2010 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 336

251_AKB; 4; 52, en-US d2ureepe, 2009-03-23T09:22:52+01:00 - Seite 334 Version: 2.11.8.1 334 Battery life. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for battery maintenance intervals. If you use your vehicle mostly for shortdistance trips, you will need to have the battery charge checked more frequently. When replacing a battery, always use a battery approved by Mercedes-Benz. If you do not intend to operate your vehicle for an extended period of time, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about steps you need to observe. Recycling of the battery is the preferred method of disposal. Many states (USA only) or provinces (Canada only) require sellers of batteries to accept the old battery for recycling. G Warning! Practical hints G Warning! Observe all safety instructions and precautions when handling automotive batteries. Risk of explosion. Fire, open flames and smoking are prohibited when handling batteries. Avoid creating sparks. Battery acid is caustic. Do not allow it to come into contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Wear suitable protective clothing, especially gloves, apron and faceguard. Wear eye protection. Rinse any acid spills immediately with clear water. Contact a physician if necessary. Keep children away. Failure to follow these instructions can result in severe injury or death. Never lean over batteries while connecting. You might get injured. Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected area with water and seek medical help if necessary. A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive. Keep flames or sparks away from battery, avoid improper connection of jumper cables, smoking etc. G Warning! Do not place metal objects on the battery as this could result in a short circuit. Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the risk of acid burns in the event of an accident. Take care that you do not become statically charged, e.g. by wearing synthetic clothing or rubbing against textiles. For this reason, you also should not pull or push the battery over carpets or other synthetic materials. Never touch the battery first. First touch the outside body of the vehicle in order to release any possible electrostatic charges. Do not rub the battery with rags or cloths. The battery could explode if touched due to electrostatic charge or due to spark formation. Follow the instructions in this Operator's Manual. A battery contains materials that can harm the environment if disposed of improperly. A large 12 V storage battery contains lead. ! The battery is a Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery, also referred to as "fleece" battery. Such batteries do not require topping-up of the electrolyte level. VRLA batteries therefore do not have cell caps and the