ESP PONTIAC PONTIAC 1995 User Guide

Trailer Brakes Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your
rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now
a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
Does your
trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them
properly.
0
a
0
0
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap
into your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Even
if your vehicle doesn’t have anti-lock brakes,
don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system
if the
trailer’s brake system will use more than
0.02 cubic
inch
(0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s master
cylinder.
If it does, both braking systems won’t work
well.
You could even lose your brakes.
Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 Wa)
of pressure? If not, the trailer brake system must not
be used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
fluid tap at the upper rear master cylinder port. But
don’t use copper tubing for this. If you do, it will
bend and break off. Use steel brake tubing. During
your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 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
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before
you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air Fuels in Foreign Countries
Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will
help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and
fuel system. That helps keep your engine in tune and
your emission control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for
cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with oxygenates. General Motors recommends that you use gasolines with
these blending materials, such as MTBE and ethanol. By
doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those
parts of the country that have high carbon monoxide
levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers
are now producing
reformulated gasolines. These gasolines
are specially
designed to reduce vehicle emissions. General Motors
recommends that you use reformulated gasoline. By
doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those
parts
of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their
gasolines contain deposit control additives and
oxygenates, and if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust system can corrode, and
your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell
us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oskawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km)
when outside temperatures are above 50°F (10°C). If it's
colder
than 50°F ( 1O"C), you may have to drive longer.
To check the fluid level
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
running.
in
PARK (P).
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these
steps:
3.1L
L82 (Code M) Engine 3.4L LQl (Code X) Engine
1. The transaxle fluid dipstick handle is the red loop
near the back of the engine. Pull out the dipstick and
wipe
it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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3.1L L82 (Code M) Engine 3.4L LQ 1 (Code X) Engine
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched
area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it
to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(OSL). Don’t overfiZ1. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle. Damage
caused by fluid other than
DEXRON@-III is not covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
described under
“How to Check.”
dipstick back in all the way.
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NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
P en to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
,Don’t forget your compact spare tire.
It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the
pressure, especially if you have radial tires
-- which
may look properly inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
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.
The purpose of regularrotation is to achieve more
uniform 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.
I
n
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Treadwear Temperature - A, B, C
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.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conltions 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 (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction. 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.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
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While the tires available as standard or optional equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
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.
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.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel thatsis bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. 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 same 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.
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7 Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
Here you will find out how to contact Pontiac if you
need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and how to report any safety
defects
.
This section includes information on: The Customer
Satisfaction Procedure, Customer Assistance for
Hearing or Speech Impaired,
BBB Auto Line -
Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Reporting
Safety Defects, Roadside Assistance, and Service
Publications.
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your
dealer and Pontiac. Normally, any concern wi.th the sales
transaction or the operation
of your vehicle will be
resolved by your dealer’s Sales or Service Departments.
Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all
concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your
concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the
following steps should be taken:
STEP ONE -- Discuss your concern with a member of
dealership management. Normally, concerns can be
quickly resolved at that level.
If the matter has already
been reviewed with the Sales, Service, or Parts Manager,
contact the owner of the dealership or the General
Manager.
STEP TWO -- If after contacting a member of
dealership management, it appears your concern cannot
be resolved by the dealership without further help,
contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center by
calling 1-800-PM CARES.
In Canada, contact GM of
Canada Customer Assistance Center in Oshawa by
calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854
(French).
In Mexico, call (525) 254-3777.
In Puerto Rico, call
1-800-496-9992 (English) or 1-800-496-9993
(Spanish).
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, call
1-800-496-9994. In other overseas locations, contact
GM North American Export Sales
in Canada by calling
1-905-644-4112.
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Child Restraints ................................ 1-38
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
.......... 1-39
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
......... 1-41
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
(2-Door Models)
........................... 1-46
(&Door Models)
........................... 1-43
WheretoPut
................................ 1-38
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-45
Circuit Breaker. Power Windows and
Other Power Options
........................... 6-69
City Driving
................................... 4- 18
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-15
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
........................... 6-60
Fabric
..................................... 6-55
Glass
...................................... 6-58
Inside of Your Pontiac
........................ 6-55
Leather
.................................... 6-57
Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades
....... 6-58
Outside
of Your Pontiac ....................... 6-59
Special Problems
............................ 6-56
Stains
...................................... 6-56
Tires
...................................... 6-60
Top of the Instrument Panel
.................... 6-57
Vinyl
...................................... 6-57
Clock, Setting the
................................ 3-5
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
Comfort Guides. Rear Safety Belt
.................. 1-34
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3- 15
Compact Disc Player ............................ 3 - 10
TopStrap
................................... 1-39
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-32
Computer. Trip
................................. 2-59
Console Shift Lever
............................. 2-23
Console. Center
................................ 2-41
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 4-5
Control.
Loss Of ................................ 4-13
ConvenienceNet
............................... 2-40
Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-40
Coolant
....................................... 6-19
Bleedvalves
................................ 5-20
Heater, Engine
......................... 2- 15, 6- 14
How to Add to the Coolant Recovery Tank
........ 5-16
How to Add to the Radiator
.................... 5-19
Temperature Gage
............................ 2-51
Temperature Light
........................... 2-50
Coolant Recovery Tank
.......................... 5-16
Cooling System
................................ 5-14
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-31
Erasing Speed Memory
........................ 2-34
Getting
Out Of .............................. 2-34
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
............ 2-33
To Increase Speed
............................ 2-32
ToReduceSpeed
............................ 2-33
To Resume
a Set Speed ........................ 2-32
ToSet
..................................... 2-32
UseonHills
................................ 2-33
Cupholders
.................................... 2-41
Customer Assistance for the Hearing or
SpeechImpaired
............................... 8-2
Customer Assistance Information ................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8-1
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