Powertrain Management: Service Precautions

Important Safety Notice
Appropriate service methods and procedures are essential for the safe, reliable operation of all motor vehicles as well as the personal safety of the individual doing the work. This information provides general directions for performing service with tested, effective techniques. Following them will help assure reliability.

There are numerous variations in procedures, techniques, tools, and parts for servicing vehicles, as well as in the skill of the individual doing the work. This information cannot possibly anticipate all such variations and provide advice or cautions as to each. Accordingly, anyone who departs from the instructions provided must first establish that he compromises neither his personal safety nor the vehicle integrity by his choice of methods, tools or parts.

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
As you read through the procedures, you will come across NOTES, CAUTIONS and WARNINGS. Each one is there for a specific purpose. NOTES give you added information that will help you to complete a particular procedure. CAUTIONS are given to prevent you from making an error that could damage the vehicle. WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful in those areas where carelessness can cause you personal injury. The following list contains some general WARNINGS that you should follow when you work on a vehicle.
^ Always wear safety glasses for eye protection.
^ Use safety stands whenever a procedure requires you to be under the vehicle.
^ Make sure that the ignition switch is always in the OFF position, unless otherwise required by the procedure.
^ Set the parking brake when working on the vehicle. If you have an automatic transmission, set it in PARK unless instructed otherwise for a specific operation. If you have a manual transmission, it should be in REVERSE (engine OFF) or NEUTRAL (engine ON) unless instructed otherwise for a specific operation. Place wood blocks (4" x 4" or larger) against the front and rear surfaces of the tires to help prevent the vehicle from moving.
^ Operate the engine only in a well-ventilated area to avoid the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.
^ Keep yourself and your clothing away from moving parts when the engine is running, especially the drive belts.
^ To prevent serious burns, avoid contact with hot metal parts such as the radiator, exhaust manifold, tail pipe, three-way catalytic converter and muffler.
^ Do not smoke while working on a vehicle.
^ To avoid injury, always remove rings, watches, loose hanging jewelry, and loose clothing before beginning to work on a vehicle.
^ When it is necessary to work under the hood, keep hands and other objects clear of the radiator fan blades!