PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1995 Owners Manual

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new,
it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly.
It should be 60 psi
(420 Wa). After installing the compact spare on your
vehicle,
you should stop as soon as possible and make
sure your spare tire
is correctly inflated. The compact
spare is made
to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip
and have your full-size tire repaired or
replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as yon can. Your
spare will last longer and be in good shape in case you
need
it again.
NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an
automatic car wash with
guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught
on the rails. That
can damage the
tire and wheeI, and maybe other
parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle.
And don’t
mix your compact spare or wheel with other
wheels
or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare and its
wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them will damage your vehicle and destroy the
chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your compact
spare.
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
L
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains”
in the Index.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system off. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) Then shift
back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release
the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If
you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Pontiac” in the Index.
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NOTES
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your
Pontiac. This section begins
with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important
fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical
information about your vehicle, and a part devoted
to its
appearance care.
Service
Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
dealer
for all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported service people. We
hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
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Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want
to get the proper Pontiac Service Manual. It tells
you much more about how
to service your Pontiac than
this manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service Publications” in the Index.
Your vehicle
has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
You should keep
a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage
and the date of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you try to do your own service work without
knowing enough about it, your vehicle could be
damaged.
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Fuel
3800 Engine (Code K)
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number” in the Index.)
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or
higher. It should meet specifications ASTM
D48 14 in
the United States and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not
have to add anything to the fuel.
In the United States and Canada, it’s easy
to be sure you
get the right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
UNLEADED right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least
87. If the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t
worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy
a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have
a problem.
What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen (oxygenates), such as
MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than 15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than
10% ethanol is fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be
covered under your warranty. And even at
5% or
less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid these
problems.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air
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 R&.fQr
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, an’d if they have been reformulated to
reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuel
3808 Supercharged Engine (Code 1)
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left
of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number” in the Index.)
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or
higher. You may use middle grade or regular unleaded
gasolines, but your vehicle
may not accelerate as well.
The gasoline you use should meet specifications
ASTlM D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-92
in Canada. These fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
In
the United States and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you
get the right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
UNLEADED right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s
filler neck.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91
(at least 89 for middle grade and 87 for regular). If the
octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage
your engine.
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If you’re using fuel rated at 91 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal
and you don’t have to buy
a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen (oxygenates), such as
MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no
more than 15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than
10% ethanol is fine for your vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic
and rubber
park That damage wouldn’t be
covered under your warranty. And even at
5% or
less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers
in this fuel to help avoid these problems.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air
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.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
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
Oshawa, Ontario
LlH 8P7
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Fuel Door Lock (Option)
On a model equipped with the Theft-Deterrent System,
the fuel door is locked and unlocked together with the
power door locks. Therefore, to unlock the fuel filler
door, you may use the outside door key lock, the inside
power
door lock button, or the Remote Keyless Entry
key chain transmitter. To unlock
the fuel door, unlock all
doors.
If the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter is used,
the unlock button must be pressed twice.
While refueling, hang
the cap inside the fuel door.
The cap 1s: behind a hinged door on the left side of your TO take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
vehicle. (counterclockwise).
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