1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC towing

Front Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage
will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment.
Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment.
To help avoid damage, raise the
vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
5-9
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper valance
will be damaged. Use wheel-lift '
or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment.
To help avoid damage, install a towing dolly
and raise the vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained between the ground and/or
wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
Attach T-hook chains to
the T-hook slots
in the
floor pan support rails, just
ahead of the rear wheels,
on both sides.
These slots are to be used when loading and securing to
car carrier equipment.
Attach a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end of both lateral arms.
5-11
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. .And,
the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment
fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 M) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too
fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release
the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the ‘accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
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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.
I 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.
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:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
regularly reaches
90°F (32” C) or higher.
0 When doing
frequent trailer towing.
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 Shbrt Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
Change automatic transaxle fluid and,filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 "F
(32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found irftaxi, police or
delivery service. 8
If you do nut use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid andJilter
do not require changing.
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
I I I
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE ' SERVICED BY:
7-15
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I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (1 66 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(QT every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first): See “Engine
Coolant”
in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service; ~~~~.~ ,~
An Emission Control Service.
I
,. .“,-*$ .J$?
0 Inspect spark plug -wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
, I .. .. -. .,, .
An Emission Control Service.
c
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) gr higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- = Uses such as found in taxi, police or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the jluid
and filter do not require changing,
’ . , ..VI -
.‘ . .: delivery service.
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Long Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule
45,000 Miles (75 000 ,km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every
22 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Lubricate steering ball joints (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
, An Emission Control Service.
I DATE I ACTUAL MILEAGE ISERVICED BY:^
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
rf you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid
and filter do not require chmg&g.
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE
SERVICED BY:
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0 Change automatic -transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature reg,ularly reaches
90 "F
(32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
' ,;
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
+-; I. !these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
delivery service.
?ij- ..;, .'I
I I I
t-
,. I' ' ..
ACTUAL MILEAGE
L
SERVICED BY:
ProCarManuals.com