
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by
turning the band marked
WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band
to
MIST. Hold it there until the wipers
start, then let go. The wipers will stop
after one cycle. If you want
more cycles,
hold the band on
MIST longer. For
steady wiping at low speed, turn the
band away from you
to the LO position.
For high speed wiping, turn the band
further, to
HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band to
OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long
or short delay between wipes. This can
be very useful in light rain or snow.
Turn the band
to choose the delay time.
The closer to
LO, the shorter the delay.
A
Damaged wiper blades may
prevent
you from seeing well
enough
to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and
snow from
the wiper blades before
using
them. If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen
or
thaw them. If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your
wipers.
A circuit breaker will stop them
until the motor cools. Clear away snow
or ice to prevent an overload.
75 ...
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Your Driving and the Road
I
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving
trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop,
accelerate or turn as well because your
tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on
dry roads. And,
if your tires don’t have
much tread
left, you’ll get even less
traction.
It’s always wise to go slower and be
cautious
if rain starts to fall while you
are driving. The surface may get wet
suddenly when your reflexes are tuned
for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder
it is to
see. Even
if your windshield wiper
blades are
in good shape, a heavy rain
can make
it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the
edge of the road, and even people
168
walking. Road spray can often be worse
for vision than rain, especially
if it
comes from a dirty road.
So it is wise to keep your wiping
equipment
in good shape and keep your
windshield washer
tank filled. Replace
your windshield wiper inserts when they
show signs of streaking or missing areas
on the windshield, or when strips of
rubber start
to separate from the inserts. Driving too fast through large water
puddles
or even going through some car
washes can cause problems, too. The
water may affect your brakes. Try to
avoid puddles.
But if you can’t, try to
slow down before you hit them.
I
u I I(
Wet brakes can cause
l accidents. They won’t work
w in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose
control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle
of water or a car wash,
apply your brake pedal lightly
until
your brakes work normally.
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Your Driving and the Road
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and
regular highways
is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the
vehicle prepared, you drive
at higher-
than-city speeds, and there are longer
turns behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy
your trip more if
you and your vehicle
are in good shape. Here are some tips
for a successful long trip.
174
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well Here are some things you can check
rested. If you must start when you’re not
fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t
plan to make too many miles that first
part of the journey. Wear comfortable
clothing and shoes you can easily drive
in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If it needs service, have it
done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Pontiac dealerships all across
North America. They’ll be ready and
willing to help if you need it. before
a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
Have you checked all levels?
lenses clean?
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
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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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Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM
Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427)
or a liquid household glass cleaner will
remove normal tobacco smoke and dust
films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches. Avoid
placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be
scraped
off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on the
inside of the rear window,
an electric
defogger element may be damaged. Any
temporary license should not be attached across the defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using
the windshield washer, or if the wiper
blade chatters when running, wax or
other material may be on the blade or
windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with
GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@ (GM
Part No. 1050011). The
windshield is clean if beads do
not form
when
you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously
with a cloth soaked in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse
the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a
regular basis and replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your
Pontiac
The paint finish on your vehicle
provides beauty, depth of color, gloss
retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way
to preserve your vehicle’s
finish is to keep it clean by washing it
often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct
rays of the
sun. Don’t use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand,
dish or car washing (non-detergent)
soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that
contain acid
or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and
not allowed
to dry on the surface, or
they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and
water spotting.
High pressure vehicle washes may cause
water to enter your vehicle.
261 888
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Index
..I
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
.............. .246. 273
Taillight
............... .247. 273
Bulbs. Replacement
............. 273
Capacities
& Specifications ...... 270
Carbon Monoxide
in Exhaust
............ .71. 72. 181
Cassette Tape Player
(see
Audio Systems)
Center Front Lap Belt
(see
Safety Belts)
Center Passenger Position ......... 30
Chains. Tire
.............. .218. 256
Changing a Flat Tire
............. 210
Check Gages Warning Light
....... 108
Checking
Brake Fluid
.................. 243
Engine Coolant
.......... .205, 239
Engine
Oil Level .............. 231
Power Steering Fluid
.......... 242
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 236
Restraint Systems
.............. 44
Checking
Things Under the Hood ... 227
312
Check Oil Level Warning Light ... 103
Child Restraints
................. 34
Children and Safety Belts
..... .33. 42
Cigarette Lighter
................ 92
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ........ 266
City Driving
................... 171
Cleaner. Air
.............. .233, 271
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............ 262
Cassette Player
............... 141
Fabric
.................. 258. 259
Finish Care
................. 262
Glass
....................... 2.61
Head-Up Display
............. 118
Inside
of Your Pontiac ......... 258
Outside
of Your Pontiac ........ 261
Power Antenna
.............. -142
Safety Belts
................. 260
Special Problems
............. 259
Underbody Maintenance
....... 264
Vinyl or Leather
............. 260
Warnings
...... .257. 258. 260. 262
Weatherstrips
................ 262
White Sidewall Tires
.......... 262
Windshield and Wiper Blades
... 261
Chemical
Paint Spotting
......... 264 Climate Control
Electronic ................... 123
Standard
.................... 120
Clock. Setting the
.............. 127
Clusters. Instrument Panel
........ 96
Comfort Controls
Electronic Climate Control
..... 123
Standard Climate Control
...... 120
Compact Spare Tire
............. 217
Compass
...................... 113
Control of a Vehicle
............. 153
Convenience Net
................ 56
Convex Outside Mirror ........... 87
Coolant
Checking
&
Function Monitor ............. 111
“Low” Warning Light
......... 101
Proper Mixture to Use ......... 239
Safety Warnings About
.. .202. 204.
205. 206. 228. 240. 241
Temperature Gage
............ 109
Temperature Warning Light
..... 101
Cruise Control
.................. 77
Curves. Driving on
............. 160
Customer Assistance Information
. . 297
Adding
...... .205. 206. 239.
240
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