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Practical Tips, Emergency Service 267
Emergency Starting with Jumper
Cables
If the battery is discharged, e.g. in winter or after
the car has been parked for a long time, the bat-
tery of another car can be used for starting with
the help of jumper cables.
Make sure the voltage of both batteries is the
same. Both batteries must be 12 volt types.
The capacity (Ampere hours, Ah) of the booster
battery must not be substantially less than that of
the discharged battery.
The discharged battery must be correctly con-
nected to the vehicle’s electrical system.
f Please see the chapter “BATTERY” on
Page 261.
f Please see the chapter “EMERGENCY UNLO-
CKING OF THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID”
on Page 260.
Note
f Do not try to start the car by pushing or tow-
ing. Damage to the catalytic converters and
other components of the car may result.
Warning!
Risk of short circuit, damage and explosion,
resulting in serious personal injury or death.
f Use only jumper cables of adequate diameter
cross-section and fitted with completely insu-
lated alligator clips.
f Follow all warnings and instructions of the
jumper cable manufacturer.
f When connecting jumper cables, make sure
that they cannot get caught in any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
The jumper cables must be long enough so
that neither vehicles nor cables touch another.
f The vehicles must not be in contact, otherwise
current might flow as soon as the positive ter-
minals are connected.
f The cable clamps must not be allowed to con-
tact each other when one end of the jumper ca-
bles are connected to a battery.
f Ensure that tools or conductive jewelery (rings,
chains, watch straps) do not come into contact
with the positive jumper cable or the positive
battery post.
f Improper hook-up of jumper cables can ruin
the alternator.
Danger of caustic burns from escaping acid.
f Do not lean over the battery.
Danger of gas explosion.
f Improper use of booster battery to start a
vehicle may cause an explosion, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
f Keep sources of ignition away from the bat-
tery, e.g. open flame, burning cigarettes or
sparking due to cable contact or welding work.
f A discharged battery can freeze even at 23 °F/
–5 °C.
Before connecting jumper cables, a frozen
battery must be thawed out.