PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1996 Owners Manual

9. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative cable
doesn’t go to
the dead battery. It
goes to a heavy unpainted metal part
on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.
10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection
is just as good
there, butthe chance of sparks getting back to the
battery
is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
the engine
for a while.
If it won’t start
after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
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e.;: :I ; I. ‘ -.‘w .I , . ;. I .- > ..
Towing Your Vehicle 13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent ’
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
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.-
A
B
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery Try
to have a Pontiac dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Bonneville. See “Roadside Assistance”
in the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new
by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
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Before you do'anything, turn on the hazard waning
flashers.
When you cdl, tell the towing service:
That, if you have the SSE model, your vehicle cannot
be towed from the front with sling-type equipment.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know
that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them
,. 'y ..
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by'the tow truck.
0 Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
Never we J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
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A vehicle can fall from a car carSier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, qtc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with
a clamping
device designed for towing service. Do
not use the
vehicle’s steeriqg. column lock for this. The transaxle
should be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance.
restrictions later in
this section or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have to be supported
on a dolly.
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Front Towing (SSE and SSEi Only)
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with slmg-type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car carrieF equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage,
install a towing dolly and
raise vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
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Attach T-hook chains
on both sides in the
slotted holes in the
bottom
of the cradle,
behind the front
wheels.
These slots are to be used when loading and securing
to
car carrier equipment.
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control
arm.
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Front Towing (SE)
Attach T-hook chains on
both sides in the slotted
holes
in the bottom of
the cradle, b’ehind the
front wheds.
These slots &e to be used when using slingtype
equipment or when’loading and securing to car
carrier equipment.
Position
a 4” x 4” wood beam across sling chains
contacting bottom
of the radiator support. Position the
lower
sling crossbar directly under the front bumper.
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Rear Towing
Tow Limits -- 55 mph (88 kmlh), 500 miles (800 km)
Attach T-hook chains to slots
in the bottom of the
floor pan directly ahead of
rear wheels on both sides.
No 4" x 4" wood beam is needed.
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end ..
of each control arm.
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Position the lower sling crossbar directly behind and at
lower edge
of rear bumper cover. Attach
a separate safety chain around the outboard end
of each lower control arm.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage or the warning
light about a hot engine
on your Pontiac’s instrument
panel. See “Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
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Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay
away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the
hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You
or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
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NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
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