1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC suspension

/r\, CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serio’us personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is trapported.
Don’t
use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.)
that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
~~
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
turned
to the OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a
clamping device designed
for towing service. Do not
use the vehicle’s steering column lock for ths The
transaxle should be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the
parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be
sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or
your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
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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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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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Head-Up Display ............................. 2-58
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heating
........................................ 3-3
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-27
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-22
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-33
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Release
.................................... 6-7
Horn
.................. .................. 2-25
HUD .................. .................. 2-58
Hydroplaning
........... .................. 4-18
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 10
Inflation, Tire .................................. 6-49
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
.................. 2-37
Inspections Brakesystem
................................ 7- 40
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-40
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-40
Steering
.................................... 7-40
Suspension
.................................. 7-40
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-40
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-43
Brightness Control
............................ 2-34
Cleaning
.................................... 6-59
Cluster
..................................... 2-44
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-65
Interior Lamps ................................. 2-34 Jack. Tire
..... ... ..... 5-23
Jump Starting
... ................ 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-37
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-11
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Labels Certification
................................. 4-29
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-64
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-28
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-64
Lamps
........................................ 2-32
Courtesy
..................................... 2-34
Dome
...................................... 2-36
Interior
..................................... 2-34
OnReminder
................................ 2-32
Sustained Interior Illumination
.................. 2-34
Latches. Seatback ................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
....... 2-21
Lighter
....................................... 2-41
Lights
Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1-25. 2.47
Anti-Lock Brake System Active
............. 2.50. 4.8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2.49. 4.7
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-48
Charging System
............................. 2-47
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-50
Interior
..................................... 2-34
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-51
LowFuel
................................... 2-57
9-5
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