1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC jump cable

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start
your Pontiac. But please follow the steps below to
do it safely.
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Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
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 Pontiac by
pushing or pulling won’t work, and it could
damage your vehicle.
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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.
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 Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage
the electrical systems.
Put an automatic transaxle in
PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N).
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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 battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
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 negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative
(-), or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep
your hands away from moving parts
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Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery.
This will help keep your battery from running down.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt
if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in
the Index.
Bulb Replacement
In this section you’ll find directions for changing the
bulbs in some of the lamps on your Grand Prix. See
“Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index to find the type of
bulb
you should use. For any bulb replacement
procedures not explained here, see your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
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Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop
or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
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