1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

7. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in
a crisscross
sequence as shown.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come off. This could lead
to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts.
If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with
a torque wrench to
100 Ib-ft (140 Nom). ’
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheeI
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Don’t try to put the wheel cover on your compact
spare tire.
It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover in the
trunk until you have th’e flat tire repaired or replaced.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
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Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause
injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store
all these
in the proper place.
After you’ve put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you’ll need to store the flat tire in your trunk. Use the
following procedure
to secure the flat tire in the trunk. When storing a full-size tire you must use the extension
to help avoid wheel surface damage. Use extension and
protector/guide located in foam holder.
To store a
full-size tire, place tire valve stem facing down then
remove protectivelguide and attach retainer securely.
When reinstalling compact spare put protective/guide
back in foam holder. Store the cover
as far forward
as possible.
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Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
1
I
Storing a jack, a tire or ‘other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipmen.t could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you
can. See “Compact Spare Tire” in the Index. See the
storage instructions label to replace your compact spare
into your trunk properly.
Be sure to calibrate your check tire pressure system after
you replace your compact
spare tire with a full-sized
one. See “Check Tire Pressure Light” in the Index.
I
1. Retainer
2. Cover
3. Retainer
(Full Size
Spare)
4. Tire
5. Nut
6. Jack
7. Wrench
8. Lock Nut Tool
9. Foam
10. Bolt Screw
11. Extension and
Protector/Guide
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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 Ha).
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 rnph (105 kdh) for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 krn), so YOU can finish
your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced
where
you want. You must calibrate the Tire Pressure
Monitor after installing
or removing the compact spare.
See “Driver Information Center - Controls and Displays”
in
the Index. 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 vehicle 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.
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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.
L
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 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
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.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If your
vehicle has the Trac System, you should turn the system
off. (See “Trac System” in the Index.) 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.
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b NOTES
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac. 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.
6-2
6-3 6-5
6-5
6-7
6- 14
6-2 1
6-26
6-32
6-33 6-36
6-37
6-37 6-44
6-46
Doing Your Own Service Work
What Kind of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank
Checking
Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine Oil
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid
Important Brake Information
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
How and When to Check Tire Inflation 6-50
6-52
6-55
6-58
6-59
6-61
6-63
6-64
6-65 6-66
6-66
6-72
6-72
6-73
6-73 When
it is Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of the Safety Belts and Built-in
Child Restraint
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recommended Appearance
Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
Normal Replacement Parts
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Service
Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle be,st and wants
you
tu be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
dealer
for all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep
your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Deleo
-.
Doing Your Own Service . hrk
~~
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want
to get the groper Pontiac Service Manual. It tells
you
much more about how to service your Pontiac than
this manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service and O’wner
Publications” in the Index. Your
vehicle
has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own sewice work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Pontiac”
in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform, See “Maintenance Record” in the Index,
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sumcient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance
task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. C‘English” and (‘metric”
fasteners can be easily confused,
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can
later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
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