octane PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 Owners Manual

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 237. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is
warmed up.) This will be detected by the system
and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for
lack of OBD system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Service........................................................ 235
Accessories and Modications................... 235
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 236
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 236
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 237
Fuel............................................................. 237
Gasoline Octane........................................ 237
Gasoline Specications.............................. 237
California Fuel........................................... 238
Additives................................................... 238
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 239
Filling the Tank......................................... 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 242
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 242
Hood Release........................................... 243
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 244
Engine Oil................................................. 247
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 252
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 254
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 256
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 256
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 256
Engine Coolant.......................................... 257Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 260
Engine Overheating................................... 260
Cooling System......................................... 262
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 268
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 269
Brakes...................................................... 270
Battery...................................................... 273
Jump Starting............................................ 274
Rear Axle.................................................... 279
Bulb Replacement....................................... 280
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 280
Headlamps................................................ 280
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps............................................ 281
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 281
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 282
License Plate Lamp................................... 282
Replacement Bulbs................................... 283
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 283
Tires............................................................ 284
Winter Tires.............................................. 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 286
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 289
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
233

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.
Gasoline Octane
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 238for additional information.
237

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not be
used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside
the United States or Canada, the proper fuel may
be hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or
any other fuel not recommended in the previous
text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use of
improper fuel would not be covered by your
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
239

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
In this part are scheduled maintenance services
which are to be performed at the mileage intervals
specied.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle
in good working condition. But we do not know
exactly how you will drive it. You may drive short
distances only a few times a week. Or you
may drive long distances all the time in very hot,
dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in
making deliveries. Or you may drive it to work,
to do errands, or in many other ways.
Because of the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs may vary. You may
need more frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the following and note how
you drive. If you have questions on how to keep
your vehicle in good condition, see your dealer.This part tells you the maintenance services you
should have done and when to schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service
needs, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service people will perform the work
using genuine GM parts.
The proper uids and lubricants to use are listed
in Part D. Make sure whoever services your
vehicle uses these. All parts should be replaced
and all necessary repairs done before you or
anyone else drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will nd these on
the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 226.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within
legal driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline
Octane on page 237.
336

Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light...... 136
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 254
Battery..................................................... 273
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 138
Coolant.................................................... 257
Coolant Temperature Warning Light.......... 137
Cooling System Inspection....................... 352
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 356
Engine Compartment Overview................ 244
Exhaust..................................................... 91
Oil ........................................................... 247
Oil Life System........................................ 252
Overheating............................................. 260
Reduced Power Light............................... 143
Starting...................................................... 80
Entry/Exit Lighting....................................... 120
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 373
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 26
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 254
Finish Damage............................................ 322
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 187Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 110
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 113
Flat Tire...................................................... 302
Fluid
Automatic Transmission............................ 256
Manual Transmission................................ 256
Power Steering........................................ 268
Windshield Washer.................................. 269
Fog Lamps.................................................. 120
Fuel............................................................ 237
Additives.................................................. 238
California Fuel.......................................... 238
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 242
Filling Your Tank...................................... 240
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 239
Gage....................................................... 144
Gasoline Octane...................................... 237
Gasoline Specications............................ 237
Low Warning Light................................... 145
System Inspection.................................... 351
Fuses
Floor Console Fuse Block........................ 327
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 326
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 329
387

G
Gage
Fuel......................................................... 144
Speedometer........................................... 129
Tachometer.............................................. 129
Gasoline
Octane..................................................... 237
Specications........................................... 237
Glove Box..................................................... 98
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.......... 367
H
Hazard Warning Flashers............................ 110
Headlamp Wiring......................................... 326
Headlamps.........................................118, 280
Bulb Replacement.................................... 280
Daytime Running Lamps.......................... 119
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 113
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps........................................... 281
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 280
High/Low Beam Changer......................... 112
On Reminder........................................... 119
Heater......................................................... 122Highbeam On Light..................................... 143
Highway Hypnosis....................................... 217
Hill and Mountain Roads............................. 218
Hood
Checking Things Under............................ 242
Release................................................... 243
Horn............................................................ 110
How to Use This Manual................................ 4
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly............... 18
Hydraulic Clutch.......................................... 256
I
Ignition Positions........................................... 77
Infants and Young Children, Restraints.......... 30
Ination - Tire Pressure............................... 292
Inator Kit, Tire........................................... 303
Inspection
Brake System.......................................... 352
Engine Cooling System............................ 352
Exhaust System....................................... 351
Fuel System............................................ 351
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.................. 351
Steering and Suspension ......................... 351
Throttle System........................................ 352
388