Seat Ibiza: Battery

Seat Ibiza Owners Manual

Warnings on handling the battery

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 which 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.

Checking the electrolyte level

The electrolyte level should be checked regularly in highmileage vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries. – Open the bonnet and open the battery cover at the front ⇒   in “Safety instructions
on working in the engine compartment” on page 180 ⇒   in “Warnings on handling the battery”
on page 194. – Check the colour display in the "magic eye" on the top of the battery. – If there are air bubbles in the window, tap the window gently until they disperse. The position of the battery is shown in the corresponding engine compartment diagram. The round window (“magic eye”) on the top of the battery changes colour, depending on the charge level and electrolyte level of the battery. If the colour in the window is colourless or bright yellow, the electrolyte level of the battery is too low. Have the battery checked by a qualified workshop. The colours green and black are used by the workshops for diagnostic purposes.

Charging and changing the vehicle battery

The battery is maintenance-free and is checked during the inspection service. All work on the vehicle battery requires specialist knowledge. If you often drive short distances or if the vehicle is not driven for long periods, the battery should be checked by a qualified workshop between the scheduled services. If the battery has discharged and you have problems starting the vehicle, the battery might be damaged. If this happens, we recommend you have the vehicle battery checked by an Authorised Service Centre where it will be recharged or replaced.

Charging the battery

The vehicle battery should be charged by a qualified workshop only, as batteries using special technology have been installed and they must be charged in a controlled environment.

Replacing a vehicle battery

The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and has special safety features. Genuine SEAT batteries fulfil the maintenance, performance and safety specifications of your vehicle.

WARNING

• We recommend you use only maintenance-free or cycle free leak-proof batteries which comply with the standards T 825 06 and VW 7 50 73. This standard applies as of 2001.

• Before starting any work on the batteries, you must read and observe the warnings ⇒

in “Warnings on handling the
battery” on page 194.

For the sake of the environment

Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They must be disposed of appropriately and must not be disposed of with ordinary household waste.