dead battery SATURN ASTRA 2008 Owners Manual

{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 cannot 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 the exhaust
pipe. And check around again
from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on
the side of the vehicle that is
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 the
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.
If Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out on page 8-30.
{CAUTION
If you let your vehicle’s tires
spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an
engine compartment re or
other damage. Spin the wheels
as little as possible and avoid
going above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, seeTire
Chains on page 9-59.
Driving and Operating 8-29
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5. Check that the jumper cables do
not 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 things you to
know. Positive (+) will go
to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one. Negative (−) will go
to the engine lift hook.
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get
a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts
too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the
dead battery because this can
cause sparks.6. Connect the red positive (+)
cable to the positive (+) terminal
of the dead battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
7. Do not 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
negative (−) terminal of the
good battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
Do not let the other end touch
anything until the next step.
The other end of the negative (−)
cabledoes notgo to the dead
battery.9. Connect the other end of the
negative (−) cable at least
18 inches (45 cm) away from
the dead battery, but not
near engine parts that move.
Connect it to the engine lift hook.
You may need to scrape the
surface with your jumper cable
to obtain a proper ground.
The electrical connection is just
as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
9-70 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

10. Now start the vehicle with the
good battery and run the
engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had
the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are
connected or removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
Always connect and remove the
jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the cables
do not touch each other or
other metal.A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine
Part or Remote Negative (–)
Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote
Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (–) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote
Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables
from both vehicles, do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−)
cable from the vehicle that had
the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−)
cable from the vehicle with the
good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+)
cable from the vehicle with the
good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+)
cable from the other vehicle.
5. Return the caps over the
positive (+) and negative (–)
terminals to their original
positions. Jumper Cable Removal
Vehicle Service and Care 9-71
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