2002 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 183

Starting and driving WARNING Using a match or flame of any kind near a battery can cause battery gas to explode. You can suffer burns or be blinded. Use a flashlight if you need more light. Be sure the battery has enough water. The battery installed in your new Saab has filler caps. Be sure the right amount of water is there. Add distilled or boiled water if the level is too low. If you don't, explosive gas could be present. Be sure the electrolyte in the battery is not frozen. Discharged batteries will freeze. When connecting jumper cables to a frozen battery, gas from the chemical reaction inside the battery can build up under the ice and cause an explosion. 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 area with water and get medical help immediately. 5 Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock and also the vehicles could be damaged. Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to a major metal engine part with a good ground. Do not connect (+) to (-) or you will get a short that could injure you or would damage the battery and maybe other parts as well. 6 Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the discharged battery. 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 good battery's negative terminal. 183 9 Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the discharged battery, but not near engine parts that move. To avoid an arc which could detonate the hydrogen gas around the battery, the final connection must be at least 18" from the battery. 10 Start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while. 11 Try to start the vehicle with the discharged battery. If it does not start after a few tries, it probably needs service. 12 Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they do not touch each other or any other metal. WARNING 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 major metal part with a good ground on the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.