
Following Distance
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 braking 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
pa.ssed 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.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come
in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
flash, telling other drivers you’re about
to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are .workjfig.
4-4 1

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles (12 500 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 Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-56
and Wheel Replacement
on page 5-59
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 “Part A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in Section
6, for scheduled
rotation intervals.
n 4 J
1
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and
Specifications on page 5-86.
.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come
off and cause an accident. When you
change
a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a ciorh or a
paper towel to
do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later,
if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt
off. See “Changing a Flat
Tire”
in the Index.
5-55

Notice: If your vehicle has a tire size other than
P225/50R16 size tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when you must. Use only
SAE Class
“S” 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.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely
to leak out
slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout”, here are
a few tips about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer
to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle
to go, It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop - well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
5-6 1

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to
a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The
vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST
(1) or REVERSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move, you can put blocks at
the front and
rear
of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire on other side of the vehicle, at the The following steps
will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-62

Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which
it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become
lccse after a time. The wheel could
come
off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or
a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to,
to
get all the rust or dirt off.
1
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If
could fall
off, causing a serious accident.
..-.. -I, +L- -..+- -:-k& ---- I ---- \I ____. ... L--I I YWU UW, lilt llUL3 Illlyllb GWIIIC; IWUDC;. IUUi VVIlGel
I I
8. Install the compact spare tire.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
5-67

GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
1 This program, available to
qualified applicants, can
~ reimburse you up to
' $1,000 toward aftermarket
I driver or passenger
adaptive equipment you
may require for your
vehicle (hand controls,
wheelchair/scooter lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The program is available for
a limited period of time from the date of vehicle purchase/
lease. See your dealer for more details or call the GM
Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text
telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program.
Call
1 -800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details.
All TTY users call 1-800-263-3830.
Roadside Assistance PrOgram
Security While You Travel
I-800-ROADSIDE (1-800-762-3743)
As the proud owner of a new Pontiac vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the Pontiac Roadside
Assistance program. This value-added service is
intended
to provide you with peace of mind as you drive
in the city or travel the open road.
Pontiac's Roadside Assistance toll-free number
is
staffed by a team of technically trained advisors, who
are available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We take anxiety out of uncertain situations by providing
minor repair information over the phone or making
arrangements
to tow your vehicle to the nearest Pontiac
dealer.
We will provide the following services for
3 years/36,000 miles (60
000 km), at no expense to you:
0 Fuel delivery
0 Lock-out service (identification required)
0 Tow to nearest dealership for warranty service
0 Change a flat tire
Jump starts
7-5

Tires (cont.) Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
................. 5-59
Wheel Replacement
..................................... 5-59
When It
Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-56
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
.................... 2-23
Top
of the Instrument Panel ............................. 5-74
Top Strap
...................................................... 1-42
Top Strap Anchor Location
............................... 1-43
Torque Lock
................................................... 2-31
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
.................. 4-39
Towing Recreational Vehicle
..................................... 4-32
Towing a Trailer
.......................................... 4-37
Your Vehicle
............................................... 4-32
Traction Enhanced Traction System Active Light
........... 3-29
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
........ 3-28
Enhanced Traction
System (ETS)
.................... 4-9
Trailer Brakes
................................................. 4-40
Transaxle Fluid, Automatic
........................................... 5-22
Fluid, Manual
.............................................. 5-22
Transaxle Operation, Manual
............................ 2-27
Transmission
Up-Shift Light
.............................................. 3-26
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual
.............................................. 7-9
Transportation Options
...................................... 7-7
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit
.. I .. .. jj jj I .. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ I 2-1 4
Tr2.ns2x!E! Gperstls!?, ,*.ntc!X!tic ......................... L 9-24
Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-24
Trunk
............................................................ 2-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
.......................... 3-6
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
........................... 3-6
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
.................. 4-41
Trunk
Lamp
................................................... 3-17
U
Underbody Flushing Service ............................. 6-12
Understanding Radio Reception
........................ 3-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
............................ 5-57
United States
................................................... 7-4
Up-Shift Light
................................................. 3-26
Used Replacement Wheels
.............................. 5-60
Using Cleaner on Fabric
.................................. 5-73
v
Vehicle Control
.................................................
Damage Warnings ..................................
Loaang .................................................
Parking Your ..........................................
Service Soon Light .................................
Symbols ................................................
Number (VIN) ........................................
Service Parts Identification Label ..............
Vehicle Storage .........................................
Vehicle Identification
....... 4-6
......... iv
..... 4-33
..... 2-32
..... 3-36
......... iv
..... 5-80
..... 5-80
.=i = 5-43
13

Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-21 When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
Vinyl
............................................................. 5-74 on a Hill ..................................................... 4-43
Visor Vanity Mirror
.......................................... 2-16 Where to Put the Restraint ............................... 1-41
Visors
........................................................... 2-16 Why Safety Belts Work .................................... 1-10
Window Lock Out ........................................... 2-16
Windows 2-15
Manual
...................................................... 2-15
.......................................................
W
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators ................ 3-22
Warnings Hazard Warning Flashers
............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices
.................................. 3-5
Safety and Symbols
......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light
...................... 3-36
Washing Your Vehicle
...................................... 5-75
Weatherstrip Lubrication
................................... 6-1 0
Weight of the Trailer ........................................ 4-38
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
............................. 4-38
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
........................ 5-18
What
to Do with Used Oil ................................ 5-20
What to Use
.......................................... 5-24, 5-37
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance
.......................... 5-59
Replacement
............................................... 5-59
When to Add Engine Oil
.................................. 5-17
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life SystemTM)
................................ 5-19
When to Check
.............................................. 5-54 Power
........................................................ 2-16
Windshield and Wiper Blades
........................... 5-76
Windshield Washer
........................................... 3-9
Fluid
.......................................................... 5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
................. 6-9
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement
...................................... 5-52
Fuses
........................................................ 5-81
Windshield Wipers
............................................ 3-8
Wiper Blade Check
......................................... 6-10
Winter Driving
................................................ 4-26
XMTM Satellite Radio Antenna System
................ 3-72
XMTM Satellite Radio Service
............................ 3-70
Your Vehicle and the Environment
. ......... 6-2
When
to Check and What to Use ..................... 5-23
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
................ 5-36
14