tail of a traffic
jam, a damaged vehicle or a vehicle stopped
at the traffic lights.
● The ACC only reacts to people if a pedes-
trian monitorin
g system is available. In addi-
tion, the system does not react to animals or
vehicles crossing your path or approaching
head-on down the same lane.
● If the ACC does not reduce speed sufficient-
ly, brak
e the vehicle immediately by applying
the pedal. ●
If y

ou are driving using the spare wheel,
the ACC function could automatically switch
off during your journey. Switch off the system
when starting off.
● If the vehicle continues to move involuntar-
ily af
ter a driver intervention prompt, brake
the vehicle by applying the pedal.
● If the dash panel displays a driv
er interven-
tion prompt, adjust the distance yourself.
● The driver should be ready to accelerate or
brake b
y him/herself at all times. CAUTION
If you have the sensation that the radar sen-
sor is d

amaged, disconnect the ACC. This will
avoid possible damage. If this occurs have it
adjusted.
● Repairs to the radar sensor require special-
ist
knowledge and special tools. SEAT recom-
mends visiting a SEAT dealership for this pur-
pose. Note
● If the A C

C system does not work as descri-
bed in this chapter, do not use it until it has
been checked by a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a SEAT dealership
for this purpose.
● Maximum speed with the ACC activated is
limited to 210 km/h (150 mph). » 215
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
seek medical care immediately. Neutralise
any
ac
id splashes on the skin or clothing
with a soapy solution, and rinse off with plen-
ty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake,
consult a doctor immediately.
● Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibit
ed. When handling cables and electri-
cal equipment, avoid causing sparks and
electrostatic charge. Never short the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause in-
jury.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
lea
sed when the battery is under charge. The
batteries should be charged in a well-ventila-
ted room only.
● Keep children away from acid and batteries.
● Before working on the electrical system,
you mus
t switch off the engine, the ignition
and all electrical devices. 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 unlock-
ing the v
ehicle before you disconnect the bat-
tery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
● When disconnecting the battery from the
vehicl
e on-board network, disconnect first
the negative cable and then the positive ca-
ble.
● Switch off all electrical devices before re-
connecting the b
attery. Reconnect first the
positive cable and then the negative cable.
Never reverse the polarity of the connections.
This could cause an electrical fire. ●
Never c h

arge a frozen battery, or one which
has thawed. This could result in explosions
and chemical burns. Always replace a battery
which has frozen. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0°C (+32°F).
● Ensure that the vent hose is always connec-
ted to the b
attery.
● Never use a defective battery. This could
cause an e
xplosion. Replace a damaged bat-
tery immediately. CAUTION
● Nev er di s

connect 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 lon
g period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold condi-
tions f
or a long period, protect the battery
from “freezing”. If it freezes it will be dam-
aged. Warning lamp

It lights up
Alternator fault. The control lamp
 lights up when the igni-
tion i s

switched on. It should go out when the
engine has started running.
If the control lamp  lights up while driving,
the alternator is no longer charging the bat-
tery. You should immediately drive to the
nearest specialised workshop.
You should avoid using electrical equipment
that is not absolutely necessary because this
will drain the battery.
Checking the battery electrolyte level The electrolyte level should be checked regu-
l
arly
in high-mi

leage vehicles, in hot coun-
tries and in older batteries.
– Open the bonnet and open the battery cov-
er at the front

››› in Safety notes for work
in the en gine c
omp
artment on page 273
››› in Symbols and warnings on handling
the b att
er

y on page 281. For vehicles with
the battery under the spare wheel, open
the rear lid and lift the floor covering. The
battery is located next to the spare wheel.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye"
on the top of the b

attery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap
the window g

ently until they disperse.
282