1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM suspension

Front Towing
A vehicle can fall from a car-carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
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.
Before hooking
up to a tow truck, be sure to read
all the information in “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in
this section.
5-10

NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascia/fog light damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car-carrier equipment.
NOTICE:
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 into
the slots in the bottom
of
the floor pan, just behind
the front wheels on
both sides.
Attach
a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end
of each lower
control
arm.
5-11

NOTICE:
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.
5-13

7 Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-2
7-3
7-4 7-4
7-4
7-7
7-29
7-4
1
7-41 7-41
7-42 Introduction
Your Vehicle and
the Environment
How This Section is Organized
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Footnotes Footnotes
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Fill
At Least Once a Month
At Least Twice a Year 7-42
7-45
7-45
7-45
7-45
7-45
7-46
7-46
7-47 7-49 At
Least Once a Year
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
Exhaust System Inspection Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Brake System Inspection Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Part
E: Maintenance Record

Short TriplCity Maintenance Schedule
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals. The services shown
at
150,000 miles (240 000 krn) should be performed at
the same interval after
150,000 miles (240 000 km).
See “Owner’s Checks and Services” and “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections’’ following.
Footnotes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California
Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the
completion of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
# Lubricate the suspension and steering linkage.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See “Brake System Inspection” under “Periodic Maintenance Inspection’’ in Part
C of
this schedule.
++ If you drive in a highly corrosive environment,
your brake calipers may require additional inspection
and service, at every other tire rotation. See
“Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection” under
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in
Part C of
this schedule.
7-7

The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166
000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(166
000 km) at the same intervals. The services shown
at 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be performed at
the same interval after
150,000 miles (240 000 km).
See “Owner’s Checks and Services” and “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections” following.
Footnotes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the
completion of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
# Lubricate the suspension and steering linkage.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See “Brake System Inspection” under “Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in
Part C of
this schedule.
++ If you drive in a highly corrosive environment,
your brake calipers may require additional
inspection and service, at every other tire rotation.
See “Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection”
under “Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in Part C
of this schedule.
7-29

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 be
found in a GM service manual. See “Service and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front 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.
7-45

1997 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it\
in with your check, money order, or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR
1997 PONTIAC
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE
UNIT REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments and specifications for the
I
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$40.00
SERVICE BULLETINS
Service Bulletins give technical service information needed
to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the
diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
PlEASE..CQMPLETE THE ORDER FORM SHOWN ON
THE FQLLOIWINO PAGE AND MAIL TO:
Helm, Incorporated * F.U. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 0.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Service Publications are available for current and past
model GM vehicles.
To request an order form, please
specify year and model name of the vehicle.
OR ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM Eastern ‘Time
For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-Mastercard-Discover)