1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC maintenance

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt.system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn
or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken
air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Automatic Transaxle Check
Check the transaxle fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transaxle” in the Index. A fluid
loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in
Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hinges and latches, including those for the
hood, rear compartment, glove box door, console door
and any folding seat hardware.
Part D tells you what to
use. More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to
a corrosive environment.
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Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and’services which should be
performed at least twice
a year (for instance, each spring
and fall), You should let your
GM dealer’s service
department or other qualified service center do these
jobs.
Make’ sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may b’e
found in a Pontiac Service Manual. See “Service and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
Steering? Suspension aprd Rront-Wheel-Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect
the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals
if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body near
the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing or
out-of-position parts as well as open seams, .holes, loose connections
or other conditions which could cause a heat
build-up in
the floor.pan or could let exhaust fumes into
the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust’’ in
the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damage or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high effort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake, etc. Check parking
brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes
inspected more often if your driving habits or conditions
.‘ +
result in frequent braking.
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Part E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the Services” or
“Periodic Maintenance” can be added on
date, odometer reading and who performed the service the
following record pages. Also, you should retain all
in the boxes provided after the maintenance interval.
, maintenance receipts. Your owner information portfolio
Any additional information from “Owner Checks and is a convenient
place to store them.
I Maintenance Record
‘ODOMETER
DATE
MAINTENANCE PERFORMED SERVICED BY READING
I
,
4-
7-43
~ I. I ProCarManuals.com

Servicc etins
Service bulletins covering various subjects are regularly
sent
to all General Motors dealerships. GM monitors
product performance in the field. When service methods
are found
which promote better service on GM vehicles,
bulletins are created to help the technician perform
better service. Service bulletins may involve any
number
of vehicles. Some will describe inexpensive
service; others will describe expensive service. Some
will advise of new or unexpected conditions, and others
may help avoid future costly repairs. Service bulletins
are meant for qualified technicians. In some cases
bulletins refer to service manuals, specialized tools,
equipment and safety procedures necessary to service
the vehicle. Since these bulletins are issued throughout
the model year and beyond, an index is required and
published quarterly to help identify specific bulletins.
Subscriptions
are available. You can order an index at
the toll-free numbers listed previously, or ask a GM
dealer to see an index or individual bulletin.
Owner Publications
Owner's manuals, warranty folders and various owner
assistance booklets provide owners with general
operation and maintenance information.
vpoNvc@
8-12 -
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Low Oil Level ............................. 2-55
Safety Belt Reminder ...................... 1-6, 2-46
Service Engine Soon .......................... 2-52
Loading
Your Vehicle ........................... 4-28
Automatic Door ............................... 2-4
. Cylinders ................................... 7-37
Key Lock Cylinder Service ...................... 7-37
Steering Column Lock Check ................... 7-39
Trunk ....................................... 2-7
Low Coolant Warning Light ...................... 2-51
Low Fuel Light
.............. ................. 2-57
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-41
Lubrication Service,
Body ........................ 7-37
Oilwarning
................................. 2-54
Security .................................... 2-56
Locks
......................................... 2-3
Door ......................................... 2-5
PowerDoor .................................. 2-3
Window
.................................... 2-25
LowOilLevelLight
............................ 2-55
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-75
Maintenance Record ............................ 7-43
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Long TripkIighway Definition
.................... 7-5
Long Trip/Highway Intervals ................ 7.5. 7-26
Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7-36
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants ............. 7-41
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-3
ShorCTrip/City Definition ....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals
.................... 7-4. 7-6
Periodic Maintenance Inspections .................. 7-40 Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-62
Maintenance When Trailer Towing ................. 4-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ...................... 2-52
Manual Front
Seat ............................... 1-1
Methanol ...................................... 6-3
Mhn ....................................... 2-37
ConvexOutside
.............................. 2-38
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2~37
Manualoutside
.............................. 2-37
Power Outside
............................... 2-37
Visor Vanity
.......................... : ...... 2-41
MMT ...................................,..... 6-3
Mode Knob, Climate Control System ................. 3-2
MountainRoads ................................ 4-22
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-26
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-40
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
New Vehicle "Break-In" ......................... 2-10
Nightvision
................................... 4-15
Odometer .................................... 2-45
Odometer.
Trip ................................. 2-45
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-11
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-10
Oil Warning Light .............................. 2-54
Overheating Engine ............................. 5-12
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-36
Owner Publications, Ordering ..................... 8-12
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Paint Spotting. Chemical .... ... 6-62
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2- 14
Shifting Into
................................. 2- 19
Shifting Out of
............................. 2-22
AtNight
..................................... 2-8
Brake
...................................... 2-18
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-39
Lots
........................................ 2-8
Over Things That
Bum ........................ 2-23
With a Trailer ................................. 4-37
Passenger Position
......................... 1-30. 1-34
Passing 4-12
PASS-Key
II .................................. 2-8
Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................... 7-40
Pontiac Cares Program ............................ 8-1
Power
..... FJ.
Parking
......... ....... .......... ...... Accessory Outlet ..- ...... 0: ... ;. y i. .; . * J;? . ....... . !. ... ..w 'X . 2-42 ........
Antenna Mast Care ............................ 3-24
Antenna Service .............................. 7-36
DoorLoc
ks ................................... 2-3
Option Fuses
................................ 6-65
Outside Mirror
............................... 2-37
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-24
Steering ..................................... 4-9
Windows
................................... 2-25
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-30
Problems
on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and 'Owner ................... 8- 11
T
RadiaGr .............. ......... 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-24
Radio Reception
................................ 3-22
Radios
........................................ 3-5
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-16
Reading Lamps
................ . . 2.35. 2.36
Rear
Lamp
Bar Bulb Replacement .................... 6-47
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-36
Safety Belt Comfort Guides ..................... 1-39
Seat Passengers
.............................. 1-36
Window Defogger
............................. 3-4
Rearview Mirror. Inside Daymight
................. 2-37
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-3
Recovery Tank. Coolant
.......................... 5-16
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning
.................... 6-75
Remote Lock Control
................................. 2-4
Trunk Release ................................. 2-7
Towing ..................................... 5-10
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-72
Parts ....................................... 6-75
Wheel
...................................... 6-54
Replacing Safety Belts ........................... 1-62
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 8-9
Restraints
Checking
................................... 1-62
Child
....................................... 1-44
Head ......................................... 1-5
Replacing Parts After a Crash .................... 1-62
Systemcheck
................................ 7-37
Reverse. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
Right Front Passenger Position
....... .. ....... 1-30. 1-34
9-7
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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
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Trailer Brakes
..................................... 4-34
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-36
Hitches ..................................... 4-33
ParkingonHills
. ............................. 4-37
Safety Chains
.............. ................. 4-34
. Driving With ................................ 4-34
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-37
Tongueweight
............................... 4-32
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-33
Weight
..................................... 4-32
Transmitters, Remote Lock Control
.................. 2-4
Transportation, Courtesy
.......................... 8-7
Trip Calculator
................................. 2-57
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-45
Access Panel
................................ 2-39
Release, Remote
............................... 2-7
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals
............... 2-27
Turn Signal On
Chime ........................... 2-27
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
................... 2-26
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-36
Towing
..................................... 4-30
Turnsignals
................................. 4-36
Tr~nk
......................................... 2-7
Lock
........................................ 2-7
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-4
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-39
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-62
Underhood Electrical Center ................. 6-68, 6-70
Vehicle
Control
...................................... 4-5
Damage Warnings .............................. iv Dimensions
........................ ... 6-75
Identification Number ......................... 6-64
Loading .................................... 4-28
Storage
..................................... 6-30
Ventilation System
............................... 3-3
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-41
Visors, Sun
.................................... 2-41
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............... 2-46
Washer Fluid, Windshield
........................ 6-25
Weatherstrips
................... .......... 6-60
warning
Devices
................................ 5-2
Washing Your Vehicle
.......... ............ 6-60
Wheel Alignment
.................................. 6-54
NutTorque
.................................. 5-30
Wrench
..................................... 5-25
Windows
..................................... 2-25
Auto-Down
................................. 2-25
LockOut
................................... 2-25
Power
...................................... 2-25
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-28
Fluid
.................................. 2-28. 6-25
Fluid Level Check ............................ 7-36
Windshield Wiper
.............................. 2-28
Blade Replacement
........................... 6-48
Winter Driving
................................. 4-24
WreckerTowing
................................. 5-7
Replacement
................................. 6-54
Fuses ...................................... 6-65
Wiring, Headlamp .............................. 6-65
Wrench. Wheel
................ ............ 5-25
9-10
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