2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner's Manual - Page 398

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. Be sure to followthe steps below to do it safely. Notice: If the other system isn't a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don't want. You wouldn't 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 the automatic transmission in PARK (P) before setting the parking brake. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear not in NEUTRAL. Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous They contain acid that can burn you. They contain gas that can explode or They contain enough electricity to 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. 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 you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty. 3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or in the accessory power outlets. Turn off the radio and all the lamps that aren't needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio! 4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and negative (-) terminal locations of the other vehicle. 5-45