2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX wiper blades

Windshield Wiper Lever
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged
wiper blades may not clear the windshield well,
making it harder to see and drive safely. If the
blades do become damaged, install new blades or
blade inserts. For more information, seeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on page 399.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it
cools down. Clear away snow or ice to prevent an
overload.
N(Windshield Wipers):The lever with this
symbol, located on the right side of the steering
column, operates the windshield wipers.
9(Off):Lower the lever to its original position to
turn the wipers off.
&(Delay):Push the lever up once to this
position to set a delay between wiping cycles. Turn
the delay adjustment band to set the length of
the delay.
x(Delay Adjustment):Turn the band, located
on the left of the windshield wiper lever, to set
the length of the delay between wiper cycles when
using the delay feature. There are ve delay
adjustment settings. Turn the band up to make the
delays shorter in between wiper cycles. Turn
the band down to make the delays longer between
wiper cycles. The windshield wiper lever must
be in delay for this feature to work.
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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or
when strips of rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They
may not work as well in a quick stop and
may cause pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal
lightly until your brakes work normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your brakes.
Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can
if your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if
a lot of water is standing on the road. If you
can see reections from trees, telephone poles, or
other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
304

Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested.
If you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make
too many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you will nd experienced and able service experts
in GM dealerships all across North America. They
will be ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 399
Tires............................................................ 400
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 401
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 405
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 408
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 409
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 414
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 415
Buying New Tires...................................... 416
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 417
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 418
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 419
Wheel Replacement.................................. 419
Tire Chains............................................... 421
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 422
Tire Inator Kit (GXP)................................ 424
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 435
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 436
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire............................................. 438
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 445
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 447Appearance Care........................................ 448
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 448
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 449
Leather...................................................... 451
Ultra Lux Suede........................................ 451
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces................................................ 452
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 452
Weatherstrips............................................ 452
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 453
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 453
Finish Care............................................... 453
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 454
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 454
Tires......................................................... 455
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 455
Finish Damage.......................................... 456
Underbody Maintenance............................ 456
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 456
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 457
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
334

Windshield Replacement
If your vehicle is equipped with the Head-Up
Display (HUD) system, keep in mind that your
windshield is part of the HUD system. If you ever
have to get your windshield replaced, be sure
to get one that is designed for HUD or your HUD
image may look blurred or out of focus.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 473for more information on wiper blade
inspection.Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. For the proper type
and length, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 484. Here is how to remove the
wiper blade:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm connector away
from the windshield.
2. While holding the wiper arm, pull the clip up
from the blade connecting point, and pull the
blade assembly down toward the windshield
to remove it from the wiper arm.
3. Install the new wiper blade onto the wiper arm
and snap the clip into place.
399

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and
other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and
tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, etc., can damage the vehicle’s
nish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash
the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging,
weather, and chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. To help keep the
paint nish looking new, keep the vehicle in a
garage or covered whenever possible.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the
windshield washer, or if the wiper blade chatters
when running, wax, sap, or other material may
be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a glass
cleaning liquid or powder and water solution.
The windshield is clean if beads do not form when
it is rinsed with water.Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper
blades and affect their performance. Clean
the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as
necessary; replace blades that look worn.
Aluminum Wheels
Notice:If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or
cleaners that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels, you could damage the
surface of the wheel(s). The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use
only GM-approved cleaners on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth
with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water.
After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean
towel. A wax may then be applied.
454

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 350. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 353.An Emission Control Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (k).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 355.See footnote (m).•
Rotate tires and check ination pressures and wear. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 414and “Tire Wear Inspection” inAt Least Once a Month
on page 480.••
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services”
in this section.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transaxle uid level and add uid as needed.•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (g).•
Inspect throttle system.See footnote (j).•
475

(d)Visually inspect wiper blades for wear or
cracking. Replace wiper blades that appear worn
or damaged or that streak or miss areas of
the windshield.
(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any
other loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced. Also
look for any opened or broken airbag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. The
airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders. Lubricate all
hinges and latches, including those for the
body doors, hood, secondary latch, pivots, spring
anchor, release pawl, rear compartment, glove
box door, console door, and any folding seat
hardware. More frequent lubrication may
be required when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions,
the lter may require replacement more often.(h)Change automatic transaxle uid and lter if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or
higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system. This
service can be complex; you should have
your dealer perform this service. See Engine
Coolant on page 360 for what to use. Inspect
hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and ller neck. Pressure test the cooling
system and pressure cap.
(j)Check throttle system for interference or
binding and for damaged or missing parts. Replace
parts as needed. Replace any components that
have high effort or excessive wear. Do not
lubricate accelerator or cruise control cables.
478