2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE service

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?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway
hypnosis? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the
wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road
with the same scenery, along with the hum of the
tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make
you sleepy. Do not let it happen to you! If it does,
your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second, and you could crash and be injured.What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with
a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get
some exercise, or both. For safety, treat
drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.
217

If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything
else — they will go as fast as the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there
is a crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the rear area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 368.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing your
vehicle may cause damage because of reduced
ground clearance. Always put your vehicle
on a atbed truck.
Your vehicle was neither designed nor intended to
be towed with any of its wheels on the ground.
If your vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your
Vehicle” earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow a trailer.
231

Service........................................................ 235
Accessories and Modications................... 235
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 236
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 236
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 237
Fuel............................................................. 237
Gasoline Octane........................................ 237
Gasoline Specications.............................. 237
California Fuel........................................... 238
Additives................................................... 238
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 239
Filling the Tank......................................... 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 242
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 242
Hood Release........................................... 243
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 244
Engine Oil................................................. 247
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 252
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 254
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 256
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 256
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 256
Engine Coolant.......................................... 257Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 260
Engine Overheating................................... 260
Cooling System......................................... 262
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 268
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 269
Brakes...................................................... 270
Battery...................................................... 273
Jump Starting............................................ 274
Rear Axle.................................................... 279
Bulb Replacement....................................... 280
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 280
Headlamps................................................ 280
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps............................................ 281
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 281
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 282
License Plate Lamp................................... 282
Replacement Bulbs................................... 283
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 283
Tires............................................................ 284
Winter Tires.............................................. 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 286
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 289
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
233

Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 292
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 293
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 295
Buying New Tires...................................... 296
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 297
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 298
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 299
Wheel Replacement.................................. 299
Tire Chains............................................... 302
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 302
Tire Inator Kit.......................................... 303
Appearance Care........................................ 314
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 314
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 315
Leather...................................................... 316
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 317
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 317
Weatherstrips............................................ 317
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 318
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 318
Finish Care............................................... 319Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 320
Convertible Top......................................... 320
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 321
Tires......................................................... 322
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 322
Finish Damage.......................................... 322
Underbody Maintenance............................ 323
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 323
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 324
Vehicle Identication.................................. 325
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 325
Service Parts Identication Label............... 325
Electrical System........................................ 326
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 326
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 326
Power Windows and Other
Power Options....................................... 326
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 326
Floor Console Fuse Block......................... 327
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 329
Capacities and Specications.................... 332
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
234

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
235

California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt
any vehicle maintenance task.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you will want to use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 380.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 54.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeePart E: Maintenance
Record on page 357.
236

Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep your engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You may also
use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced, and you may notice a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to
as spark knock.If the octane is less than 87, you may notice a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might
damage your engine. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 238for additional information.
237

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not be
used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside
the United States or Canada, the proper fuel may
be hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or
any other fuel not recommended in the previous
text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use of
improper fuel would not be covered by your
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
239