1993 PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX tow

Problems on the Road
.I.
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.
2010
A rear blowout, particularly cm a curve,
acts
much like a skid and may require
the same correction
you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove pur bot
from the accelerator pedal. G,et 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 se’ction
shows how
to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn
on your hazard
warning flashers.
A 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 a level place to change
your tire. To help prevent the
vehicle from moving: I
I (Continued)
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Problems on the Road
Changing a Hat Tire (CONT.)
11. Position the jack under the vehicle
and 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.
LAU f IVN
Getting under a vehicle when
L it is jacked up is dangerous.
If the 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.
12. Raise the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench cloclwise.
Raise the
vehicle far enough
off the ground so
there is emugh morn for the spare
tire to fit.
13. R’ernove all the u7heel nuts and take
off the flat tire.
~~ ~
I Kaising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned will damage
the vehicle
or may allow the vehicl,
to fall
off the jack. Be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper
location before raising your vehick Rust
or dirt on the wheel, or
4 b 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
t ;et all 1 rust or dirt
L
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14. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or
spare wheel. Place the spare on the
wheel mounting surface.
--
, Never use oil or grease on I
studs or nuts. If you do, i 3
luts might come loose. Your wheel
.Id fall off, causing a seril 1
accident. I
15. 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.
16. Lower the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench countercloclwise.
Lower the jack completely.
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Problems on the Road
if You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
~ or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck
is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can
help
you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
CAUTION
~ Spinning your wheels can destroy
parts
of your vehicle as well as the
tires.
If you spin the wheels too
fast while shifting your transaxle
back and forth, you can destroy
your transaxle.
If
you let your tires spin at
b high speed, they can explode
llyu you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of
the vehicle can overheat. That
could cause an engine compartment
fire
or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little
as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels
above
35 mph (56 h/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
I
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That will clear the area around
your front wheels. Then shift back and
forth between
R (Reverse) and a
forward gear (or with a manual
transaxle, between First or Second gear
and Reverse), spinning the wheels as
little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the
transaxle is in gear.
If that doesn’t get
you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see the
Index under Towing Your Pontiac.
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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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When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
(6 la).
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than 10 miles (16
km).
The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
You tow a trailer often.
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then
you need to change your
oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
or 3 months-whichever comes first.
See the
Index under Oil Change
Indicator.
If none of them is true, change the oil
every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12
months-whichever comes first. Change the filter at the first oil change
and at every other oil change after that.
If you have the STE, you have an oil
change indicator in the Driver
Information Center. See the
Index
under Driver Information Center.
Engine Block Heater
An engine block heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this option, see the
Index under Engine Block Heater.
What to Do with Used Oil
CAUTION
* Used engine oil contains
L things that have caused skin
callcer in laboratory animals. Don’t
let used oil stay on your skin for
very long. Clean your skin and nails
with soap and water,
or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly
throw away clothing or rags
containing used engine oil.
Used oil can be a real threat to the
environment.
If you change your own
oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t
ever dispose of oil by pouring it on the
ground, into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil.
If you have a problem properly
disposing of your used oil, ask your
dealer, a service station
or a local
recycling center for help.
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Service & Appearance Care
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (CONT.)
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 la) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than
50°F ( 10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
weather.
To Check the Fluid Level:
Park
your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
parking brake applied.
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting Off the
Engine,
Follow These Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
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Service & Appearance Care
Manual Pransaxle Fluid
When to Check:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transaxle does not
require changing.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult,
you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be
sure
to follow all the instructions here,
or YQU could get a false reading on the
dipstick.
’. 22%
00 little fluid can
amage your transaxle.
Too much
an mean that some of the fluid
ould come out and fall on hot
ngine parts, starting a fire. Be
ure to get
an accurate reading if
ou check your transaxle fluid. The manual
transaxle dipstick is located
on the driver’s
side near the rear of the
transaxle case.
Check the fluid level
only when your
engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transaxle is cool
enough for
you to rest your fingers on
the transaxle case.
Then, Follow These Steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out
the dipstick and clean it with
a rag or
paper towel.
remove it.
2. Push it back in all the way and
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