jump start PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2006 Owners Manual

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat.
To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-25.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
prevent movement of the shift lever out of PARK (P)
unless the ignition is in a position other than LOCK.
The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of a discharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If your vehicle has a discharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-35for more information.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from PARK (P),
consult your dealer or a professional towing service.
2-26

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, this warning light
on the instrument panel will
come on briey when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
4-7

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle . . .5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-20
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-20
Engine Coolant.............................................5-20
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-23
Engine Overheating.......................................5-23
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . .5-25Cooling System............................................5-26
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-30
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-31
Brakes........................................................5-32
Battery........................................................5-34
Jump Starting...............................................5-35
Rear Axle.......................................................5-39
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-40
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-40
Headlamps..................................................5-41
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps......5-41
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-42
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-42
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-43
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-43
Tires..............................................................5-44
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-46
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-47
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-50
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-51
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-52
Buying New Tires.........................................5-53
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-54
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-55
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-56
Wheel Replacement......................................5-56
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-29.
C. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 5-25.
D. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-31andHydraulic Clutch
on page 5-19.
E. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-35.
F. Remote Negative (−) Ground (Out of View). See
Jump Starting on page 5-35.
G. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-80.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-13.
I. Battery (Out of View). SeeBattery on page 5-34.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-13.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-30.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down and check the level.
5-13

Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
are not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-35for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may want to
use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do
it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode
or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
5-35

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save the radio!4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on
that vehicle.
You will not need to access your battery for jump
starting. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) and
a remote negative (−) jump starting terminal.
The remote positive (+)
terminal is located under a
red plastic cover on the
engine compartment
fuse block. Open the cover
to access the terminal.
5-36

{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)oryou
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal location on the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to
the negative (−) terminal location on the vehicle with
the dead battery. Your vehicle has a remote
negative (−) ground bracket for this purpose.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
5-38

Roadside Assistance Program
As the owner of a new Pontiac vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the Pontiac Roadside
Assistance program. This value-added service is
intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive
in the city or travel the open road. Contact Pontiac’s
Roadside Assistance toll-free at1-800-ROADSIDE
(762-3743). Roadside Assistance Representatives are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We will provide the following services during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expense
to you:
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel
($5 maximum) for the customer to get to the
nearest service station.
Lock-out Service (identication required):
Replacement keys or locksmith service will be
covered at no charge if you are unable to gain entry
into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacement key will
be covered within 10 miles (16 km).
Emergency Tow:Tow to the nearest dealership for
warranty service or in the event of a vehicle-disabling
accident. Assistance provided when the vehicle is
mired in sand, mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire will be
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered
by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:No-start occurrences which require a
battery jump start will be covered at no charge.
Dealer Locator Service
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under Pontiac’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. However,
when other services are utilized, our Roadside
Assistance Representatives will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please
provide the following to the Roadside Assistance
Representative:
Your name, home address, and home telephone
number.
Telephone number of your location.
Location of the vehicle.
Model, year, color, and license plate number of the
vehicle.
Mileage, Vehicle Identication Number (VIN), and
delivery date of the vehicle.
Description of the problem.
7-6

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-10
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-19
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-17
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-20
Ination -- Tire Pressure..................................5-50
Inator Kit, Tire...............................................5-60
Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-20
Engine Cooling System................................6-20
Exhaust System..........................................6-19
Fuel System...............................................6-19
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-19
Steering and Suspension..............................6-19
Throttle System...........................................6-20
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-15
Cluster.......................................................3-21
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-35
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Labelling, Tire Sidewall....................................5-46
Lamps
Battery Run-Down Protection.........................3-15
Fog ...........................................................3-14
Mirror Reading............................................3-15
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-26
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-4
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-24
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
Charging System.........................................3-27
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-29
Highbeam On.............................................3-34
Low Coolant Warning...................................3-29
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-35
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-30
Oil Pressure...............................................3-32
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-25
6