1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC ECU

Driving with a Trailer Following Bistance
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you
are
driving is now a good deal longer an’d not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle
and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load
is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working, Stay
at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy bralung
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re
a good deal
longer, you’ll need to
go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just
move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if
possible, have someone guide you.
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a Pontiac dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not
be correct.
Before you
do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front
with sling
type equipment.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let
the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations.
The operator may want
to see them.
r
I
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
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,-., ., . ........
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isnst" .,''.' ''.
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.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in
a straight-ahead position, with a
clamping device designed for towing service.
Do not
use the vehicle's steering column lock for this. The
transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released. Don't have your vehicle towed on the front
wheels,
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
front wheels,
be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then the
front wheels have to be supported
on a dolly.
Front Towing
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car carrier equipment, Additional ramping
may
be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur €.om vehicle
to ground or vehicle
to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage, raise the vehicle until
adequate clearance
is obtained between the
ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or Jnhooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
Attach T-hook chains in the
front brackets
of the cradle,
ow both sides.
These slots are to be used when loading and securing to
car carrier equipment.
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper fascia will be damaged.
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 '6-books inserted in the
T-hook slots.
Attach T-hook chains to the T-hook slots in the
floor pan support rails, just ahead of the rear wheels,
on both sides.
These slots are to be used when loading and securing to
car carrier equipment.
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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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7. Remove the bulb.
8. Place the new bulb into the socket.
9. Turn the lamp socket 1/4 turn clockwise to
replace it.
to avoid scratching or chipping the vehicle paint.
10. Carefully replace the taillamp assembly. Be careful
11. Reverse Steps 1 through 4.
12. Close the rear compartment.
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from
the windshield.
2. Lift the release clip with a screwdriver and pull the
blade
off the wiper arm.
3, Push the new wiper blade securely onto the
wiper arm.
For wiper blade replacement length and type, see
“Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts” in the Index.
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Used R lacement Wheels
Putting
a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous,
You can’t know how it’s been used or
how
far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause
an accident. If you have to replace a
wheel,
use a new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
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NOTICE:
If your Pontiac has P225/60R16 size tires, don’t
use tire chains. They can damage
your vehicle
because there’s not enough clearance.
NOTICE: (Continued) NOTICE:
(Continued)
Use another type
of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
condition,s. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle drive slowly, readjust
or remove the
device if
it’s contacting your vehicle and don’t
spin your wheels.
If you do find traction de that will fit, install
them on the front tires,
If you have oth,er tires, use tire chains only where
legal and
only when you must. Use only SAE
Cla,ss LLS” type chains that are the proper size for
your tires. Install them
on the front tires and
tighten them as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly
and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions,
If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop
and retighten them.
If the contact continues,
slow down until
it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will damage
your vehicle.
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