1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC service

g New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you get new tires,
get ones with that sarne TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service
on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires. Reset Tire
Inflation Monitor
(TIM).
I
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle.
Be sure to use the same
size and type tires
on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system
does not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A,
B, and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire
is
based on braking (straightahead) traction tests and
does not include cornering '(turning) traction.
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Tires Sheet Metal Damage
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleanler. If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
~ repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
NOTICE: applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
When applying a tire dressing always take care Finish Damage
~ . Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish to wipe off any overspray or splash from all
painted surfaces on the body or wheels of the should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
vehicle. Petroleum-based products may damage
the paint finish.
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available
from your dealer or other service -
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s
body and paint shop.
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
I
ENGINEA7 f ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can see it if
you look through the
windshield
from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the underside of your trunk lid.
It’s very helpful if
you ever need to order parts. On this
label
is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information and
0 a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be
sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
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Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its &e@
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2 Introduction to Your Maintenance Schedule
7-2 Your Vehicle and the Environment
7-3
How this Section is Organized
7-4 Using Your Maintenance Schedule
7-4 Selecting the Right Schedule for Your Vehicle
7-5 Short TripKity Definition
7-5 Short Trip/City Intervals
7-6 Long Trip/Highway Definition 7-6
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7-39
7-40
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7-44
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Long Tripmighway Intervals
Owner Checks
at Each Fuel Fill-up
What to Check at Least Once a Month
What
to Check at Least Twice a Year
What to Check at Least Once a Year
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
A Place to Record Maintenance Procedures
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HQW This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these
jobs.
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous.
In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured. Do your own maintenance
work only if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications”
in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you
what should be checked and when.
It also explains
what you can easily do to help keep your vehicle
in
good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your Pontiac
deaIer’s service
department or another qualified service center
should perform.
((Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write it down in this part.
This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it
is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed
to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
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Part A: Scheduled Maintlenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll
drive it. You may drive very short
distances only
a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather,
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or
you may drive it to work, to do errands or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different ways people
use their GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section.
So please read this
section and note how
you drive. If you have any
questions
on how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your Pontiac dealer.
This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when
you should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will
perform the work using genuine
GM pasts. The proper fluids and lubricants
to use are listed in Part D.
Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these. All
parts should
be replaced and all necessary repairs done
before
you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits.
You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
0 are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
driving limits.
Selecting the Right Scheldule
First you’ll need
to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how
to decide which
schedule
to follow:
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Maintenance Schedule
I Short TripKity Definition I ~____ ~~ ~~
Follow the Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
your
vehicle.
or other commercial application.
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if
you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down soonex
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or
3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Inspection,
if driving in dusty conditions.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Supercharger Oil Check (or every 36 months,
whichever occurs first) (3.8L Code
1 engine only).
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions
only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule
on the following pages.
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