flat tire PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2008 Owners Manual

Tires..............................................................5-51
Winter Tires.................................................5-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-55
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-58
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-59
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-67
Buying New Tires.........................................5-68
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-69
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-71
Wheel Replacement......................................5-72
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit....................5-76
Appearance Care............................................5-85
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-85
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-86
Leather.......................................................5-87
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-87
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-88Weatherstrips...............................................5-88
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-88
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-89
Finish Care..................................................5-89
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-90
Convertible Top............................................5-90
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels and Trim . . .5-91
Tires...........................................................5-91
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-92
Finish Damage.............................................5-92
Underbody Maintenance................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting
.................................5-92
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-93
Vehicle Identication......................................5-94
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-94
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-94
Electrical System............................................5-95
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-95
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-95
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-95
Floor Console Fuse Block..............................5-96
Underhood Fuse Block..................................5-97
Capacities and Specications........................5-101
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

If a Tire Goes Flat
Your vehicle has a tire sealant and compressor kit.
SeeTire Sealant and Compressor Kit on page 5-76.
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. SeeTires
on page 5-51. 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.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 2-26. 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 2-28for additional
information.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel, has
damaged sidewalls, or has a puncture larger than a
14inch (6 mm), the tire is too severely damaged for
the tire sealant and compressor kit to be effective.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-7.
If the tire has a puncture less than a
14inch (6 mm)
in the tread area of the tire, seeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 5-76.
5-75

Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire in good
condition, when equipped and properly inated, is
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:A battery jump start is covered at no
charge if the vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service (Canada only):Upon request,
Roadside Assistance will send you detailed,
computer personalized maps, highlighting your
choice of either the most direct route or the most
scenic route to your destination, anywhere in North
America, along with helpful travel information
pertaining to your trip.
Please allow three weeks before your planned
departure date. Trip routing requests will be limited to
six per calendar year.
Trip Interruption Benets and Assistance
(Canada only):In the event of a warranty related
vehicle disablement, while en route and over
250 kilometres from the original point of departure,
you may qualify for trip interruption expense
assistance. This assistance covers reasonable
reimbursement of up to a maximum of $500
(Canadian) for (A) meals (maximum of $50/day),(B) lodging (maximum of $100/night) and
(C) alternate ground transportation (maximum of
$40/day). This benet is to assist you with some of
the unplanned expense you may incur while waiting
for your vehicle to be repaired.
Pre-authorization, original detailed receipts and a
copy of the repair order are required.
Once authorization has been given, your advisor will
help you make any necessary arrangements and
explain how to claim for trip interruption expense
assistance.
Alternative Service (Canada only):There may be
times, when Roadside Assistance cannot provide
timely assistance. Your advisor may authorize you to
secure local emergency road service, and you will be
reimbursed up to $100 upon submission of the
original receipt to Roadside Assistance.
In many instances, mechanical failures may be covered.
However, any cost for parts and labor for non-warranty
repairs are the responsibility of the driver.
Pontiac and General Motors of Canada Limited reserve
the right to limit services or reimbursement to an owner
or driver when, in their sole discretion, the claims become
excessive in frequency or type of occurrence.
7-8

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finish Damage...............................................5-92
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-70
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-75
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-14
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-36
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-37
Fuses
Floor Console Fuse Block.............................5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-97
G
Gage
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-22
Tachometer.................................................3-22
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-35
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-46
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-95
Headlamps............................................3-13, 5-47
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-46
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps.....5-47
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-46
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-13
Heater...........................................................3-17
5

T
Tachometer....................................................3-22
Taillamps
Turn Signal, and Stoplamps..........................5-48
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-68
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-13
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-15
PASS-Key®III+ Operation.............................2-15
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-6
Time, Setting..................................................3-50
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-31
Tires.............................................................5-51
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................5-91
Buying New Tires........................................5-68
Chains.......................................................5-74
Cleaning....................................................5-91
Different Size..............................................5-69
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-75
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-58
Inspection and Rotation................................5-65
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-61
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-59
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit...................5-76
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-55Tires (cont.)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-71
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-67
Winter Tires................................................5-52
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-29
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-29
Your Vehicle...............................................4-29
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-6
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.................................... 4-9
Traction Control System...................................3-29
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-23
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-22
Transmission Operation, Manual........................
2-24
Trunk.............................................................. 2-9
Trunk Ajar Light..............................................3-36
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-70
Using this Manual............................................... iii
11