Tachometer (OPTION)
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm).
-
NU I IL't
Fuel Gage
You have one of the fuel gages shown.
The fuel gage tells you about how much
fuel you have left, when the ignition is
on. When the indicator nears E (Empty),
you still have a little fuel left, but you
should get more
soon.
Here are three things that some owners
ask about. None of these show a
problem with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, with your ignition
on, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
F (Full).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill
up than the gage indicated. For
example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but
it actually
took a little more
or less than half the
tanks capacity to fill the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn
a corner
or speed up.
For your fuel tank capacity, see
Service
Station
Information on the last page of
this manual.
a7
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Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
Climate Control
The air conditioner and heater work
best
if you keep your windows closed
while using them. Your vehicle also has
the flow-through ventilation system
described later in this section.
OFF: Press to turn the blower off.
Some air will still come from the outlets
at the floor. Press any function button
to turn the system on.
Temperature Control Lever: This
lever changes the temperature of the air
coming through the system. The higher
the lever setting, the warmer the air.
a: Selects the force of air you want.
Press
4 to lower the fan speed, b to
raise it.
Air Conditioning
There are three air conditioning
settings:
MAX: Provides maximum cooling or
quick cool-down on very hot days. This
setting recirculates much
of the air
inside your vehicle, and it should not be
used for long periods because the air
may become too cold and dry.
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot
days. This setting brings in outside air,
cools it and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
B/L (Bi-Level): Use on cool, but
sunny days. This setting brings in the
outside air, but directs it in two ways.
The cool air
is directed to the upper
portion
of your body through the
instrument panel outlets, but most
warmed air is directed through the
heater ducts and
a little to the defrost
and side window vents. At times this
temperature difference may be more
apparent than others.
On very hot days, open the windows
long enough to let hot inside air escape.
This reduces the time your air
conditioner’s compressor will have to
run, which should help fuel economy.
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Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is
equipped with a 3.4L (VIN Code X)
engine and a manual transaxle.
Your Pontiac can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with a
3.1L (VIN Code T)
engine or a 3.4L (VIN Code X) engine
and an automatic transaxle, and proper
trailer towing equipment.
To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is
for your vehicle, you should read the
information in
Weight of the Trailer
that appears later in this section. But
trailering is different than just driving
your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability, and fuel
economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to
be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these
are important
for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer. Load-pulling components such
as the engine, transaxle, wheel
assemblies, and tires are forced to work
harder against the drag of the added
weight. The engine is required to
operate at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating extra
heat. What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points.
There are many different laws having
to do with trailering. Make
sure your
rig will be legal, not
only where you
live but also where you’ll be driving. A
good source for this information can
be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway
control.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged.
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Part 6
Here you will find information
about the care
of your Pontiac . This
part begins with service
and fuel
information. and then it
shows how
to check important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about your
vehicle. and a section devoted
to its
appearance care
.
81 1
Service & Appearance Care
Service ........................................................................\
...................................... 212
Fuel ........................................................................\
............................................ 213
Hood Release ........................................................................\
............................ 216
Engine Oil
........................................................................\
................................ 220
Air Cleaner ........................................................................\
............................... 224
Transaxle
Fluid ........................................................................\
........................ 225
Engine Coolant ........................................................................\
........................ 230
Power Steering Fluid ........................................................................\
............... 233
Windshield Washer
Fluid ........................................................................\
........ 233
Brakes
.......... .......................... ........................................................................\
... 234
Battery
........................................................................\
........................ .... .......... 236
Bulb Replacement ........................................................................\
.................... 236
Loading
Your Vehicle ........................................................................\
.............. 252
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ............................................................. 268
Capacities
& Specifications ........................................................................\
..... 276
Replacement
Bulbs ................................................................... .......- ............... 280
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement ............................................................ 252
Tires ........................................................................\
.......................................... 254
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
...................... 261
Add-on Electrical Equipment ........................................................................\
. 269
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
........ 270
Fluids
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
................. 278
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ....................................................... 284
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Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. It should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the U.S.
and CGSB
3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything
to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED”
right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87.
If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you
drive. If
it’s bad enough, it can damage your
engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane
fuel
to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a
problem.
Fuel Capacity:
16.5 U.S. Gallons (62 L) . Use unleaded
fuel only.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen, such as
MTBE
or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl
ether.” Fuel that is no more than
15%
MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol.
Properly-blended fuel that
is no more
than
10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
Fuel that is more than
5%
methanol is bad for your vehicl
Don’t use
it. It can corrode me
parts in your fuel system and a
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And ev
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
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To check on fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell
us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle
Identification Number
(VIN) .
General Motors of Canada Ltd.
International Export Sales
P.O. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the While refueling, hang
the cap inside the
left side of your vehicle. fuel
door.
Gasoline vapor is highly
flammable. It burns violel--;
and that can cause very bad
injuries. Don’t smoke if you’re nea
gasoline or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, and
srn ng
materials away from gasolint gou get gasoline
on you
and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out
on you if
I open the fuel filler cap too
quicltly. This spray can happen
if
your tank is nearly full, and is more
iiltely in hot weather. Open the
fuel
filler cap slowly and wait for any
“hiss>,
noise to stop. Tllen
“-: cap all the way.
- I To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
left (countercloclnvise)
.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to
the right until you hear a clicking noise.
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Service & Appearance Care
Eagine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel.
In order to get
an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm and the vehicle must be on level
ground. Turn
off the engine and give
the oil a few minutes to drain back into
the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
To Check Engine Oil:
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower.
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
Twin Dual Cam
3.4L V6: Checking Engine
Oil
When to Add Oil:
If the oil is at or below the ADD line,
then you’ll need to add some
oil. But
you must use the right kind. This
section explains what kind
of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see the
Index
under Capacities and Specifications.
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aam
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
252
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight it may properly carry. The
Tire-Loading Information label found
on the inside of the trunk lid 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,
found 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
167 lbs. (75 kg) in your trunk.
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