Your Driving and the Road
4nti-Lock Brakes (CONT.)
rhis light on the instrument panel will
;o on when you start your vehicle. See
he
Index under Anti-Lock Bruke System
iVarning Light.
-Iere's how anti-lock works. Let's say
he road is wet. You're driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
Y'ou slam on the brakes. Here's what
lappens with
ABS.
4 computer senses that wheels are
;lowing down. The computer separately
works the brakes at each front wheel
md at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
)rake pressure faster than any driver
:ould.
The computer is programmed to
nake the most
of available tire and road
:onditions.
>f you.
'ou can steer around the obstacle while
raking hard.
As you brake, your
omputer keeps receiving updates on
{heel speed and controls braking
ressure accordingly.
1
A *,nti-lock doesn't change the
- --me you need to get your foot
up
to the brake pedal. If you get
too close to the vehicle
in front of
you, you won't have time to apply
your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly
slows
or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to
stop, even though
you have anti-lock brakes.
mmm 156
ProCarManuals.com
Here you’ll find out what to do
about
some problems that can occur
on the road .
Part 5
Problems on the Road
........................................... Hazard Warning Flashers 192
Jumpstarting
.................................................... 193
Towing Your Pontiac
197
Engine Overheating 202
If a Tire Goes Flat 208
Changing a Flat Tire 210
Compactspare
................................................... 217
..............................................
...............................................
................................................
...............................................
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .......................... 218
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Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables
to start your Pontiac. But
please follow the steps here to do
it
safely.
Batteries can hurt you. They
- L be dangernus because:
* ' :y contain acid that an burn
0 They contain gas that can
They contain enough electricity
If you don't follow these steps
pyactly, some or all of these things
YQU.
explode or ignite.
to burn you.
Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that
To Jump Start Your Pontiac:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with a negative
charge system.
I I
If the
other system isn't a 12-volt
system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged.
193
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Problems on the Road
Jump Starting (CONT:)
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren't touching each
other. If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don't want.
* You wouldn't be able to start your
Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
L You could be injured if the
~ Jehicles roll. Set the parking
brake
firmly on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle in P (Park)
or a manual transaxle in N (Neut] . -.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren't
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
I I I
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries.
If you leave your radio on, it could
be badly damaged. The repairs
wouldn't be covered by your
warranty.
CAUTlON
An electric fan can start up I I
I even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
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Problems on the Road
Jump Starting (CONI)
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.
Connect it to
the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-)
cable to the good battery’s negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything
until the next step. The other end
of the
negative cable doesn’t go to the dead
battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part
on the engine of the vehicle
with the dead battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but
the chance of sparks
getting back to the battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and
run the engine for a
while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
dead battery.
If it won’t start after a
few tries, it probably needs service.
m.. 196
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Replacing Brake System Pants
The braking system on a modem vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to be of
top quality and work well together if the
vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-
quality GM brake parts in them, as your
Pontiac does when it is new. When you replace parts of your braking system-
for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you have to have new
ones put in-be sure you get new
genuine GM replacement parts. If you
don’t, your brakes may no longer work
properly. For example, if someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front
and rear brakes can change, for the
worse. The braking performance you’ve
come to expect can change
in many
other ways
if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Pontiac has a Delco
Freedom@ battery.
You never have to
add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend a
Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that
has the catalog number shown on the
original battery’s label.
Jump Starting
For jump starting instructions, see the
Index under Jump Starting.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle
for 25 days or more, take off the black
negative
(-) cable from the battery.
This will help keep your battery from
running down.
1
Batteries have acid that can
burn you and gas that can
explode.
You can be badly hurt if
you aren’t careful. See the Index
under Jump Starting for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how
to
prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
245 ...
ProCarManuals.com
Pontiac Roadside
Assistance Program
Security While Bu Travel
1-800-ROADSIDE - 1-800-762-3743
As the proud owner of a new Pontiac
vehicle, you are automatically enrolled
in the Pontiac Roadside Assistance
Program?’ This value-added service is
intended to provide you with peace of
mind as you drive in the city or travel
the open road.
Pontiac’s Roadside Assistance toll-free
number is staffed by a team of technically
trained advisors, who are available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We
take anxiety out of uncertain
situations by providing minor repair information over
the phone or making
arrangements to tow your vehicle to the
nearest Pontiac dealer.
We will provide the following services
for 3 years/36,000 miles, at
no expense
to you:
Vehicle out of fuel
Keys locked in vehicle
Tow to nearest dealer for warranty
Change a flat tire
Jump starts
We have quick, easy access to telephone
numbers of the following services
depending on your needs:
Hotels
Glass replacement
Rental vehicles or taxis
Police, fire department or hospitals In many
instances, mechanical failures
are covered under Pontiac’s
comprehensive warranty. However, when other services are utilized, our
advisors will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
Pontiac reserves the right to limit
services or reimbursement to
an owner
or driver when in Pontiac’s judgement
the claims become obsessive in
frequency or type of occurrence.
*In Canada, call 1-8OO-268-68OO for details
on Roadside Assistance.
303
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Index
ABS Warning Light ............ 106
Accessory Outlet
................ 93
Adding Brake Fluid
.................. 243
Electrical Equipment
.. .93, 126. 265
Engine Coolant
............... 238
Engine Oil
.................. 231
Power Steering Fluid
.......... 242
l Sound Equipment ............. 126
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 238
Windshield Washer Fluid
....... 243
Adjustable Support Seat
........... 11
AirBag
....................... 22
Air Cleaner Filter
.......... .233. 271
Air Conditioner
........... .120. 123
Air Conditioner Refrigerant
....... 270
Air Inflator System
............. 209
Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence
of .......................... 151
Alcohol in Gasoline
............. 223
Aluminum Wheels Cleaning
.................... 262
Removing
................... 212
Fixed
....................... 142
Power
...................... 142
Antenna Antifreeze
. .205.206.239.240.270.
272
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
.... 155
Warning Light ................ 106
Appearance Care
............... 257
Armrest. Storage
................ 90
Ashtrays
& Lighter ........... .91. 92
Audio Systems
................. 126
AM/FM Stereo Radio
.......... 128
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Cassette Player
............. 129
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette
Player and Graphic Equalizer
. . 131
AM/FM Stereo with Compact
Disc Player
................ 134
Care
of Audio Systems ......... 141
CD Player Anti-Theft Feature
.... 137
Gain Control
................. 140
Hearing Damage Warning
...... 126
Radio Reception. For the Best
................ 140
Setting the Clock
............. 127
Steering Wheel Controls
........ 139
Adding Fluid
................ 238
Checking Fluid
............... 236
Shifting
...................... 61
Automatic Transaxle Battery
...................... 245
Jump Starting
................ 193
Battery Warning Light
........... 104
Blizzard
...................... 181
Block Heater. Engine
............. 60
“Blowout.” Tire ................ 208
Boost Gage
.................... 111
Brakes Adjustment
.................. 159
Anti-Lock
................... 155
Drums
...................... 159
Fluid
.................. .243. 272
Master Cylinder
.............. 243
Parking
...................... 67
Pedal Travel
................. 159
Replacement
................. 245
Warning Light
................ 105
Wear Indicators-Front Brakes
... 158
Standard Brakes
.............. 105
Anti-Lock Brake System ........ 106
Braking
....................... 154
Braking
in Emergencies .......... 159
Braking Technique
.............. 154
“Break-In,
” New Vehicle .......... 57
Buckling Up (see
Safety Belts)
Brake System Warning Light
311
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