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.

Caution: Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because:

Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to the vehicle that would not be covered by the warranty.

To Jump Start Your Saturn:

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.

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.

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren't needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!

Notice: If you leave the radio or other accessories on during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the warranty. Always turn off the radio and other accessories when jump starting the vehicle.

4. Open the hood and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery.

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 do not, 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.
5. 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 (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Don't connect positive (+) to negative (-) or you'll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too.

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




6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the remote positive (+) terminal of your vehicle with the dead battery.

Note: The positive (+) terminal is covered by a red protector cap which must be remove before you connect the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery.

Don't let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.




7. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal of the good battery's negative (-) terminal.

Do not let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative cable doesn't go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy metal part on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.




8. Attach the cable to the engine lift hook of your vehicle, about 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.
9. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while.
10. Disarm the Saturn Security System (if equipped). Refer to Saturn Security System Operation to find out how.
11. 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 the vehicle 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.

12. Remove the cable in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they don't touch each other or any other metal.