Audi A4 - Page 267

Checking and topping up fluids 265
Controls Safety Driving tips General maintenance Self-help Technical data
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 equip-
ment. 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 tempera-
tures 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 elec-
trical 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.
Charging the battery
Terminals for charging the battery are fitted in the engine
compartment.
– Note the warnings ⇒ in “Important safety warnings
for handling a car battery” on page 264 and ⇒ .
– Switch off all electrical equipment. Remove the ignition
key.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ page 254.
– Open the red cap on the positive terminal ⇒ fig. 259.
– Follow the correct procedure for connecting the charger
cables to the jump-start terminals (terminal with red cap
= “positive”, terminal with hexagon = “negative”).
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 259 Engine
compartment: Termi-
nals for jump leads and
battery charger
document_0900452a81b1b9de.book Seite 265 Donnerstag, 26. Juli 2007 9:16 09