1999 GMC C-SERIES dead battery

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If your vehicle has this
system, you will have a
knob to the right of the
steering column.
To apply the parking brake, pull the knob toward you.
Then shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
Push the knob in to release the parking brake. The
ignition must be in RUN and the shift lever out of
PARK (P) in order to release the parking brake.
The parking brake will automatically apply if the
ignition is turned off and in PARK (P) and will also
apply (will not release) if the vehicle's battery is dead
or disconnected.The PARK BRAKE light may flash while the parking
brake is being applied or released. This is normal for
this system.
If your vehicle needs towing or the parking brake will
not release, the towing operator will need to disconnect
the propshaft before towing your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Air Brake (If Equipped)
CAUTION:
When the yellow SYSTEM PARK and the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knobs are both pushed
in, your rig will be free to move. It could strike
someone or something. When both of these knobs
are pushed in, either hold the regular brake
pedal down or, if you have it, pull out the blue
TRACTOR PARKING knob, to keep your rig
from moving.
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Tie a red cloth to your mirror arm to alert police that
you've been stopped by the snow.

Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats
-- anything you can wrap around yourself or
tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle if any is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around again from
time to time to be sure snow doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery (or batteries) charged. You will need a
well
-charged battery (or batteries) to restart the vehicle,
and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps.
Let the heater run for a while.
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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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