1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO tires

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 Wa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle,
you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your spare
tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to
perform well at speeds
up to 65 mph ( 105 km/h) for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can finish
your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced
where
you want. Of course, it’s best to replace your
spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your
spare will last longer and be in good shape in case you
need it again.
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t
use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire
or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 kmh) as shown
on the speedometer.
I
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.
Rockinq 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Chevrolet. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then
it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information
about your vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes Battery
Bulb Replacement
Halogen Bulbs
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care 6-46
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Cleaning the Inside of Your Chevrolet
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Cleaning the Outside of
the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
Weatherstrips
Cleaning the Outside of Your Chevrolet
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)
Cleaning Tires Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Underbody Maintenance
Chemical Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Wear
Your Chevrolet has front disc brakes and rear drum
brakes if it is equipped with the
3 100 engine. It has
four-wheel disc brakes if it is equipped with the
3.4L
DOHC engine.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you
are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
I
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM specifications.
If
you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have wear
indicators, but if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected. Also, the
rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each
time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
When you have the front brake pads replaced, have the
rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section 7 of this manual
under
Part C “Periodic Maintenance Inspections”.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Replacement blades for your vehicle are 22 inches
(559 mm) in length.
1. Turn the wipers on to the lowest intermittent setting.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions
of the wiper pattern. The blades are
more accessible for removal/replacement while in
this position.
3. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from
the windshield.
4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull the blade assembly down
towards the glass to remove
it from the wiper arm.
5. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm
until you hear the release clip “click” into place.
For wiper blade replacement length and type, also see
“Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
Tires
Your new Chevrolet comes with high-quality tires made
by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have
questions about your tire warranty and where to obtain
service, see your Chevrolet Warranty booklet for details.
A CAU I I
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause overheating
as a result of too much friction. You could
have an airout and a serious accident. See
“Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently
to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured or broken by
a sudden impact --
such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread
is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
inside
of the trunk lid shows the correct inflation
pressures
for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three
hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put
the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 OOO to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual wear,
rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel
alignment.
Also check for damaged tires or wheels. See
“When It’s Time for New Tires” and “Wheel
Replacement” later in
this section for more information. The
purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear
for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’ in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your
tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
I
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use
a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt
off. (See
Whanging a Flat Tire” in the Index.) When
It’s Time
for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
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