1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish,
coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2, Follow the solvent-type instructions described earlier.
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if left
on a vehicle's seat fabric. They should be removed
as
soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner will
dissolve
them and may cause them to spread.
Non-Greas'y Stains
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, hit, fruit
juice, milk, soft drinks, wine,
vomit, urine and blood can
be removed as follows:
1. Casefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge th'e
soiled area with cool water.
2. If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
described earlier.
.
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat
the area with a waterbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
4. If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can
be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry.
3. If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
e Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
may have
to do it more than once.
e Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you
don't get
them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and a
vinymeather cleaner. See your dealer for this product.
6-52
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Then, let the
leather dry naturally.
Do not use heat to dry.
0 For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner. See your
dealer for this product.
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled or stained leather should be cleaned
immediately.
If dirt is allowed to work into the
finish, it can harm the leather.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
I ,A CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and
lukewarm water.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films on
interior glass.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals
on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window,
an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
~~ 6-53
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer,
or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax,
sap or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with
GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon Ami@ Powder (non-scratching
glass cleaning powder),
GM Part No. 105001 1. The
windshield is clean if beads
do not form when you rinse
it with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by wiping
vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cl’oth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp we’ather more frequent
application may be required.
(See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
Cleaning the Outside of Yc ac
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish or
car wa,shing (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that
are petroleum based, or
that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents
should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or
an all-cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches
and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a liquid
hand,
dish or vehicle washing (mild detergent) soap to
clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions
under “Washing Your Vehicle.”
6-54
ProCarManuals.com

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Pontiac by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for
a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys,
etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle
as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your Pontiac garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome
Wheels
(If Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel.
A wax
may then be applied.
The surface
of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don’t
use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage the surface. You may use chrome polish on
chrome wheels, but avoid any painted surface of the
wheel, and buff
off immediately after application.
Don’t
take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface
of these wheels.
6-55
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe
off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces
on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint finish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the
body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect
on the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system even though they
have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials
from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should b'e loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer
or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces
on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint
surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Pontiac
will repair, at
no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
6-56
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care Materials Chart
PART NUMBER USAGE
DESCRIPTION
SIZE
994954 Exterior
Polish
Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated
23 in. x 25 in.
1050004
Exterior wash
Wash
and Wax Concentrate
16
oz. (0.473 L) 1052870 Cleans
grease, grime
and smoke film
Glass Cleaner
23 oz. (0.680 L) 1050427 Spot
and stain removal
Vinyl Cleaner
32
oz. (0.946 L) 1050214 Exterior
cleaner and polish
Magic Mirror Cleaner Polish
1 gal. (3.785
L) 1050200 Removes
soil and black marks
White Sidewall
Tire Cleaner
16
oz. (0.473 L) 1050174 Removes rust
and corrosion
Chrome Cleaner and Polish
16
oz. (0.473 L) 1050173 Also removes
old waxes and polishes Tar and Road
Oil Remover
16
OZ. l(0.473 L) 1050172 Shines
vehicle without scratching Chamois
2.75
sq. ft.
1052918""
Attracts and absorbs soils
1052930 8 oz. (0.237 L) Capture Dry Spot Remover Spray
on wheel cleaner
Wheel Cleaner
16
oz. (0.473 L)
1052929 Cleans
vinyl, cloth, tires and mats
Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner
16
oz. (0.473 L) 1052925 Protects
vinyl, leather and rubber Armor
All" Protector
8 oz. (0.237 L)
12345002"" 16 oz. (0.473 L) Armor All TM Cleaner
Cleans vinyl, leather and rubber
12345725---
Spot
cleans paint and gives high luster Finish Enhancer
16 oz. (0.473 L) 12377966 Protects finish
and removes fine scratches
Cleaning Wax
16
oz. (0.473 L) 12377964 Shines tires
Silicone Tire Shine
12
oz. (0.354 L)
See you General Motors Parts Department for these products. ** Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
See "Fluids and Lubricants" in the Index.
6-57
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
1 GM I SAMPLE4UXVM072675 I GM I
ENGINEA97 f ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN
also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on your spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful
if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information and
a list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
6-58
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
I NOTICE:
~ ~~~
Don’t add anything electrical to your Pontiac
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see “Servicing
Your
Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps to
go on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If
this happens, have your headlamp system checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools.
If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem, be sure to have it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load
is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or
goes away.
6-59
ProCarManuals.com