PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2006 Owners Manual

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and you or others may be injured
in a crash. Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination and
road conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and
do not spin your wheels. If you do nd
traction devices that will t, install them on
the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no spare
tire, no tire changing equipment, and no place to store
a tire.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-44. If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But, if you should
ever have a blow out, here are a few tips about what to
expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blow out, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear blow out, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road
if possible.
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If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage by
driving slowly to a level place and stopping. Then do this:
1. Turn on the hazard warning ashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
2. Park your vehicle. If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake rmly and put
the shift lever in PARK (P). SeeShifting Into
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-25.If
your vehicle has a manual transmission, move
the shift lever to REVERSE (R) and set the parking
brake rmly. SeeParking Your Vehicle (Manual
Transmission) on page 2-27for additional
information.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel or has
damaged sidewalls or large tears that allow rapid
air loss, call a tire repair facility. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6.If the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a nail or
other similar road hazard, the tire inator kit may
be used to repair the damaged tire temporarily. The kit
uses a liquid tire sealant to seal small punctures in
the tread area of the tire.
After repairing a tire with the tire inator kit, take your
vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to have the tire
inspected and repaired as soon as possible. The tire
sealant is a temporary repair only. SeeTire Inator
Kit on page 5-60.
Tire Inator Kit
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no jack or
spare tire. The kit uses a liquid tire sealant and air at the
same time to seal small punctures in the tread area of
the tire. Be sure to read and follow all of the tire
inator kit instructions.
5-60

The kit includes the following:
A. Air Compressor
B. Tire Sealant
Canister
C. Air Compressor
Accessory PlugD. On/Off Switch
E. Air Pressure Gage
F. Air Compressor
Inator Hose
G. Sealant
Filling Hose
If the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a nail or
other similar road hazard, the tire inator kit may
be used to temporarily repair the damaged tire.After temporarily repairing a tire with the tire inator kit,
take your vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to
have the tire inspected and repaired.
Accessing the Tire Inator Kit
To access the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Make sure the convertible top is in the up position
before accessing the tire inator kit.
2. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-9for more
information.
3. Locate the tire inator kit on the driver’s side of the
vehicle, near the back corner of the trunk.
5-61

4. Remove the tire inator
kit strap by squeezing
the two tabs of the
quick release buckle.
5. Remove the inator kit from its foam container.
Tire Sealant
The kit contains a liquid sealant that when injected into a
at tire, may temporarily repair nail holes or cuts in the
tread area of the tire. The tire sealant cannot repair tire
damage caused while driving on a at tire or a tire that
has had a “blow out” or a tire that has punctures in the
sidewall areas. The tire sealant solution is to be used for
a single tire and can only be used once.Check the tire sealant expiration date on the sealant
canister. The sealant may not be as effective beyond the
expiration date. If needed, see your GM dealer for a
replacement canister.
After temporarily repairing a tire using the tire sealant,
take your vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to have the
tire inspected and repaired.
Using the Tire Inator Kit
To use the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Place the inator kit on the ground and unwrap the
sealant lling hose from the compressor.
2. Remove the air compressor accessory plug from
the unit. To do this, pull the top portion of the
wrapped cord out rst, then the bottom, and then
unsnap the plug. Do not insert the plug into an
accessory outlet yet.
3. Remove the valve stem cap from the at tire by
turning it counterclockwise.
If an object, such as a nail, has penetrated the tire,
do not remove it.
5-62

4. Attach the sealant lling hose (A) onto the tire valve
stem. Turn it clockwise until it is tight.
Make sure the inator kit on/off switch (B) is in the
O (off) position.
5. Plug the air compressor accessory plug (C) into an
accessory power outlet in the vehicle. See
Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-15for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine in a closed-in place or with
the climate control system off can cause
deadly carbon monoxide (CO). SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-28.
6. Start the vehicle. SeeStarting the Engine on
page 2-19for more information. The vehicle must be
running while using the air compressor.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make it
explode, and you or others could be injured.
Be sure to read the inator instructions, and
inate the tire to its recommended pressure.
Do not exceed 36 psi (248 kPa).
7. Move the inator kit switch to the I (on) position.
The inator kit will force sealant and air into the
tire. Sealant may leak from the puncture hole until
the vehicle is driven and the hole has sealed.
5-63

8. Make sure there is a proper connection between
the tire valve stem and the sealant lling hose by
looking at the air pressure gage. If there is not
a pressure reading while the compressor is running,
the connection between the inator kit and the
tire is bad.
Check the attachment between the sealant lling
hose and the tire valve stem.
9. Inate the tire up to the recommended ination
pressure, found on the Tire and Loading
Information label located on the vehicle’s center
pillar (B-pillar) below the vehicle’s door latch, using
the air pressure gage on the top of the unit.
The pressure gage reading is slightly high while the
compressor is on. Turn the compressor off to get
an accurate pressure reading.
Notice:If the recommended pressure cannot be
reached after 15 minutes, the vehicle should not be
driven farther. Damage to the tire is severe and
the sealant will not be effective. Remove the
air compressor plug from the accessory power
outlet and unscrew the inating hose from the tire
valve. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 7-6.10. Move the inator kit switch to the O (off) position
once the correct tire pressure is obtained.
11. Turn off the engine.
12. Unplug the air compressor accessory plug from the
accessory power outlet in the vehicle.
13. Disconnect the air compressor inator hose from
the tire valve stem, by turning it counterclockwise,
and replace the tire valve stem cap.
Be careful when handling the tire inator
components as they may be hot after usage.
14. Wrap the sealant lling hose around the air
compressor channel to stow it in its original location.
15. Stow the air compressor accessory plug back in the
air compressor. To do this, wrap the air compressor
accessory plug, snap in the plug, and then push
in the bottom and then the top of the wrapped
air compressor accessory plug.
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16. If the at tire was able
to inate to the
recommended ination
pressure, remove the
maximum speed label
from the sealant
canister and place in a
highly visible location
such as the inside of
the upper left corner of
the windshield or to the
face of the radio/clock.
The maximum speed label reminds you to drive
cautiously and not to exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) until
you have the damaged tire inspected and repaired.
{CAUTION:
Storing the tire inator kit or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of the vehicle
could cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could strike
someone. Store the tire inator kit in the
proper place.17. Return the equipment to the proper storage location
in the trunk of your vehicle. You may need to
loosen the retention strap to wrap it around the
inator kit and foam container. To do this, pull apart
the strap and loosen the strap at the quick release
buckle. Then snap the buckle together, pull the
strap tight, and secure the loose end of the strap by
mating the ends.
18. Immediately drive the vehicle 5 miles (8 km) to
distribute the sealant evenly in the tire. Stop at a
safe location and check the tire pressure, refer
to Steps 1 through 8 under “Using the Air
Compressor without Sealant” next in this section. If
the tire pressure has fallen more then 10 psi
(68 kPa), below the recommended ination
pressure, stop driving the vehicle. The tire is too
damaged for the sealant to work. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If the tire pressure has not dropped more than
10 psi (68 kPa) from the recommended ination
pressure, you can inate the tire back up to
the recommended ination pressure.
19. Dispose of the sealant canister at a local GM dealer
or in accordance with your local state codes and
practices. After using the sealant canister, replace it
with a new canister from a GM dealer.
20. After temporarily repairing a tire with the emergency
at tire repair kit, take your vehicle to an authorized
GM dealer to have the tire inspected and repaired.
5-65

Using the Air Compressor
without Sealant
To use the air compressor by itself to inate a tire, do
the following:
1. Remove the air compressor accessory plug from
the air compressor.
2. Unlock the air compressor hose from the sealant
canister by pulling up on the lever.3. Pull the air compressor inator hose from the
sealant canister.
4. Push the air compressor inator hose onto the
tire valve stem and push the lever down to
secure in place.
5. Ensure proper connection between the tire valve
stem and the air compressor hose by looking at
the air pressure gage. If there is not a pressure
reading while the compressor is running, the
connection between the inator kit and the tire
is bad.
Check the attachment between the air compressor
hose and the tire valve stem.
6. Plug the air compressor accessory plug into an
accessory power outlet in the vehicle. See
Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-15for more
information.
5-66

{CAUTION:
Idling the engine in a closed-in place or with
the climate control system off can cause
deadly carbon monoxide (CO). SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-28.
7. Start the vehicle. SeeStarting the Engine on
page 2-19for more information. The vehicle must be
running while using the air compressor.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make it
explode, and you or others could be injured.
Be sure to read the inator instructions, and
inate the tire to its recommended pressure.
Do not exceed 36 psi (248 kPa).
8. Move the inator kit switch to the I (on) position.9. Inate the tire up to the recommended ination
pressure using the air pressure gage on the top
of the unit.
10. Turn off the air compressor by moving the switch to
the O (off) position.
{CAUTION:
Storing the tire inator kit or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of the vehicle
could cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could strike
someone. Store the tire inator kit in the
proper place.
11. Place the equipment in the original location in the
trunk of your vehicle.
5-67

Removal and Installation of the Sealant
Canister
To remove the sealant canister, do the following:
1. Unlock the air compressor inator hose from the
sealant canister by pulling the lever up.
2. Disconnect the air compressor inator hose from
the sealant canister.3. Turn the sealant canister so the inator lling hose
is aligned with the slot in the compressor.
4. Lift the sealant canister from the compressor and
replace with a new sealant canister. See your
GM dealer for more information.
5-68