1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE service schedule

The 1996 Pontiac Bonneville Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts prop\
erly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort co\
ntrols and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and
how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells
you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good.
This section tellp you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what \
fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and \
owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects”\

on page 8-9.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something
you. want to read.
Features and Controls ..................... ; ............................................ 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ...................................................... 3-1
. Your Driving and the Road .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad
.................................................................. 5-1
Service and Appearance Care.. .......................................................... 6-1
Maintenanceschedule......... .......................................................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information ... .#. ................................................... 8-1
Index ........................................................................\
.......... 9-1
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Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached,
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes
mil the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your pa;rking
brake, and then shift to PdRK (P).
PARK (P) yet.
’ 5. Release the regular brakes.
~ When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
.down while
you:
Start your engine;
e Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will & service more often when you’re
pmg a trde~ See the Mainte~nance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are .automatic
trande fluid (don’t overfill),
engine
oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is-covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you kd them quickly. If you’re tradering, it’s a good
idea to review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-38
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3. Replace the air filter.
4. Re-install the rear section of the air cleaner.
5. Reattach the air intake hose.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
I
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off
can cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive with it
off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the
air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
,. . .. . ..
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Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid
and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In .heavy eity.traffic where the 'outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter
do not require changing.
See "Scheduled Maintenance Services"
in the Index.
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I .(.. :.-'Bow to Check
Because &is operation can be a little dBicult, you may
choose to have
this done at your P'ontiac dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be' sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
~ fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting
a fire. Be sure to
get an' accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking.& .@an: Je
fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
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 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may
have
to drive longer.
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When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
~
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent l&s by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual -wear
is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for Ne,w
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in
this section
for more information. The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires
on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most
important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation
intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire rotation.
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7 Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT.
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
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This section covers the maintenance required for your
Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
safety, dependability and emission control performance.
Protection
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Enviro,nment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment.
All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle
in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See
your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your
Pontiac dealer for details.
P
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how
often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment,
you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
I
/11 CAUTION: I
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In
trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the
work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle,
you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in
the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked whenever you stop for fuel.
It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your Pontiac dealer’s service department
or another qualified service center should
perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should
be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance
is performed, be
sure to write it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs,
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Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle
in good working condition. But we don’t know exactly
how you’ll
drive it. You may drive very short distances
only a few times
a week. Or you may drive long
distances
all the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may
use your vehicle
in making deliveries. Or you may drive
it to work, to do errands or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section. So please read this
section and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on’how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your Pontiac dealer.
This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you
should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people
will
perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these. All parts should be replaced and
all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
These schedules
are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading
Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule to follow:
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