1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC service

What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don't let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing
or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer's warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be
a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don't ever dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing
of your used oil,
ask your dealer,
a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Air Cleaner
To check or replace the air filter:
1.
2.
3.
Loosen the wing nut on the air duct.
Lift up on the two clips located on top of the
filter cover.
Disconnect duct and reposition while removing
the side cover. Pull out the filter.
Be sure to install
the air filter and install the cover tightly when you
are finished.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
ProCarManuals.com

See “Sche 1 M ltenance Services” in the In’dex, ..
-
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause
you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only
cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you
could be burned. Don’t drive with
it
off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backflre can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into
your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically qualified and have the proper
tools,
you should let your dealer or a qualified service
center
perform this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
What Kind of Oil to Use
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index
and use only the recommende’d oil.
6-20
ProCarManuals.com

How to Check and Add Oil
Check oil only when the engine is cold. Allow the
engine to cool two to three hours after running.
If you remove the supercharger oil fill plug while
the engine is hot, pressure may cause hot oil to
blow out
of the oil fill hole. You may be burned.
DQ not remove the plug until the engine cools.
1. Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing it.
2, Remove the oil fill plug using a 3/16 inch
Allen wrench.
5. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads
of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place.
Torque to 88
lb-in (10 N.m).
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83
000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (3 2 O C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Pontiac dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get
a false reading
on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get
an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle
fluid,
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at norrnal
operating temperature, which is
1801°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
( lo°C). If it's colder than 50" F ( lO"C), you may have
to drive longer.
6-22
ProCarManuals.com

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.
6-35
ProCarManuals.com

Tires
Your new Pontiac comes with high-quality tires
made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have
questions about your tire warranty and where to obtain
service, see your Pontiac Warranty booklet for details.
E
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your
tires can cause overheating
as a result of too much friction. You could
have
an airout and a serious accident. See
“Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
0 Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured or broken by a sudden impact
--
such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn,
or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
rear edge of the driver’s door shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three
hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
6-45
ProCarManuals.com

Check Tire Pressure System (If Equipped)
The check tire pressure system can alert you to a large
change in the pressure in one tire. The system won’t
alert you before you drive that a tire is low or flat. Each
time you start your Pontiac, you must drive
10 to 20
miles (15 to 30 km) before the system will work
properly.
After you’ve driven
10 to 20 miles (15 to 30 km), the
CHECK TIRE PRESS light will come on if the pressure
in o’ne
tire becomes at least 10 psi (69 kPa) higher or
lower than the other three tires. The check tire pressure
system won’t alert you if the pressure in more than
one tire is low or high, or if the system is not
calibrated properly.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on
with the
CHECK TIRE PRESS light, the check tire
pressure system isn’t working. See your dealer for
service. (Also, see “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light” in
the Index.)
The check tire pressure system detects differences in tire
rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire
pressure. It will not alert you if the pressure in more
than one tire is low or high. The system can alert you
about
a low tire -- but it doesn’t replace normal tire
maintenance. See “Tires” in
the Index. When
the CHECK
TIRE PRESS light comes on, you
should stop as soon
as you can and check all your tires for
darnage. (If a tire
is flat, see “If a Tire Goes Flat” in the
Index.) Also check the tire pressure in all four tires as soon
as you can. See “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in the Index.
The light will stay on until
you turn off the ignition
or
press the CALIBRATE
TIRE
PRESS button.
Don’t press the CALIBRATE TIRE
PRESS button
without first correcting the cause of the problem and
checking and adjusting the pressure in all four tires.
If you
press the button when the tire pressures
are incorrect, the
check tire pressure system will not work properly
and may
not alert you when a tire is low or high.
Any time you adjust a tire’s pressure or have a
tire
repaired or replaced, you’ll need to calibrate the check tire
pressure system. You’ll
also need to calibrate the system
whenever you buy new tires or have
tires repaired.
6-47
ProCarManuals.com

To calibrate the system:
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON.
2. The CALIBRATE TIRE PRESS button is under the
instrument panel, to the right of the steering column.
Press and hold the button for about three seconds.
The
CHECK TIRE PRFSS light will flash three
times and go out.
If the light doesn’t go out after you
press the
CALIBRATE TIRE PRESS button, see
your dealer for service.
3. The system completes the calibration process during
driving. During the first
10 to 20 miles (15 to 30 km)
of driving, the system will not alert you if a tire is
low or high. After
20 to 80 miles (30 to 125 km), the
system will only alert
you about pressure differences
of
12 psi (85 kPa) or more. After 80 miles (125 km)
of driving, the system will alert you if a tire is 8 psi
(55 Pa) different from the other three tires.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See “When
It’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information. The
purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use
the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
6-48
ProCarManuals.com