1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Pontiac does when it is new.
When
you replace parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change -- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come,to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake narts.
Battery
Every new Pontiac has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for
a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s @bel, : . :. .. .K . - ’ I- I c ’. :“I z: , ’ . .-
,. . - .. , .. .. .1 4
. . ..
.J:. - *-
.. - _1 . t .
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take
off the black, negative (-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
I I
I A CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful.
See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting
hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
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Bulb Replacement
In this section you'll find directions for changing the
bulbs in some of the lamps on your Pontiac. See
"Replacement Bulbs" in the Index
to find the type of
bulb you should use.
Halogen Bulbs
I
I /r CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps (2-Door Models)
1. Open the headlamp panel.
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/ 2. Remove the screw at
the top
of the headlamp
support panel. Loosen
the two screws at the
bottom
of the panel.
Loosen these two screws
until they
are out of the
headlamp frame, but still
in the brackets on
the
headlamp assembly.
3. Carefully lift the headlamp assembly and
support panel.
4. Lift the plastic locking tabs on the electrical connector
and pull the connector from the headlamp socket.
0 Note which way the socket is pointing before
you disconnect
it. You’ll need to install the
new headlamp
so the socket points in the
same direction.
5. Set the headlamp assembly on a work surface with
the lens facing you.
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6. Remove the Ton@
screws
at the end of the
aiming ring. The aiming
ring will swing open like
a gate.
$1 10. Insert the tabs on
the aiming ring into
7. Remove. the aiming ring. Place it face down on the
8. Check that the number on the new headlamp
work surface
with the
aim indicator up.
matches the number on the headlamp being replaced.
The letter on the headlamp (U or L) must also match.
9. Put the new headlamp in position.
Makesure the socket points in the same direction
as it did with the old headlamp.
11. Holding the aiming ring closed, insert the screws at
the end
of the ring. Tighten the screws until the
aiming ring touches the plastic nuts
on both the top
and bottom.
0 Do not overtighten.
e Do not damage the vertical aiming bubble.
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12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Plug the electrical connector into the headlamp
socket. Make
sure the locking tabs snap onto
the socket.
Put the headlamp assembly in position. Make sure
the two guide tabs drop into their holes in the
headlamp support panel.
Tighten the two bottom screws. Make sure
the guide tabs are still in place before tightening
the screws.
Insert the top screw
and tighten it.
Close
the headlamp panel.
/
Headlamps (4-Door Models)
1. Open the headlamp panel.
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Turn the socket
counterclockwise until it
pops loose
from the housing.
3. Pull out the bulb socket.
Headlamp Aiming
4. Lift the plastic locking tab on the electrical
connector and pull the connector from the
bulb socket.
5. Snap the electrical connector into a new bulb socket.
6. Replace the bulb socket into the housing and have a four-door Pontiac, see your dealer when your
This section only applies to two-door Pontiacs. If you
turn clockwise. headlamp aim needs to be checked
or adjusted.
7. Close the headlamp panel.
Your vehicle has the 55 x 135 mini-quad headlamp
system. These headlamps have horizontal and vertical
aim indicators. The aim has been pre-set at the factory
and should need
no further adjustment.
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If your vehicle is damaged in an accident and the
headlarnp aim seems to be affected, see your
Pontiac dealer. Headlamps on damaged vehicles
may require recalibration of the horizontal aim by
your Pontiac dealer.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
The vehicle must have all four tires an a perfectly
level surface.
0 The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
There should not be my cmgu ur loading of the
attached to it.
vehicle, except it should have
a full tank of gas and
one person or
160 lbs. (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
0 Tires should be properly inflated.
t
indicator should
read
“0.”
1 0 The horizontal
-
NOTICE:
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions
before
beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
State inspection stations will allow a vertical reading of
plus 0.76 degrees or minus 0.76 degrees from the center
of the bubble.
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It is recommended that the upper limit not exceed plus
0.4 degrees from the center of the bubble. Other drivers
may flash their high beams at you if your adjustment is
much above plus
0.4 degrees.
If you find that the headlamp aiming needs adjustment,
follow these steps:
Start with the horizontal aim. Don’t try to adjust the
vertical aim first.
1. Check the horizontal aim indicator. The pointer
should be
lined up with 0 (zero).
2. If the pointer isn’t at
0 (zero), turn the
horizontal
aiming
screw to adjust
the aim.
3. Check the vertical aim indicator. The bubble should
be centered on
0 (zero).
~1 4.
L-!
If the bubble isn’t
on
0 (zero), turn
the vertical aiming
screw
to adjust
the aim.
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