PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2007 Owners Manual

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply the regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
Start the engine
Shift into a gear
Release the parking brake
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle will need service more often when it
pulls a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 473for more information. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid, which should not be
overlled, engine oil, drive belts, cooling,
and brake systems. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help locate
them quickly. If trailering, it is a good idea to
review this information before starting on a trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts
and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 364.
331

✍NOTES
332

Service........................................................ 336
Accessories and Modications................... 336
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 337
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 337
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 338
Fuel............................................................. 338
Gasoline Octane........................................ 338
Gasoline Specications.............................. 339
California Fuel........................................... 340
Additives................................................... 340
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 341
Filling the Tank......................................... 342
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 344
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 344
Hood Release........................................... 345
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 346
Engine Oil................................................. 350
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 353
Supercharger Oil....................................... 355
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 355
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 357Engine Coolant.......................................... 360
Pressure Cap............................................ 364
Engine Overheating................................... 364
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 366
Cooling System......................................... 366
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 376
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 377
Brakes...................................................... 378
Battery...................................................... 381
Jump Starting............................................ 382
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 388
Bulb Replacement....................................... 391
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 391
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps........... 391
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps............................................ 394
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 395
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 397
License Plate Lamp................................... 398
Replacement Bulbs................................... 398
Windshield Replacement............................ 399
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
333

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

Vehicle Identication.................................. 458
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 458
Service Parts Identication Label............... 458
Electrical System........................................ 459
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 459
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 459
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 459Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 459
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 460
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 460
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 462
Capacities and Specications.................... 466
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
335

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.
336

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 511.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 78.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 487.
337

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.The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your engine. You will nd the VIN at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 458.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3800 V6 engine
(VIN Code 2), use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the
octane rating is less than 87, you may notice an
audible knocking noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon
as possible. If you are using gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
338

If your vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6
engine (VIN Code 4) or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN
Code C), 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 340for additional information.
339

California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control label. If this fuel is
not available in states adopting California
emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 180. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the type
of fuel used, repairs may not be covered by
your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United
States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves
clean, or if your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that
is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
340