1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can 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.
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 puang
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.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some
or all
of these things can hurt you.
burn
you.
I NOTICE: I
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in
PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N) before setting the parking brake.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios.
This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
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NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
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An electric fan can start up even when me engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
A CAUTION:
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
AC 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.
6. 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 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.
I A 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 7. Remove the red plastic cap, and connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the positive (+) terminal
of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
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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.
9. 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. The other end
of the negative cable
duesn ’t go to the
dead battery.
It goes to
a heavy unpainted metal part on the engine
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
I-B
+
A. H- --~y Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a Chevrolet dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. They can provide the right
equipment and know how to tow your vehicle without
damage. (See “Roadside Assistance” in the Index.)
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn
on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed with
sling-type equipment.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
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0 That your vehicle cannot be towed from the rear with
the front wheels on the ground.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
0 Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
0 Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
0 Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
0 Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
When your vehicle is
being towed, have the ignition key
turned
to OFF. The steering wheel should be clamped in
a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed
for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
’ A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Towing
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all
the information in “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in
this section. Attach
T-hook chains into the slots in the bottom of the
floor pan, just behind the front wheels, on both sides.
These
slots are to be used when loading and securing to
car-carrier equipment.
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