2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM wheel alignment

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-22
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Engine Overheating.......................................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-28
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-34Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-35
Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-41
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-47
Headlamps..................................................5-47
Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-48
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-50
Tires..............................................................5-51
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-58
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-60
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-61
Buying New Tires.........................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-64
Wheel Replacement......................................5-65
Tire Chains..................................................5-66
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-67
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-68
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-77
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 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. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-61andWheel Replacement
on page 5-65for 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. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4, 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.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-92.
{CAUTION:
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 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. See “Changing a Flat
Tire” in the Index.
5-60

Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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.
5-64

Tires (cont.)
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-77
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-67
Inflation - Tire Pressure................................5-58
Inspection and Rotation................................5-60
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-64
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-61
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-23
Top Strap......................................................1-42
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-43
Torque Lock...................................................2-31
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-43
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-32
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-41
Your Vehicle...............................................4-32
Traction
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).................... 4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light....3-29
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning
Light......................................................3-28
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-44
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-21
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-22Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-24
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-27
Transmission
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-26
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-11
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit...................................2-14
Trip Odometer................................................3-24
Trunk............................................................2-12
Trunk Lamp...................................................3-18
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-45
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-63
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Up-Shift Light.................................................3-26
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-66
Using an MP3 CD..........................................3-63
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-79
14

V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-35
Parking Your...............................................2-32
Service Soon Light......................................3-36
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 7-9
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).............................................5-86
Service Parts Identification Label...................5-86
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-41
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-21
Visor Vanity Mirror..........................................2-16
Visors...........................................................2-16
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......................................5-81
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-42
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-42
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-16
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-19
What to Use..........................................5-24, 5-35
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-64
Replacement...............................................5-65
15