1999 GMC C-SERIES Owners Manual

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Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) 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.
CAUTION:
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
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.
The ACDelco Freedom battery in your vehicle
has a built
-in hydrometer. Do not charge, test or
jump start the battery if the hydrometer looks
clear or light yellow. Replace the battery when
there is a clear or light yellow hydrometer and a
cranking complaint.
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.
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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.
If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the
battery that's closest to the starter
-- this will reduce
electrical resistance.
CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood 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.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. You wouldn't be able to start your
vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all
lamps that aren't needed, as well as radios. This willavoid sparks and help save both batteries, and it
could save your radio.
4. Locate the batteries on each vehicle. Find the
positive (+) and negative (
-) terminals on
each battery.
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 batteries have enough water. You
don't need to add water to the ACDelco
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.
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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 or some other well
-grounded part. Don't
connect positive (+) to negative (
-) or you'll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe
other parts, too.
CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
6. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of
the vehicle with the
dead battery.
7. Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal
of the good battery.
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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. 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, or some other well
-grounded part of
the vehicle with the dead battery.
9. 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 one to two minutes. If your vehicle
has the high idle option, use it.
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.
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A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. They can provide the right
equipment and know
-how to tow it without damage.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning
flashers (if they have not been damaged).
When you call, tell the towing service:

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. The operator may want to see them.
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CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:

Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
being towed.

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.

Always use separate safety chains on each
side when towing a vehicle.
If your vehicle uses dragfoilers, be sure to have the
dragfoiler
-to-cab mounting bracket bolts tightened after
your vehicle has been towed.
Here are specific towing instructions:
Towing Your Vehicle From the
Front (Front Wheels Off the Ground)
Before Towing
Block the rear wheels of the disabled vehicle. On
vehicles with air brakes, release the emergency brake
system by compressing the brake chamber springs as
outlined in this section. (Note: This is to prevent the
possibility of the emergency brake being applied
during towing.)
On vehicles with hydraulic brakes without an
electric/hydraulic parking brake, release the
parking brake fully by moving the lever to the
fully
-released position.
On vehicles equipped with an electric/hydraulic parking
brake option, remove the propshaft.
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Towing the Vehicle with the Front Bumper Removed
1. Remove the front bumper.
2. Connect and lock the lift chains to the front axle,
outside of the spring anchor plates as shown.
A. Spring Anchor Plate
B. Lift Chain
C. Front Axle
3. Place a 6, x 6, x 5
hardwood beam underneath and
slightly behind the front spring shackle brackets.4. Connect lift chains to the tow bar and raise the tow
bar until lift chain slack has been taken up and the
hardwood beam is fully seated against the spring
shackle brackets as shown.A. Shackle Bracket
B. Tow Bar
C. Lift Chain
D. Hardwood Beam
5. Raise the vehicle to the required height.
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Towing the Vehicle with the Front Bumper Installed
1. Connect and lock the lift chains to the front axle,
outside of the spring anchor plates as
previously shown.
2. Place a 6, x 6, x 5
hardwood beam underneath and
slightly behind the front spring shackle brackets as
previously shown.
3. Connect the lift chains to the tow bar and take up the
slack in the chains until the tow bar is within 4, of
the front bumper facing. Place a 2, x 12, x 40,
hardwood board with rubber pads against the front
bumper and secure as shown.
A. Rubber Pad
B. Hardwood Board
C. Shackle Bracket
D. Lift ChainE. Hardwood Beam
F. Bumper
G. Tow Bar
4. Remove the remaining slack in the lift chains.
The tow bar swing arm should rest against the
2, x 12, x 40, hardwood board as shown.
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