2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 428

I 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 enoughwater. 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 careof 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. Fans or other movi - engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engineis running. 6. 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 connectthe negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal on the dead battery because this can cause sparks. On vehicles equipped with dual batteries, make all battery connections to the remote positive (+) and remote negative (-) terminals. 5-53