1997 GMC SAVANA Owners Manual

@% NOTES
4-39
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b NOTES
4-40
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5 -2
5-3
5-3
5- 12
5-a
Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating (Gasoline Engine) 5-14
Cooling System 5-22 If a Tire Goes Flat
5-23 Changing a Flat Tire
5-37 If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
5-22 Engine
Fan Noise
5-1
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Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off. Push the button at the
top of
the steering column all
the
way down to make your
front and rear turn signals
flash on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn't in.
To
turn off the flashers, push the button until the first
click and release.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.
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Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can use them to
warn others. Set one up at the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables
to start your
vehicle. But please follow the steps below to
do it safely.
I
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
0 They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with two batteries
(or more) you should know before you begin that,
especially in cold weather, you may not be able to
get enough power from a single battery in another
vehicle to start your diesel engine.
5-3
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If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the
battery that is under the hood of the vehicle - this
will reduce the electrical resistance.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you
don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly
on both vehicles. Put your
automatic transmission in
PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all
lamps that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries, and could save
your radio.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery.
’ A CAUTION:
r I
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5-4
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Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight
if
you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You
don’t need to add water to the Delco Freedom@
battery (or batteries) installed in every new
GM
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
the right amount of fluid
is there. If it is low, add
water to take care of that first.
If you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin,
flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they
do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic
things
you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to an unpainted
metal engine
part or a body metal surface. Don’t
connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you will get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other
parts, too. And don’t connect the negative
(-) to
negative
(-).
CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine
is running.
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6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Or use
a remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
7.
8.
Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery's
negative
(-) terminal.
Don't let the other end touch anything until the next step.
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