1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM wheel alignment

NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough
air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
When
to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare
tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 Wa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires
are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires
may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put
the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
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.
6-43

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to
give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to
be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and
wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks
air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer if
any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need. Each
new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only
with new GM original
equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your Pontiac
model.
I A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling
of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control.
You could have a collision in which
you or others could
be iqjured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
6-48

Section 9 Index
Accessory Power outlet ......................... 2-50
Adapter Kit. CD ........................... 3.12. 3.15
Adding Equipment to Your Vehicle .................. 6-3
Adjuster. Seat ..................... ..... 1.2. 1.52
AirBag ....................................... 1-21
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-25
How it Works ................................ 1-23
Location .................................... 1-23
Readiness Light ......................... 1.23. 2.57
What Makes it Inflate .......................... 1-25
What Will You See After it Inflates ............... 1-26
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-25
Aircleaner .................................... 6-19
Airconditioning ................................ 3-2
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-65
Alignment and Balance. Tire ...................... 6-48
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning ...................... 6-55
Antenna. Fixed ................................. 3-25
Antifreeze ..................................... 6-25
Anti-Lock Servicing
................................... 1-27
Brake System Warning Light ................ 2.59. 4.7
Brakes ...................................... 4-7
Anti.Theft.
Radio .............................. 3-20
Appearancecare ............................... 6-50
Appearance Care Materials ....................... 6-57
ArbitrationPro gram .............................. 8-9
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-49
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel Touch Control ....... 3-22
Audio Equipment. Adding ......... 2.17.2.18.3.24. 6.59
Audio Systems ............ .................. 3-7
Auto-Down Window ............................ 2-33
Automatic Transaxle Check ....................... 7-31
Automatic Transaxle Park Mechanism Check ......... 7-33
Automatic Door Locks ............................ 2-5
Automatic Light Control ......................... 2-43
Automatic Overdrive ............................ 2-23
Automatic Transaxle ............................ 2-16
Starting Your Engine .......................... 2-16
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
........................ 6-20
Automatic Transaxle Operation .................... 2-21
Shifting ..................................... 2-21
Backing up When Towing a Trailer ............. 4-39
Back-up Lamp Bulb Replacement ................. 6-40
Battery ....................................... 6-36
Charging System Indicator Light ................. 2-58
Jumpstarting ................................. 5-3
Replacement. Keyless Entry ..................... 2-9
Saver ...................................... 2-46
Warnings .................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-9
Before Leaving on a Long Trip .................... 4-23
Better Business Bureau Mediation ................... 8-9
9-1

Supplemental Restraint System .................... 1-21
Surge Tank. Coolant
............................. 5- 18
Surge Tank. How
to Add Coolant .................. 5-18
Surge
Tank Pressure Cap ......................... 6-29
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
Synchronization
................................ 2-10
Tachometer
.................................. 2-56
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 6-40
Theft-Deterrent Feature. CD Player
................ 3-20
Third Gear. Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-23
Third Gear. Manual Transaxle ..................... 2-25
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-34
Time, Setting the
................................ 3-7
Tirehading
................................... 4-33
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-33
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-48
Changing a Flat .............................. 5-23
Tapeplayercare
............................... 3-24
Theft
......................................... 2-12
THEFTLOCK"
................................ 3-20
Thermostat
.................................... 6-29
TiieChains
.................................... 6-49
Tires
......................................... 6-42
BuyingNew
................................. 6-45
Chains
..................................... 6-49
Cleaning
.................................... 6-56
Compactspare
............................... 5-33
Inflation
..................................... 6-42
Inflation Check
............................... 7-30
InspectionandRotation ........................ 6-43
Loading
.................................... 4-33 Pressure
.................................... 6-42
Temperature
................................. 6-47
Traction
.................................... 6-47
Treadwear
................................... 6-47
Uniform Quality Grading ....................... 6-46
Used Replacement Wheel
...................... 6-49
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-45
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-48
When
It's Time for New ....................... 6-45
TorqueLock
................................... 2-29
Torque, Wheel Nut
......................... 5-30, 6-65
From the Front
.......................... 4-30, 4-31
From
the Rear ............................... 4-32
Recreational Vehicle
.......................... 4-30
Towingal"
................................ 4-35
Towing Your Vehicle ............................. 5-8
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
............... 4-30
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear
................ 4-32
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-41
Engine Cooling
.............................. 4-42
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-42
Tongueweight
............................... 4-37
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-38
TopStrap
..................................... l-43
Trailer
Brakes
..................................... 4-38
Drivingwith ................................. 4-39
Hitches
..................................... 4-38
ParkingonHills
.............................. 4-41
SafetyChains
................................ 4-38
Towing
..................................... 4-35
Turnsignals
................................. 4-40
Weight
..................................... 4-36
9-10

Transaxle Automatic
................................... 6-20
Manual ..................................... 6-23
Transmitters, Keyless Entry ........................ 2-7
Transportation, Courtesy .......................... 8-8
Trip Odometer ................. . . 2-55
Trunk Lock
....................................... 2-11
Security Override ............................. 2-12
T& Lamp ................................... 2-46
"Y Users ............................. ... 8-5
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals ............... 2-35
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever ................... 2-34
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer ................ 4-40
underbody Flushing Service ..................... 7-33
Underbody Maintenance ......................... 6-56
Up Shift Light ................................. 2-26
variable Effort Steering ....................... 4-10
Vehicle
Control
...................................... 4-6
Damagewarnings .............................. iv
Dimensions
................................. 6-66
Identification Number ......................... 6-58
Loading .................................... 4-33
Storage ..................................... 6-36
Ventilationsystem ............................... 3-6
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-50
Visors, Sun .................................... 2-50
warning Devices ...............
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators
Warranty Information
.............
Washer Fluid. Windshield .........
Washing Your Vehicle ............
Weatherstrips ...................
Wheel Alignment
...................
Nut Torque ...................
Replacement ..................
Used Replacement .............
Wrench ......................
Windows ......................
Auto-Down ..................
Lock Out Switch ..............
Power .......................
Windshield Washer ..............
Fluid ........................
................ 5-2
............... 2-56
............... 8-10
............... 6-30
............... 6-54
............. 6-54
............... 6-48
.......... 5.30. 6.65
............... 6-48
............... 6-49
............... 5-24
............... 2-33
............... 2-33
............... 2-33
............... 2-33
............... 2-37
........... 2.31. 6.30
FluidLevelCheck ............................ 7-30
Windshield Wiper .............................. 2-36
Blade Replacement ........................... 6-41
Winter Driving ................................. 4-26
Wiper Blade Check ............................. 7-31
Wiper Blade, Cleaning ........................... 6-53
Wiring, Headlamp .............................. 6-59
WreckerTowing ................................. 5-8
Wrench, Wheel ................................. 5-24
Fuses ...................................... 6-59
9-11