1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC maintenance

How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the
level should be at the
H
mark. When it’s cold, the
level should be at the
C
mark. If the fluid is at the
ADD mark, you should
add fluid.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses
and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below..freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
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When to Check.
Check your tires once a month or more. ~
Don? forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 @a).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires awproperly 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 leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation I
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(1.0 000 to 13 000 Ian) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
pos-sible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for
New
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.
.L ., !. . ’ I I. .( ’ ’
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Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush witha 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
paint finish.
-
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair 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 stme chips, fractures or deep scratches in the fiih
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develbp 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.
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 car washing system 'can do
this for you.
' i . .. . i .# q> ' .c
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 0010 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
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Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase . ,
Tread Width Front
....
Rear ............
Overall Length
Coupe
.............
. . 107.5” (2730 mm)
. 59.5” (1512 mm)
... 58.0” (1472 mm)
..... 194.8” (4947 mm)
Sedan ..................... 194.9” (4951 mm)
Overall Width ................ 7 1.9‘‘ (1 825 mm)
Overall Height
Coupe .................... 52.9” (1 341 mm)
Sedan ..................... 54.8” (1 39 1 mm)
I
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
.......
..a
. . PF47
. . PF51
! Engine Oil Filter
3.1L (Code M) .......
3.4L (Code X) ......
3.1L (Code M) ..................... CV892C
3.4L (Code
X) ...................... CV895C
All Engines
........ .... RC27
3.1L (Code
M) . . , ...... ACType41-940
Gap:
0.060” (1.52 mm)
3.4L (Code X) ................ AC Type 41-919
Gap: 0.045” (1.14
mm)
Length ........................ 20” (508 mm)
Type ................................... pin
PCV Valve
Radiator Cap
Spark Plugs
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.......
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Air Cleaner Filter
Battery If you’re not sure, ask your Pontiac dealer.
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system
in your vehicle needs
Engines
- * * * * * . * . * . . * * . * * refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used.
3.1L (Code M) ..................... 600 CCA
3.4L (Code X) ...................... 690 CCA
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Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT.
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
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
This section covers the maintenance required for your
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
safety, dependability and emission control performance. of emissions from your vehicle. T~ help protect our
I
I Protection
environment, and io keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Mainterqmce 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.
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 .e@pment
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.
1
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
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:’ driving limits.
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Maintenance Schedule
Short BipICity Definition
Follow the Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule if any
one
of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow\a trailer or use a carrier on top of
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
your vehicle.
or other commercial application.
One
of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions
cause engine oil t,o break
down soonex
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or
3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Chassis Lubrication
(or
6 months, whichever occurs first).
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) -- Then Every
12,000 Miles (20 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Inspection, if driving in dusty conditions.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement.
Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
At 60,000 Miles (100 000 km) -- Then Every
15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Camshaft Timing Belt
Inspection
(3.4L Code X engine only).
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every 60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
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