1993 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Service & Appearance Care
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Replacement blades come in different
types and are removed
in different ways.
Here’s how to remove the type with a
release clip:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away
2. Lift the release clip with a
from
the windshield.
screwdriver and pull the blade
assembly off the wiper arm.
the wiper arm.
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on
Loading bur Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight it may properly carry. The
Tire-Loading Information label found on
the rear edge of the driver’s door tells
you the proper size, speed rating and
recommended inflation pressures for the
tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that can be in your vehicle and
the total weight that you can carry. This
weight is called the Vehicle Capacity
Weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-
installed options.
The other label is the Certification
label,
also on the rear edge of the
driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel
and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, or
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load,
you
should spread it out. Don’t carry more
than
176 lbs. (80 kg) in your trunk.
On vehicles equipped with electronic
level control, the rear of the vehicle
is
automatically kept level as you load or
unload your vehicle.
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I bAUIIUN
- b heavier than the GVWR or the
maximum front and rear
GAWRs.
If you do, parts on your vehicle
can
break, or it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could
cause
you to lose control. Also,
overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle. or
components that fail because of
overloading.
I
If you put things inside your vehicle-
like suitcases, tools, packages,
or
anything else-they will go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to
stop or turn
quickly, or if there is a crash, they’ll
keep going.
- b vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden
stop or turn, or
in
a crash.
* Put things in the trunk of your
vehicle.
In a trunk, put them as
far forward
as you can. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
* Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside
the vehicle so
that some of them are above the
tops of the seats.
0 When you carry something
inside the vehicle, secure it
whenever you can.
Don’t leave a seat folded down
unless you
need to.
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Service & Appearance Care
Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. These tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and
their warranties
are delivered with every new Pontiac. If your spare tire is a
different brand than your road tires, you will have a tire warranty folder from each
of these manufacturers.
I CAUTION ~~~~ ~~
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous.
I friction. You could have an &-out and a serious accident.. See the I&
A Overloading your tires can cause werhe;atiqg as a result of too much
under Lading .bur F.’ehick.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as werlioaded tires. The resulfing
accident could cause serious injury. Check all tires fr\equently to maintain
the recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked when the tires
are cold.
sudden impact, such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your tread is badly worn, or if your
tires have been damaged, replace them.
* Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut, punctured, or broken by
lnflation-Tire Pressure
The Tire Loading Information label
which is
on the rear edge of the driver’s
door shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires, when they’re
cold. “Cold” means your vehicle has
been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than a mile.
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Don't let anyone tell you that , 1 ,~ ,%$:
underinflation or overinflation
all right. It's not.
If your tires don't ;1
When to Check:
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at
60 psi (420 kpa).
How to Check:
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at
the tires will not tell you the pressure,
especially if
you have radial tires-
which may look properly inflated even if
they're underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire lnspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have
them inspected and rotated at the
mileages recommended in your Mainte-
nance Schedule. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
Use this rotation pattern.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust
the front and rear inflation pressure as
shown on the Tire-Loading Information
label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See the
Index
under Wheel Nut Torque.
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Service & Appearance Care
Tire Inspection and Rotation
(CONT)
r st or dirt on a wheel, or on
tne parts to which it is
stened, can
make the wheel nuts
“dome loose
after a time. The
wheel could come
off and cause an
.. - cident . When you change a
wheel, remove any
rust or dirt
from places where
the wheel
attaches to the vehicle.
In an
emergency, you can use
a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush ’ -kr, if you need to, to get all the
,,Adder
changing a Flat Ere.
st or dirt off. See the Index
I
... 252
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s time for new
tires is
to check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear when your
tires have only
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if
You can see the indicators at three
You can see cord or fabric showing
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
places around the
tire.
through the tire’s rubber.
or snagged deep enough
to show cord
or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because
of the size or location of the
damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires
you need, look at the Tire-Loading
Information label. The tires installed
on
your vehicle when it was new had a Tire
Performance Criteria Specification
(TPC Spec) number
on each tire’s
sidewall. When you get new tires, get
ones with that same TPC Spec number.
That way, your vehicle will continue to
have tires that are designed to give
proper endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other things
during normal service
on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed
by a
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those
not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range,
speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original
tires.
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I CAUTION
A
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you
mix tires of different sizes
or types (radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have a
crash. Be sure to use the same size
and type tires on all wheels. It’s all
right to drive with your compact
spare, though. It was developed for
limited use on your vehicle.
rn Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature
performance. (This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate
of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would
wear one and a half
(1%) times as well
on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences
in road
characteristics and climate.
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Service & Appearance Care
Traction-A, 5, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are: A,
B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces
of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on braking (straight-
ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
254
Temperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest),
B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade
C corresponds to a
level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than
the minimum
required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately
or in
combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded
on the
sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have
been approved for use
on General
Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal
safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
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Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
iligned and balanced carefully at the
'actory to give you the longest tire life
md best overall performance.
:n most cases, you will not need to have
jour wheels aligned again. However, if
jou notice unusual tire wear or your
iehicle pulling one way or the other, the
dignment may need to be reset. If you
lotice your vehicle vibrating when
hiving on a smooth road, your wheels
nay need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked
or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep
coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If
the wheel leaks air out, replace it
(except some aluminum wheels, which
can sometimes be repaired). See your
Pontiac dealer if any of these conditions
exist.
Your dealer will know what kind of
wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces. If you need to replace any
of your wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them
only with
new GM original equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure
you
have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts for your Pontiac model.
A
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling
of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air
and make you lose control. You
could have a collision in which you
or others could be injured. Always
use the correct wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for replacement.
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