1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 listed in this part
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
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or
all of these things can hurt you.
burn
you.
1 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.
1 NOTICE:
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.
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
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. Find
the positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
I A CAUTION:
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.
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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 ACDelco 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
1 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 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.
-
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 ..,. ... .' . ... ..
. ..
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 9. The other end of the negative (-) cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part on the engine of the vehicle with the
dead battery. 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.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t
touch each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
5-7

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. 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 from the front
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
or
rear with sling-type equipment.
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 the
I
I
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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.
Don’t have your vehicle towed with the front wheels in
contact with the ground if it has
an automatic transaxle.
If
a vehicle with an automatic transaxle must be towed
from the rear with wheel-lift equipment, the front
wheels must be supported on a dolly.
If your vehicle has a manual transaxle, don’t have it
towed on the front wheels unless you must. If a vehicle
with a manual transaxle must be towed on the front
wheels, it is recommended that the front wheels be
supported on a dolly. If you have a manual transaxle
and dollies won’t be used, turn the ignition key to
ACC
and put the transaxle in NEUTRAL (N).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or fascia
damage will occur.
Use wheel-lift or car-carrier equipment.
Additional ramping may be required for
carcarrier equipment. Use safety chains and
wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment. To help avoid damage, raise the
vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
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