Here you’ll find what to do about
some problems that can occur on
the road.
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers .......................................... .170
Jumpstarting
.................................................... 17 1
TowingYourPontiac .............................................. 175
Engine Overheating
.............................................. .179
If a Tire Goes Flat ............................................... -185
Changing a Flat Tire
............................................. .186
CompactSpare
................................................... 192
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ........ ............ .193
169 ...
ProCarManuals.com
Jump Statting
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
. They contain acid that can burn
They contain gas that can
They contain enough electricity
If you don’t follow these steps
exactly, some
or all of these things
can hurt you.
- can be dangerous because:
you
*
explode or ignite.
to bum
you.
Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage
to your vehicle that
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to
start your Pontiac by
pushing or pulling it could damage
your vehicle, even if
you have a
manual transaxle. And if you have
an automatic transaxle, it won’t
start that way.
To Jump Start Your Pontiac:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with
a negative
ground system.
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt
system
with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged.
I
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Jump Starting (CONTJ
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.
I; vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake
firmly on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle in
P (Park)
or a manual transaxle in
N (Neutral). I I
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!
. 8. r ~
I If you leave your radio on, it could
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up
e 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.
I74
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.
1 0. 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.
ProCarManuals.com
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.
I
A
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.
Yalogen Bulbs
A Halogen bulbs have
burst if you drop or scratch the
bulb.
You or others could be
injured. Take special care when
handling and disposing of halogen
bulbs.
L pressurized gas inside and can
227
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Pontiuc Roadside
Assistance Program
SectMy WI& Mu Travel
1-800-ROADSIDE - 1-800-762-3743
As the proud owner of a new Pontiac
vehicle,
you are automaticdly enrolled
in the Pontiac Roadside Assistance
Program? This value-added senrice is intended
to provide you with peace of
mind as yau drive in the city or travel
the open road.
Pontiae’s Roadside Assistance toll-free
number is staffed
by a team of
technically
trained advisors, who are
wailable
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,OOO miles, at no expense
to you:
Vehicle out of fuel
0 Keys locked in vehicle
Tow to nearest dealer €or warranty
Change a flat fire
Jump starts
We have quick, easy access to telephone
numbers of the following services
depending
on your needs:
Hotels
Glass replacement
Rentd 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.
Pantiac 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 I-HW-268-6800 for details
on Roadside Assistance.
ProCarManuals.com
Adding Brake Fluid
............ .225. 253
Electrical Equipment
... .55. 107 248
Engine Coolant
...... .%22. 251. 253
Engine Oil
......... .209. 251. 253
Power Steering Fluid
. .224. 252. 253
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
.... .220. 253
Transaxle Fluid Automatic
........ .218. 251. 253
Manual
.......... .220. 251. 253
Windshield Washer Fluid
.. .224. 253
Air Cleaner
.............. .214. 257
Air Conditioner
................ 103
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence of
.................. 127
Alcohol in Gasoline
............. 201
Aluminum Wheels
Cleaning
.................... 244
Removing
................... 188
Antenna
....................... 119
Fixed Mast
................... 119
Antifreeze
............ .221. 251. 253
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
.... 131
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 97
Appearance Care
............... 239 Ashtray and Lighter
.............. 85
Audio Systems ................. 107
AM/FM Stereo Radio
.......... 108
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Cassette Player
............. 109
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player
......... 113
Care
of Audio Systems ......... 118
Delco LOC
II@ ............... 116
Radio Reception. For the Best
.... 117
Setting the Clock
.............. 107
Automatic Door Locks
........... 46
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
(see
Safety Belts)
Automatic Transaxle
Adding Fluid
........ .218, 251. 253
Checking Fluid
............... 216
Shifting
...................... 57
Starting Your Engine
........... 52
BBB Hot Line
................ 282
Battery
.................. .171. 227
Jump Starting
................ 171
Battery Rundown Protection
...... 78
Warning
.................... 173
Voltmeter
.................... 96
Blizzard. If You’re Caught In a ..... 157
Block Heater. Engine
........ .56. 213
Blowout. Tire
.................. 185
Brakes
................. .96. 97. 131
Adjustment
.................. 135
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
. . 131
Brake Pedal Travel
............ 134
Fluid
.................. .225. 253
Master Cylinder
.............. 225
Parking
...................... 63
Rear Drums
................. 134
Replacement
................. 226
Warning Light
............ .96. 97
Wear Indicators
............... 133
Brake System Warning Light
...... 96
Standard Brakes ............... 96
Brake/Transaxle Shift Interlock ..... 65
Brakes. Anti-Lock Warning Light
................ 97
Braking
....................... 130
Braking Emergencies
............ 135
Braking Technique
.............. 130
“Break-In:’
New Vehicle
Normal Driving
............... 50
When Towing a Trailer ......... 161
Anti-Lock Brake System
........ 97
293
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Headlights ..................... 74
High-Low Beam Changer
....... -76
Instrument Panel
Intensity Control
............. 76
“On” Reminder
............... 75
Replacement Bulb
............ 228
Wiring
..................... 250
Heater (see
Comfort Controls)
Heater, Engine Block ........ .56. 213
High Beams
............... .76. 143
Highway Hypnosis
.............. 151
Hill and Mountain Roads
......... 152
Hood Release
.................. 205
Safety Warning
............... 206
Warning, Overheated
Engine
.................... 92
Horn
......................... 67
Hot Engine. Safety Warnings . .179. 206
How the Anti-Lock Brake
System Works
................ 132
Hydraulic Clutch
.......... .220. 253
Hydroplaning
.................. 145
Hills. Parking on
.......... .154. 165
Identification Number. Vehicle
.... 247
Idling Your Engine
.......... .64. 67
Ignition
Key
......................... 44
Key Release Button
............. 51
Positions
..................... 51
Illuminated Entry/Exit System
...... 46
Indicator Lights
Infant Restraint
Inflation. Tires
....... .232. 252. 304
Inside Rearview Mirror
........... 81
Inspections. Owner
.............. 271
Instrument Panel
................ 86
Instrument Panel Warning Lights .... 91
(see Warning Lights)
(see Child Restraints)
.................... J ack. Tire 187
Jump Starting
.................. 171
Key Release Button
.............. 51
Keys
.......................... 44 Lane
Change Indicator
........... 69
Lap-Shoulder Safety Belt .......... 18
Front
........................ 18
Rear ........................ 23
Use by Children
........... .27, 36
Latches. Seatback ................ 11
Lighter ........................ 85
Lights
Charging System
.............. 95
Check Gauges ................ 99
Daytime Running Lights ......... 75
Fog Lights .............. .77. 229
Headlights
.......... .74. 228. 254
Headlights Reminder
........... 75
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
. . 76
Parking ................. .74. 254
Reading
................ .77. 255
Removing
& Replacing
Bulbs
............ .228. 229. 254
Replacement Bulbs
............ 254
Shift
........................ 62
Taillights
............... .229. 254
Trunk ....................... 78
Turn Signal ............. .69. 254
Warning Lights
........... .91. 170
Lights on Reminder .............. 75
Loading Your Vehicle ............ 230
297 ’ ’
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