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. .( ’ ’
6-50
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Buying New Tires
To find out what lund and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information.labe1.
The tires installed on your vehicle w
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification ("PC 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 sen;ice 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 tho'se 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.
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 wheels. ,( ' . ; I :* ' '.i i.!;:; i
It's all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
.. i- 4 . .. .-
6-52
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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. (This
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),
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 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.
I.
or to some limited-production tires. ;,*?;;x.,< .
. .'-I '.'Traction -- A, B, C
While the tires available on General Motors passenger 1
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
grades,, they must also conform to Federal safety
C, and they represent the tire's' ability to stop on wet
requirements and additional General Motors Tire pavement as measured under controlled conditioa
on
Peiformance Criteria (TPC) standards. specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
6-53
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
ld
I I I1 11111111 1111 111 111111 111 1.
ENGINEA6 .) 1 ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
Tlus 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
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.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find ths label on your spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful if
you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,.
0 paint information, and
a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Pontiac
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t
be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other
components from working as
they should.
~~~~ ~~~~~
ProCarManuals.com
Clock. Setting the ................................ 3-5
ComfortControls
................................ 3-1
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-23
Compact Disc Player
....................... 3-14, 3-16
Compact Disc Player Errors
....................... 3- 15
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-33
Console Storage
................................ 2-39
Control
of a Vehicle ............................. ’ . 4-5
Convenience Net
................................ 2-40
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-38
Bleed Valves
................................. 5-20
Heater, Engine
............................... 2- 13
Recovery
Tank ............................... 5-16
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-34
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-7
Cruise Control ................................. 2-29
Cupholders
.................................... 2-38
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8-2
Coolant
................................. ....... 6-20
Coolingsystem
................................ 5-14
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users .......... 8-4
Damage, Finish ...... ..................... 6-62
Damage, Sheet Metal
............................ 6-62
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-33
Defects, Reporting Safety
..... i ................... 8-9
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogger, Rear Window
.......................... 3-4
Defoqging ..................................... 3-4
DeadBattery ................................... 5-2 Defrosting
................... ........ 3-4
Dimensions. Vehicle ........... .......... 6-75
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ......... ........... 3-10
Dome Lamp
................................... 2-36
Door
Locks ..................................... 2-3
Drive Position. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-16
Driver Position
............................ 1-10. 1-16
Driving
City
........................................ 4-19
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
.............. ; ...................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-20
In a Blizzard
................................. 4-26
In Foreign Countries
............................ 6-4
In the Rain
.................................. 4-16
On Curves
.................................... 4-9
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-36
On Hill and Mountain Roads
...... ............. 4-22
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-25
WetRoads
................................... 4-16
Winter
....................................... 4-24
With a Trailer ................................. 4-34
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment. Adding
........ 2-12.3-22. 6-64
Electrical System
............ .............. 6-64
Night
...................................... 4-14
Throughwater
............................... 4-18
.. ... 9-3
ProCarManuals.com
Roadside Assistance .............................. 8-5
Roadside Assistance. Canadian ...................... 8-5
Rocking Your Vehicle
........................... 5-34
Rotation. Tires ................................. 6-50
safety Belt Extender ............................ 1-62 P Safety Belts .................................... 1-5
.. p Adults ....................................... 1-10
... Automatic Lap-Shoulder ........................ 1-3 1
Care
....................................... 6-59
Center Passenger ‘Position
...................... 1-34
Children
.,.................................. l-42
Driver Position .......................... 1-10, 1-16
Extender ...,.,,,,,.......................... l-62
How to Wear Properly ......................... 1 - 10
Incomct Usage ............... 1-12, 1-19, 1-60, 1-61
Lap-Shoulder ............ 1-10,l-16.1-31, 1-34, 1-36
Larger Children .............................. 1-59
Questions and Answers
......................... 1-9
Rear Comfort Guides
.......................... 1-39
Rear $eat Outside Passenger Positions ............ 1-34
Rear Seat Passengers .......................... 1-36
Reminder Light
.......................... 1-6, 2-46
Replacing After a Crash ........................ 1-62
Right Front Passenger Position ............. 1-30, 1-34
Smaller Children and Babies .................... 1-42
Use During Pregnancy
......................... 1-30
WhyTheyWork ............................... 1-6
Safety
ChaiBs .................................. 4-34
Safety Defects, Reporting
......................... 8-9
Safety Warnings and Symbols ....................... iii
6 ‘I
LapBelt .................................... 1-34
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-3 Seatback
Latches ...................................... 1-5
Reclining
Front ............................... 1-3
Manual Front
................................. 1-1
Power
....................................... l-2
Restraint Systems .............................. 1-1
Seat Controls
................................. 1-1
Securing a Child Restraint
...................... 1-44
Second
Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................. 2-17
Second-Gear Start, Automatic Transaxle
............. 2-18
Security Light
.................................. 2-56
Security System
................................. 2-8
Bulletins, Ordering
............................ 8-12
Engine Soon Light
............................ 2-52
Manuals, Ordering
............................ 8-11
Parts Identification Label ....................... 6-64
Publications, Ordering ......................... 8-11
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care ...................... 6-1
Service and Owner
publicahms ................... 8-11
Service Publications
............................. 8-11
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac ........... 1-29
SheetMetalDamage ............................ 6-62
shifting
Automtic Transaxle .......................... 2-14
htQ
Park (P) ................................. 2-19
Signaling
Turns ................................. 2-27
Sound Equipment, Adding
........................ 3-22
Spare Tire, Compact
.............................. 5-33
Seats
Service
........................................ 6-1
ShiftLever
.................................... 2-14
OutofPark .................................. 2-22
Skidding ...................................... 4-13
ProCarManuals.com
Specifications and Capacities .......... ... 6-73
Specifications. Engine
........................... 6-74
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-4
Speedometer
................................... 2-45
SRS
......................................... 1-23
Starter Switch Check
.......................... 7-38
Starting Your Engine
............................. 2- 11
Steam
........................................ 5- 12
Steering
....................................... 4-9
Column
Lock Check .......................... 7-39
In Emergencies
............................... 4-10
Power
....................................... 4-9
Tips
......................................... 4-9
Variable Assist
........ ; ....................... 4-9
Wheel, Tilt
................................... 2-26
Wheel Touch Controls
......................... 3 -2 1
Storage Compartments
........................... 2-38
Storage, Vehicle
................................. 6-30
Stuck
In Sand. Mud, Ice or Snow .................. 5-34
SunVisors .................................... 2-41
Supplemental Restraint System
.................... 1-23
Sustained Interior Illumination
.................... 2-34
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
Tachometer .................................. 2-45
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 6-46
Tapeplayercare
............................... 3-23
Temperature
Knob, Climate Control System ........... 3-1
Theft-Deterrent Feature,
CD Player ................ 3- 19
Theft
.......................................... 2-8
Stains. Cleaning
.......... ........... 6-57
Sunroof ....................................... 2-42
THEFTLOCK
............. ......... 3-19
Thermostat .................................... 6-24
Third Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-16
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-26
Time. Setting the
................................ 3-5
Tire Chains .................................... 6-56
Tire Loading
................... ......... 4-28
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-28
Tires
......................................... 6-48
Alignment and Balance ........................ 6-54
Buying New
................................. 6-52
Chains
........... ................... 6-56
Changing
a Flat .............................. 5-23
Cleaning
.................................... 6-62
Compact Spare
............................... 5-33
Inflation
..................................... 6-49
Inflation Check
............................... 7-36
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-50
Loading
.... ................................. 4-28
Pressure ..................................... 6-49
Temperature ................................. 6-54
Traction
.................................... 6-53
Treadwear
................................... 6-53
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-53
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-51
Wheel Replacement
............................ 6-54
When It’s Time for New . . ....... .... 6-51
TopStrap
..................................... 1-45
Torque Lock
................................. ., .. 2-22
Torque, Wheel Nut
.............................. 5-30
TowingaTrailer
................................ 4-30
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-7
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