1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM jump cable

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.
5-3

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.
5-4

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.
5-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate
or heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust
correctly. If you drive in that way, then
-- very
carefully
-- make a few moderate brake stops about
every
1,000 miles (1 600 km), so your brakes will
adjust properly.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system
-- for example, when your brake linings wear
down and you have to have new ones put in
-- be sure
you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you
don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change
-- for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come to expect can change
in many
other ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Every new Chevrolet has an ACDelco Freedom@
battery.
You never have to add water to one of these.
When it’s time for a new battery, we recommend
an ACDelco Freedom battery. Get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove 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.
1
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
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