1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown
on the Tire-Loading
Infannation label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
in
the Index.
I --I
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the pads to which
it is fastened, can make 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 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
to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.) When
It’s Time for New Tires
One
way to tell when it’s
time for new tires
is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 rnm) or
less
of tread remaining.
YOU need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
0 YOU can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
0 you can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord
or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge OT split.
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The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on
each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service
on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
A CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires
of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on
all four wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed
for use on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, which grades tires by treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(Th.zs applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades are molded
on the sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver
or temporary use spare
tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
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While the tires available on General Motors passenger .
cars and light 'trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Perforrnance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. -For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences
in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement
as measured under controlid conditions on
..? specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
- A tire'marked C may have poor traction performance.
I
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Y1.Y. .r.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to ,the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
andaxcessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is
established €or a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
. '
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear
or
your vehicle pulling one way or tlie other, the
ahgnment may need to be reset. If you notice your'
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need' to be rebalanced.
, ,
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that.is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some alumhum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See
your
Pontiac dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
.- 1' . . , . .. ;
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them
only with new GM origipal
equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel 'nuts for your
Pontiac model.
I
12 CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make
you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use
the correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
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NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
.. -* ‘ .. ’ see “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index for
‘more information.
.. .‘I, . .I .
.‘. -- . 8; . Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
;. .. . dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
,.; how many miles it’s been driven. It could fail
-. :% suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to
. -1 . .. I -.~ I., .<.
.. ?1 :: :. <.. >. - ., 3
I .) .
,,.. ‘,,‘t, . .?. I
.: replace a wheel, use a new GM original
.I , . ..
., , equipment wheel. -.
-. ., ..
I
Tire Chains
NOTICE:
Use tire chains only where legal and only when
you must. Use only
SAE Class 44S” type chains
that are the proper size for
your tires. Install
them on the front tires and tighten them as
tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the
chains contacting
your vehicle, stop and retighten
them.
If the contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast or spinning the wheels
with chains on will damage your vehicle.
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Appearance Care Don't use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame
if you strike a Alcohol
match
or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are 0 Laundry Soap
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container
to clean your
Pontiac, be sure to follow the manufacturer's warnings
Reducing Agents
Bleach
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you're cleaning the inside.
~: y -.% :'; - : Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
PaintThinner
0 Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
T- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
1.. . >, .. . ~.. ..&. - . .: .. .'#'.-: Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose .f, r :'.;.,.,-
.I .. .., , ..; .. \..: ,.. i$,;--;;l .*. dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth ..
Your Pontiac dealer has two GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
' Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
0 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
0 If a ring forms after spbt cleaning, clean the entire
often..
A
soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
only.
If you use them, don't saturate the stained ma.
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Using Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim phel or section. Mask
surrounding
trim along stitch or welt lines.
Mix’Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the
directions
on the container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t
rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the
suds.
Rinse the section with a clean, wet sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with .a slightly damp paper towel
or cloth.
Then
dry it immediately with a blow dryer.
Wipe with a clean cloth.
I
Using ,Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all,
Some spots and stains will clean off better with just
water
and mild soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with a
clean, dull knife or scrapex Use very little cleaner, light
pressure and clean cloths (preferably cheesecloth).
Cleaning should
start at the outside of ‘the stain,
“feathering” toward the center. Keep changing to
a clean section of the cloth.
area with
a blow dryer to help ‘prevent a cleaning ring.
0 When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately dry the
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily - Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils,
wax ,crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain.
Follow the solvent-type instructions descriw earlier.
ShOe.-pohh, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left on a-vehicle’s seat fabric. They should be removed
as soon as possible. Be carefbl, because the cleaner
will dissolve them and
may cause them to spread.
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Non-Greasy Stains Cleaning Vinyl
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice, milk, soft
drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
0 If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
described earlier.
If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the
area with a waterbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
If needed, deanlightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknowri stains can be removed as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess st&, then clean with
cool 'water and allow
to dry. Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
may have to do it more than once.
0 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if
you don't get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
a GM Vinylbeather
Cleaner or equivalent product.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a GM VinylLeather Cleaner
or equivalent product.
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
dirt is allowed to work into the finish, it can harm
the leather.
0 If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
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