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Jump Start Procedures

16K views 19 replies 14 participants last post by  JohnWR 
#1 ·
Again only posting because it came up in conversation. From the Solstice owner's manual.


Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps 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 do not 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 would not be covered by your warranty. Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it will not 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 vehicle's system is not a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.

2) Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you do not want. You would not be able to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
Notice: If you leave your radio or other accessories on during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.

3) Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn off the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save the radio!
4) Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminal locations on that vehicle. You will not need to access your battery for jump starting. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) and a remote negative (-) jump starting terminal.


The remote positive (+) terminal is located under a red plastic cover on the engine compartment fuse block. Open the cover to access the terminal.
The remote negative (-) ground bracket is located in the rear of the engine compartment, on the passenger's side of the vehicle, and is marked GND (-).

5) See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on the location of the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on your vehicle.
Caution: 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.

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 do not need to add water to the 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. Do not 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.

Caution: Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engine is running.

6) 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 basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. Negative (-) will go to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote negative (-) terminal if the vehicle has one. 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.
7) Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal location on the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
8) 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.
9) 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 (-) cable does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote negative (-) terminal on the vehicle with the dead battery.
10) Connect the other end of the negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal location on the vehicle with the dead battery. Your vehicle has a remote negative (-) ground bracket for this purpose.
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 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.




To 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 positive (+) terminal cover to its original position.


There is an illustration that goes with the instructions in the book. And it will make a lot more sense with a car in front of you.
 
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#3 ·
There is also an alternate method I forgot to post:


1-800-ROADSIDE No charge jump starts for 36 months or 36,000 miles (which ever comes first) :)
 
#4 ·
Small Dealer said:
There is also an alternate method I forgot to post:


1-800-ROADSIDE No charge jump starts for 36 months or 36,000 miles (which ever comes first) :)
Well, isn't that just nice of them?
 
#11 ·
Small Dealer said:
There is also an alternate method I forgot to post:


1-800-ROADSIDE No charge jump starts for 36 months or 36,000 miles (which ever comes first) :)

Gosh...after seeing the battery placement...I am praying to the gods that I will not ever need to jump it or replace it. I can just imagine the first time your local ******* back street mechanic who is "next' on the roadside lists comes to assist you and sees that battery. :willy:
YUP...not gonna be pretty! Another good reason for a stick....coast down hill! hahaha
 
#12 ·
Small Dealer...

Just wanted to thank you for all these updates on the important, yet less talked about items. We are all like kids waiting for Christmas gifts..we arent appreciating the decorations and wrapping ..we just want to get to the gift inside. Thanks for all the time and effort you have put into these lil tidbits of everyday life that will undoubtedly come rushing back to us once reality sets in and our "babies" grow up to be (occassionally) troublesome.
 
#13 ·
deepdawg said:
Just wanted to thank you for all these updates on the important, yet less talked about items. We are all like kids waiting for Christmas gifts..we arent appreciating the decorations and wrapping ..we just want to get to the gift inside. Thanks for all the time and effort you have put into these lil tidbits of everyday life that will undoubtedly come rushing back to us once reality sets in and our "babies" grow up to be (occassionally) troublesome.
Don't thank me for just using sources available to dealers, it is the people such as you who are out stalking the cars and getting the pictures that are doing more for the site. :thumbs:
 
#17 ·
just adding a photo to support the information in post #1...

Font Parallel Rectangle Pattern Line art


( why ? ...'cause my convertible will not start. I have not used it in a while... first time in 16 years I have had this happen... )
 
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#19 ·
yeah but... I am not sure that I want a generic tech to install a battery on my Solstice.

I had the dealer do it for me the first time. I was not happy with the results as the fender did not line up correctly.
I have been doing it with my son's help ever since on my three cars. I think I got 4 under my belt.
 
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