Technician Safety Information

GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES

^ 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 and 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.

^ Ignition systems can present a shock hazard, do not touch ignition system parts (spark plug wires, spark plugs etc...) with the engine running. Exercise care when performing spark test and always use non-conductive ignition wire pliers.

^ Keep all sparks, lighted matches, and open flames away from the top of the battery. If hydrogen gas escaping from the cap vents is ignited, it will ignite gas trapped in the cells and cause the battery to explode.

^ Parts of the exhaust gases (carbon monoxide) are toxic. Do not run the engine in confined areas or breathe concentrated exhaust gases. Breathing exhaust gases may cause loss of consciousness or even death.

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT (AIR BAG) SYSTEM

^ The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) can maintain sufficient voltage to cause a deployment for up to 10 minutes after the ignition switch is turned off and the battery is disconnected.

^ Be very careful when handling a sensor. Never strike or jar a sensor. If you do, it could cause deployment and result in personal injury or improper operation of the Supplemental Restraint system. Never power up the Supplemental Restraint system when any sensor is not rigidly attached to the vehicle, since the sensor is easily activated when not attached and could cause deployment.

ELECTRICAL

^ Never connect or disconnect electrical connections with the ignition switch in the "ON" position unless specifically instructed to do so in a test procedure.

^ To disable the ignition system, unplug the primary connections only. NEVER disconnect the secondary (high-tension) leads to disable the ignition system.

^ Disconnect the battery ground before replacing any electronic components.

^ Don't disconnect the battery when the engine is running.

^ When measuring voltage at the control unit harness connector, turn off ignition first, disconnect harness, then turn ignition on to measure voltage.

^ Take all electrical measurements from the back side of the harness connector. Do NOT probe the harness from the connector side. Failure to observe this precaution may result in deformed connectors.

^ Avoid getting water on any fuel or engine control system components.

FLOODED ENGINE PRECAUTIONS

^ Keep all flames, sparks and high heat sources away from flooded engines.

^ Drain oil contaminated by fuel in a safe, well ventilated area.

^ Disable the ignition system, before cranking a flooded engine, with the spark plugs removed.

^ Raw fuel coming out of the spark plug holes could be ignited.