1995 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

10. 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.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine
for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after
a few tries, it probably needs
service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service
tow your Pontiac. The usual towing equipment is:
A. Sling-type Tow Truck
B. Wheel-lift Tow Truck
C. Car Carrier
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like
fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything,
turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment.
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
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When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key
off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a
straight-ahead position, with
a clamping device
designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be
in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the front wheels,
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
front wheels, don’t
go more than 35 mph (55 km/h) or
farther than
50 miles (80 km) or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the
front wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
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Front Towing Hookups
Attach T-hook chains in
front of the wheels into the
side slots of the cradle on
both sides.
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Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional
ramping may be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascialfog lamp damage will occur.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground
or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and
raise the vehicle until adequate clearance is
obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift
equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
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Attach a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end
of each lower control
arm.
Rear Towing Hookups
Attach T-hook chains into
the slotted holes in the
bottom
of the floor pan
support rails just ahead
of
the rear wheels on both
sides.
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Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional
ramping may be required
for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper valance will be damaged.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle. Damage can occur
from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment.
To
help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise
the vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension
components when using car carrier equipment.
Always use T-hooks inserted
in the T-hook slots.
Attach
a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end
of each lower control
arm.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index. You
also have a low coolant light on your instrument panel.
See “Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
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