2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 257

Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely. 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system. 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 an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake. Notice: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty. 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 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. 3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or in the accessory power outlet. Turn off the radio and all lamps that aren't needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio! 5-40