1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections
in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
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Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash they might
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts
only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove norha1 tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don't use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals
on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped
off later. Ilf
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield' and Wiper Blades
Lf the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when Npning, wax
or other material m'ay be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside
of the wirmdshield with GM Windshield
Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@
(GM Part No. lQS0011).
The windshield is clean if beads do not form when you
rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the
blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked
on a regular basis and
replaced when
worn.
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Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.)
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents.
Use
liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or
that contain acid or abrasives.
All cleaning agents
should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry
on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton towel to avoid
suyface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your
vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Pontiac by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance
Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint f~sh: The
clearcoat gives more depth
d gloss to the colored basecoat.
Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and
made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish
or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other salts; ice melting agents, road
oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals
from industrial chimneys, etc. can
damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible,
If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
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Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
pkriod of years.
You canhelp to keep the paint finish looking new by keeping
your Pontiac garaged or covered whenever possible.
Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
(If So Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a &oft clean cloth with
mild soap
and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly,
dry with a soft clean towel'. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of'these wheels is similar to the painted
surface
of your vehicle. Don't use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners or
abrasive cleaning brushes
on them because you could
damage
the surface. You may use chrome polish on
chrome wheels, but avoid any painted surface of the
wheel,
and buff off immediately after application.
Don't take your vehicle through
an automatic car wash
that
has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can
also damage the surface of these wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe
off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces
on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the .l
paint finish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repa3 or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material
to the parts repaired or
replaced to' restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can
be repaired with touch-up
materials available from
your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas
of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
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Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control
can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor
pan, and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or
an underbody vehicle washing system
can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can .
take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations, and
small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint
job causes this, Pontiac
will repair, at no charge
to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs
first.
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Appearance Care Materials Chart
12345725 I 12 oz. (0.354 L) I Silicone Tire Shine I Shines tires
I See your General Mators Parts Department for these products. * Not recornmended for pigskin suede leather.
See “Fluids and Lubric’ants” in the Index. **Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
fi
1l111111111l1 11111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111 I I II 11111.11 1.11 111 111111 II. lll~~lII1111111~1111111..1111II~ 0
bl SAMPLE4UXTM072675
ENGINEA96 7 ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate
in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the I
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specifications,
and replacement parts.
1.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on your spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
0
0
e
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information, and
a list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label
is not removed from the vehicle.
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Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Pontiac
s; i; unless you check with your dealer first. Some
. +, and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
...a . . % .-
.. b.., r -‘ ‘i ’-’ t electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
Youfvehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see “Servicing
Ysur Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps to go
on
.and off, or in mrne cases to re& off. .If this happens,
have
your headlamp system checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker
and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper
will stop until the motor
cools. If tbe overload is .caused by some electrical
problem, be
sure to have it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows other power accessories. When the current
load is too’heavy, the circ,uit breaker opens and closes,
protecting
the circuit until the problem is fixed or
goes away.
MaxifusedRelay Center
To check the fuses in this underhood fuse center, turn
the two knobs one-quarter turn counterclockwise and
loosen the metal wing nut on the passenger side of the
cover. Then remov’e the cover. The inside of the cover
has
a chart that explahs the features and controls
governed
by each fuse and relay.
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Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have a
spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of
your vehicle that
you can get along without -- like the radio or cigarette
lighter -- and use its fuse, if it is the eomect amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the driver’s
side and passenger’s side fuse blocks.
Driver’s Side Fuse Block
The driver’s side fuse block is to the left of the steering
wheel, under the instrument panel.
Snap off the cover to reveal the fuses. You’ll find a fuse
puller clipped to the inside of the cover. Place the wide
end of the fuse puller over the plastic end of the fuse.
Squeeze the ends over the fuse and pull it out.
Spare fuses are located in the slots labeled “Spare”
on
the following chart.
When finished, replace the cover by snapping it back
up
into place.
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