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Do-it-yourself service
precautions
If you perform maintenance by yourself,
be sure to follow the correct procedure
given in this section.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operating
problems.
This section gives instructions only for
those items that are relatively easy for an
owner to perform. As explained in Section
6, there are still a number of items that
must be done by a qualified technician
with special tools.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that
you should be especially careful to ob-
serve:
238
&
CAUTION
• When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive
belts.
(Removing
rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)
• Right
after
driving,
the
engine
compartment-the engine, radiator,
exhaust manifold, power steering
fluid
reservoir
and
spark
plug
boots, etc.-will be hot. So be care-
ful not to touch them. Oil, fluids
and spark plugs may also be hot.
• If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
• Do not leave anything that may
burn easily, such as paper or rags,
in the engine compartment.
• Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flammable.
• Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric acid.
• Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands or
other solid supports.
• Use eye protection whenever you
work on
or under your vehicle
where you may be exposed to flying
or falling material, fluid spray, etc.
• Used engine oil contains potentially
harmful contaminants which may
cause skin disorders such as in-
flammation or skin cancer, so care
should be taken to avoid prolonged
and repeated contact with it. To re-
move used engine oil from your
skin, wash thoroughly with soap
and water.
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