PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1997 Owners Manual

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly.
It should be 610 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 speeds up to 65 mph (105
km/h) 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 you
can. Your spare will last longer and
be in good shape in
case you need it again.
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic vehicle wash
with guide rails. The compact spare can get
caught
on the rails. That can damage the tire and
wheel, and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels OF tires, They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
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.
c --
/L CAUTION:
1
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
1 NOTICE: I
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 Vehicle” in the Index.
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v 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.
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6-42
6-50 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Radiator Pressure Cap
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance
Care
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6-65
6-66
6-66
6-67
6-67
6-67 Cleaning the Inside
of
Your Pontiac
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning Glass Surfaces Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
Cleaning Aluminum
or Chrome Wheels
Cleaning Tires Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Engine Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Vehicle Dimensions
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Service Your vehiclle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
parts and GM-trained and supported service people. the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
dealer for all your service needs. you’ll get genuine GM YOU should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
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 and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
A CAUTION:
-
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged
if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
0 Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before
you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
0 Be sure to use the prloper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and ‘6metri’c”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
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Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your Pontiac dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
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.)
If
you have the 3800 engine (VIN Code K), use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. If you’re
using fuel rated
at the recommended 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.
If you have the 3800 Supercharged engine (VIN Code
l), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane
or higher. With the
3800 Supercharged engine, in an
emergency, you may be able
to use a lower octane -- as
low as
87 -- if heavy knocking does not occur. If you
are using 91 or higher octane unleaded gasoline and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
At
a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet
specifications
ASTM D48 14 in the United States and
CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could
provide improved driveability and emission control system protection compared to other gasolines.
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 your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications,
but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test,
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for diagnosis
to determine the
cause of failure. In the event
it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that
are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octan'e-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use
of such gasolines, If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Pontiac dealer for service. To provide 'cleaner air, all gasolines in
the United States
are now required
to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system
to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to
add anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines
containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol,
and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. 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 lander your warranty.
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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
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused
by use of improper fuel 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 International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Fuel Door Lock (Option)
On a model equipped with the theft-deterrent system,
the fuel door is locked and unlocked together with the
driver’s power door lock. 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 the driver’s door.
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Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the driver’s side of
your vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
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I
A CAUTION:
2
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
If you have the (L36) 3800 V6 engine, your fuel cap
will be tethered and you cannot hang it on the inside fuel
door while refueling.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). Be
careful not
to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of
Your Pontiac” in the Index.
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