1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC fuel cap

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
If the Light Is On Steady
0 Reduce vehicle speed.
0 Avoid hard accelerations.
0 Avoid steep uphill grades.
0 If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo ,being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains
on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If
the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Put your vehicle in PARK (P). Turn the
key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On
Steady” following.
If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your dealer or
qualified service center for service.
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you just put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.
This will
allow
fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few
driving trips should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system,.may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light
off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to
run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since
small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can
detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
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Security Light Fuel Gage
SECUPITY
This light will come on
when you turn the key to
START and stay on until the
vehicle starts. It
will also
come
on and’stay on if your
key
is too duty or wet for
the PAS$-Key@II system to
read
the resistor pellet.
If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light
will flash.
If you’re driving
and the light comes on and remains on,
your PASS-Key 11 system is not working prop,erly. Your
vehicle
is not protected by PASS-Key II, and you should
see
your dealer. Your
fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel
you
have left when the ignition
is on.
When the indicator
nears
EMPTY (E), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon.
Here are
some things owners ask about. All these
situations
are normal and do not show a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the service station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F‘).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually took’ a little more
or less than half ,the tank’s capacity to fill it.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
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Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow. For each setting, set the temperature
to
a comfortable setting.
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle
and sends it through the instrument panel
automatically
in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40°F (4.5"C). (Even when the
compressor
is running, you can control the temperature.)
+e
/J VENT This setting brings in outside air and
directs it through the instrument panel outlets.
+# BI-LEVEL: This setting brings in outside air and
directs
it two ways. Half of the air is directed through
the instrument panel outlets. Most
of the remaining air is
directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents.
?# FLOOR: This setting sends most of the air
through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of
the defroster. and side window vents.
sl3,
+# DEFOG: This setting allows half of the air to
go to the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side
window vents.
, outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
+a
DEFROST: This setting directs most of the air
through the defroster and side window vents. Some of
the
air goes to the floor ducts, The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this setting unless
the outside temperature is below
40°F (4.5"C).
(Even when the compressor is running, you can control
the temperature.)
Air Conditioning Compressor Button
Press the A/C button to operate the air conditioning
compressor. The indicator light above the button will glow
when the button
is pressed. You don't have to press the
button to run the compressor in MAX or DEFROST.
Air Conditioning
On very hot-days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time
the
compressor has to run, which should help fuel economy.
For quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature
knob all the way in the blue area. If this
setting is used for long periods of time, the
air in your
vehicle may become too
dry.
ror normal cooling on hot days, turn the control knob to
the
VENT position, with the temperature knob in the
blue area and press the A/C button once (the indicator
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Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine,.
make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly.
This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater
run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm,'you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
.
Loading Your Vehicle
TI!RE-LBADING INFORMATION
VEHICLE
CAP. WT.
FRT, CTR. RR TOTAL LBS.
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY
WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG ' PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PW28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION k
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly
carry, The Tire-Loading Information label
is
on the inside of the trunk lid. The label tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important
irmformation about the numb'er of people that
can be
in your vehicle and the total weight you can
carry.
This weight is called' the vehicle capacity weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.
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F
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI- .
CABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE . .. '-" 1
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTTON-
STAN.DARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear
edge of the driver's door. It tells you the
gross weight
capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating). The
GVWR includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel
and cargo. Never exceed the
GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.
If you do have a heavy load, spread
it out. Don't carry
more than 167 lbs. (75 kg) in your trunk.
A CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the -
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR.
If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, or it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control.
Also, overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages
or anything else -- they will go as fast as
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The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of
your vehicle.
While refueling, hang
the
cap inside the fuel door.
To take
off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
~~
,!b, CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out
on you-if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank
is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Pontiac” in the Index.
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When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you €ully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would
allow he1 to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
"Malfunction Indicator
Lamp" in the Index.
NOTICE:
I€ you need a new cap, be sue to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for
you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and
your fuel t&-@nd gmissions system
might be damaged. . ...._ ,. . 4.~*,-.:~7F4c:> i,,:;:r'.&:;.., I 5 .v,<. " 52;:. .' , "" $g7!fnt ,,
Checking Things Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
YOU even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Things
that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and "
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
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Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close
it firmly.
Engine Oil
I
LOW OIL
LEVEL
If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument
panel comes on, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
3.1L L82 Engine 3.4L LQl Engine
For .more information, see
“Low Oil Level Light” in‘ the
Index. You should check
your engine oil level regularly;
this is
an added reminder.
It’s
a good idea to check your engine oil after you get
fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be
hot
and the vehicle must be on level ground, I-
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop near
the front of the engine.
Turn off the engine and give the oil 20 minutes to drain
back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not
show the actual level.
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