1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

NOTICE:
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts.
For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you.spil1 brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
Brake Wear
Your Pontiac has four-wheel disc brakes.
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).
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.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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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.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in section
7 of this
manual under
Part C “Perodic Maintenance Inspections,”
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your
brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts in them,
as your Pontiac does when it is new.
When you replace parts of your braking system
-- for
example, when your brake linings wlear down and you
have to have new ones put in
-- be sure you get new
approved
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change -- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways
if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Pontiac has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have
to add water to ‘one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has
the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
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Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery.
This will help keep your battery from running down.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt
if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in
the Index.
Bulb Replacement
In this section you’ll find directions for changing the
bulbs in some of the lamps on your Grand Prix. See
“Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index to find the type of
bulb
you should use. For any bulb replacement
procedures not explained here, see your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
I
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop
or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
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Headlamps
1. Open the hood and support properly.
2. Remove the two bolts
from the top
of the
headlamp assembly.
3. Carefully remove the headlamp assembly from the
vehicle. Be careful to avoid scratching or chipping
the paint on the vehicle while removing.
4. Lift the plastic tab on the electrical connector and
pull the connector.
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5. Rotate the lamp socket ring 1/4 turn counterclockwise
to remove it from the headlamp assembly.
6. Pull the lamp from the socket.
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7. Place the new lamp into the socket. Hold the lamp
at the base, being careful not to touch the lamp with
your fingers.
The oil from your fingers will cause
the lamp to fail.
8. Rotate the lamp socket ring 1/4 turn clockwise
to place it back into the headlamp assembly.
9. Lift the plastic tab on the electrical connector
and replace the connector.
10. Carefully replace the headlamp assembly into
the vehicle. Be careful to avoid scratching
or
chipping the paint on the vehicle while replacing
the assembly.
11. Replace the two bolts on the top of the
12. Close
the hood.
headlamp assembly.
Front Turn Signal
1. Open
the hood and support properly.
2. Remove the two bolts from the top of the
headlamp assembly.
vehicle.
Be careful to avoid scratching or chipping
the paint
on the vehicle while replacing.
counterclockwise to remove.
3. Carefully remove the headlamp assembly into the
4. Turn the front sidemarker bulb socket 1/4 turn
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5. Remove the bulb from the socket.
6. Place the new bulb into the socket.
7. Turn the bulb socket 114 turn clockwise to replace it.
8. Carefully replace the headlamp assembly into the
vehicle. Be careful to avoid scratching or chipping
the paint
on the vehicle while replacing.
9. Replace the two bolts on the top of the
headlamp assembly.
10. Close the hood.
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
1. Open the trunk.
2. Reach through the access opening in the trunk and
remove the slotted vent by squeezing the ends and
pulling down.
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3. Remove the bulb by turning it 1/4 turn
4. Place the new bulb into the bulb socket.
5. Turn the bulb 1/4 turn clockwise to replace, Replace
counterclockwise.
the vent you removed earlier.
6. Close the trunk,
Taillamps
1. Unhook the convenience net (if equipped)
and remove.
2. Unscrew the lower convenience net hook attachment.
3. Pull the trunk trim carpeting back from the rear of
the trunk.
4. Remove the upper trunk trim hook and the two
plastic wing nuts
from the taillamp.
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