General Safety Guidelines

DANGER!!! Engines produce carbon monoxide that is odorless, causes slower reaction time, and can lead to serious injury. When the engine is operating, keep service areas WELL VENTILATED or attach the vehicle exhaust system to the shop exhaust removal system.

Set the parking brake and block the wheels before testing or repairing the vehicle. It is especially important to block the wheels on front-wheel drive vehicles; the parking brake does not hold the drive wheels.

When servicing a vehicle, always wear eye protection, and remove any metal jewelry such as watchbands or bracelets that might make an inadvertent electrical contact.

When diagnosing a body system problem, it is important to follow approved procedures where applicable for the safety of individuals performing diagnostic tests.

Some components are intended to be serviced in assembly only. Attempting to remove or repair certain system sub-components may result in personal injury and/or improper system operation. Only those components with approved repair and installation procedures should be serviced.

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
Certain vehicles include driver's side, and front passenger side, airbags, located in the steering wheel hub and dash, as part of a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Servicing, disassembling or replacing these items will require special caution and tools and should therefore be done by a properly trained technician.

WARNING: Improper maintenance, including incorrect removal and installation of the SRS, can lead to personal injury, caused by unintentional activation of the airbag.

All SRS electrical wiring harnesses are covered with yellow outer insulation, and related components are located in the steering column, center console, dash, and front fenders. Do not use electrical test equipment on these circuits.


Block the drive wheels, as a safety routine, before beginning any service with the vehicle on the ground.

Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Use jackstands, on a flat, level, hard surface, for safe support.

Always wear appropriate eye protection.

Use caution when working near the catalytic converter to prevent the possibility of burns. The temperatures within the converter can exceed 1200°F.