1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to exp1ode:People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight
if
you need more light.
Be
sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to
add water to the Deko Freedom@ battery
installed
in every new GM vehicle, But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right mount of fluid is
there. If it is low, add water to take care of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn
you,
Don’t get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
each
battery.
missing insulation. If they do, you
could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+)’ to
negative (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts, too.
A CAUTION: I .
m Fans or other moving engme parts can injure yon
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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8. Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it to
the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terrninal if
the vehicle has one.
7. 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.
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9. 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.
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, butthe chance of sparks getting back to the
battery
is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
the engine
for a while.
If it won’t start
after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
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e.;: :I ; I. ‘ -.‘w .I , . ;. I .- > ..
Towing Your Vehicle 13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent ’
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
I
.-
A
B
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery Try
to have a Pontiac dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Bonneville. See “Roadside Assistance”
in the Index.
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.
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Before you do'anything, turn on the hazard waning
flashers.
When you cdl, tell the towing service:
That, if you have the SSE model, your vehicle cannot
be towed from the front with sling-type equipment.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 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
,. 'y ..
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by'the tow truck.
0 Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never we J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
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A vehicle can fall from a car carSier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, qtc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. 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 steeriqg. column lock for this. The transaxle
should be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance.
restrictions later in
this section or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have to be supported
on a dolly.
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Front Towing (SSE and SSEi Only)
I
NOTICE:
Do not tow with slmg-type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car carrieF equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
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 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 T-hook chains
on both sides in the
slotted holes in the
bottom
of the cradle,
behind the front
wheels.
These slots are to be used when loading and securing
to
car carrier equipment.
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control
arm.
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