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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, especially any that 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 charged.
You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold.
But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or
so until
help comes.
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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@
battery installed in your new 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.
I
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
I
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
(+) or a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative
(-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or a remote
negative
(-) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too. And don’t connect the
negative
(-) cable to the negative (-) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
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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.
8. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery’s
negative
(-) cable.
Use a remote
negative
(-) 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.
9. 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, or to the remote negative
(-)
terminal on the vehicle with the dead battery.
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I 10. Connect the other
end of the
negative
(-) cable
to the negative
(-)
terminal of the dead
battery or to a remote
negative
(-) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
Notice: Damage to your vehicle may result from
electrical shorting if jumper cables are removed
incorrectly.
To prevent electrical shorting, take care
that the cables don’t touch each other or any
other metal. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
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A 8
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
9. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal
Negative Terminal
Negative
(-) Terminals To
disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (-) cable from the
2. Disconnect the black negative (-) cable from
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle that
had the bad battery.
vehicle with the good battery.
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) remote terminal cover to its
original position.
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