1993 PONTIAC GRAND-AM Owners Manual

Problems on the Road
,
Engine Overheating (CONT.)
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, and remove it.
Once the pressure cap is
off, look
inside the surge
tank opening and
look for a small cylinder at the base
of the opening. This should be
covered with coolant. If the cylinder
is uncovered, the coolant in your
system is low.
184
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the
proper mix, up to
FULL COLD, or
just above the small cylinder at the
base of the opening.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure
cap off,
start the engine and let it run
until you can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside
the coolant surge
tank may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more
of the
proper mix to
the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches F'ULL COLD,
or just above the small cylinder at the
base
of the opening.
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5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is tight.
Ifa 3iii.e Goes Hat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially
if you
maintain your tires properly.
If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a “blowout:’ here are
a few tips
about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip
the steering
wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop well
out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way
you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road
if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section
shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
185 I I..
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Problems on the Road
Changing a Flat lire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn
on your hazard
warning flashers.
186
IUII
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack and
roll over you or other people. You and they could be badly injured. Find I
a level place to change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic shift lever in P Wk). I
3. Shift a manual transaxle to 1 or R (Reverse).
4. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move, you can put chocks at the
front and fear of the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That
would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle, at the opposite end.
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The following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is in the
trunk.
1. Turn the center retainer nut on the
compact spare tire housing
counterclockwise to remove it, then
lift the tire cover. You will find the
jaclung instructions label on the
underside
of the tire cover.
I
2. Remove the wing bolt securing the
compact spare tire, spacer and wheel
wrench by turning it counterclockwise.
Then lift
off the spacer and remove
the spare tire.
3. Remove the bolt securing the jack by
turning it counterclockwise. Then
remove the jack.
187
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Problems on the Road
Changing a Flat Tire (CONT.)
4. Remove the band around the jack.
Turn the jack handle clockwise to
raise the jack head a few inches.
L.. i
5. Using the wheel wrench, remove the
plastic cap nuts (if your vehicle has
them) and loosen all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet.
On some models, a cover plate must
be removed to find the wheel nuts.
Carefully use the wedge end of the
wheel wrench
to pry it off.
6. Near each wheel, there is a notch in
the vehicle’s frame. Position the jack
under the vehicle. Raise the jack
head until it fits firmly into the notch in the vehicle’s frame nearest the flat
tire. Put the compact spare tire near
you.
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Ih Getting under a vehicle when
it is jacked up is dangerous. If
llle vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when
it
is supported only by a jack. Raising your vehicle with the
jack
improperly positioned will damage
the vehicle or may allow
the
vehicle to fall off the jack. Be sure
to
fit the jack lift head into the
proper location before raising
vehicle.
Do not jack or lift vehicle using oil
pan. Pans could crack and begin to
leak fluid.
7. Raise tne venicle ~y rotating tne
wheel wrench clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the ground
so
there is enough room for the spare
tire to
fit.
8. Remove all of the wheel nuts, and
carefully pry the wheel cover from
the wheel,
if your flat tire has onp
Then take off
the flat tire.
189 I..
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Problems on the Road
F"
'hanging a Flat Tire (CONT.)
f A Rust or dirt on the wheel, or
L on the parts to which it is
fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time, The
wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt
from the 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
later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off.
9. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or
spare wheel.
mounting surface.
10. Place the spare on the wheel
Never use oil or grease on
e b studs or nuts. If you do, the
nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious
accident.
I
1 1. Replace the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the
hub
..I 190
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12. Lower the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench counterclockwise.
Lower the jack completely. 13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a
criss-cross sequence, as shown.
Incorrect wheel nuts or
- mproperly tightened wheel
nuts can cause the wheel to
become loose and even come
off.
This could lead to an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel nuts.
If
you have to replace them, be
sure to get the right kind.
Stop somewhere as soon as
you
can and have the nuts tightened
with a torque wrench
to
100 pound-feet (140 Nom). Don't
try to put a wheel cover on your
compact spare tire.
It won't fit. Store the
wheel cover and plastic cap nuts in the
trunk until you have the flat tire repaired
or replaced.
NOTICE
IS1
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