PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Owners Manual

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, 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. When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include
the compact.spa.re 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” in the
Index.
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The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniforrn 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.
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Rust or dirt on a wheel, lr on the part D 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.)
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When It’s Time for New Tires
I One wav to tell when it’s
time
fcinew tiies is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
,.
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 rrim) or
less
of tread remaining.
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You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
, 1, .” ! , .
You cdsee the indicators at three or more places
.. .. . . (. , ;.--.-$ _. . .I :: , L. -. , &&&
-. .. . .I , .I 1 -
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
rubber.
enough to
show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire h’as a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired
well because of the size or lo’cation
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The
tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number
on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same
TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride
and other thing’s during normal service on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the
TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec nuhber, make sure they are the same size,
load
range, speed rating &d construction type (bias,
bias-belted
or radial) as your original tires.
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Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could.have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all four wheels.
It's all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to'vehicles sold in the United States.)
The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporqy use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of'tires depends "
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
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Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking'(straightahead) traction tests
and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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 af performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
€3 and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature gade 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 osn your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the lo'ngest tire life and best overall performance.
In most cases, you..will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. 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.
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Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or co’rroded.
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
Pontiac dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the she 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.
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 injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for
replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer/odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle grou.nd clearance
and tire
or tire chain clearance to the body and
chassis.
See “Changing a plat Tire” in the Index for more
information.
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Used Replacement Wheels Tire Chains
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous.
You can’t know how it’s been used or
how many miles it’s been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause an accident.
If you have to
replace
a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
NOTICE:
If your Pontiac has P195/65R15 or P205/55R16
size tires, don’t use tire chains. They can damage
your vehicle.
If you have other 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.
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Appearance Care Don't use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. others can burst
into flame if you strike a Alcohol
match or get'them on a hot
part of the vehicle. Some are 0 Laundry Soap
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Pontiac, be sure to follow the manufacturer's warnings
Reducing Agents
0 Bleach
and instructions. 'And always open your doors or
windows when you're cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
0 Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
0 Lacquer.Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
,Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to 'get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two
GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well.
Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often. A
soft brush may be used'if stains are stubborn.
Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area -
They can all be hazardous -- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too. If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
only. If you use them, don't saturate the staiqed area.
area immediately or it will set.
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Using -Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
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Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask
surrounding
trim along stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the
directions on the container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t
rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
Rinse the section with
a clean, wet sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with a slightly damp paper towel
or cloth.
Then dry it immediately with a blow dryer.
Wipe with a clean cloth.
Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see If you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all.
Some spots and stains will clean
off better vith just
water
and mild soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
Gently scrape excess soil from the ,trim material with
a clean, dull knife or scraper. Use
very little cleaner,
light pressure and clean cloths (preferably
cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the outside
of
the stain, “feathering” toward the center. Keep
changing to a clean section
of the cloth.
0 when you clean a stain fi-om fabric, immediately dry the
area with a blow dryer to help prevent a cleaning ring.
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Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon,
tar and asphalt can
be removed
as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain.
0 Follow the solvent-type instructions described
0 Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain
if left on a vehicle’s seat fabric. They should be
removed
as soon as pos,sible.,Be careful, because
the cleaner
will dissolve them and may cause them
to spread. earlier.
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Non-Greasy Stains
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice,
milk, 'soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
be removed as follows:
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Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the soiled area with cool water.
If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
described earlier.
If'an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with a' waterbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonngtise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
0 If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
cool water and allow to
dry.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
may have to do
it more than once.
0 Things like tar, asphalt and.shoe polish will stain if
you don't get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
a GM VinylLeather Cleaner or equivalent product.
Cleaning ,Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a GM Vinyl/Leather Cleaner
or equivalent product.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, 'furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled ieather should be cleaned iprnediately. If dirt
is allowed to work into the finish, it can harm the
leather.
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Cleaning the Top of the Instrwment Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections
in the windshield
and even make it difficult
to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts cleanand dry.
. ', .I *- . ,
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash they might
not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean
safety belts only with
mildsoap and lukewarm
water.
Glass
Glass shoulld be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films. Don't use abrasive cleaners on glass, b'ecause they may
cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals
on. the inside rear
window,
since they may have to be scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear .
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged,
Any temporary license should not be attached -oss the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield
and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is.not clear after using the windshield
washgr, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@ (GM Part
No. 1050011). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade
by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades
should be checked on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
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