PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2000 Owners Manual

5-18
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX
-COOL
coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.

5-19
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, 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 flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.

5-20
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll need is in the trunk.
1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of the trunk.
2. Remove the retainer then lift and remove the cover.
3. Remove the spare tire. See ªCompact Spare Tireº
later in this section for more information about the
compact spare.
4. Unscrew the wing nuts to remove the container that
holds the wrench and jack.
5. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and the spare tire
from the trunk.

5-21
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and
wheel wrench (B).
Removing Wheel Covers and Wheel
Nut Caps
If you have steel wheels
with full plastic wheel
covers, loosen each nut cap
using the wheel wrench.
Please note that nut caps will not remove from the
cover completely.
Gently pry the wheel cover off using the flat end of the
wheel wrench.

5-22
If you have aluminum
wheels with plastic nut
caps, loosen and
remove them using the
wheel wrench.If you have aluminum
wheels and a center cover
hides the wheel nuts,
remove the center cover by
using the flat end of the
wrench to pry it off.
Do not drop the cover or lay it face down, as it could
become scratched or damaged. Do not use a hammer or
mallet on this type of cover.

5-23 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but
don't remove them.
2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the jack lift head until it fits under the vehicle.

5-24
3. Put the jack head into a notch in the frame which is
located near each wheel well. The front notch is
11 inches (28 cm) back from the front wheel well.
The rear notch is 3.5 inches (9 cm) forward from the
rear wheel well.
CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury
and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.

5-25
4. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the spare tire
to fit.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.

5-26
CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
7. Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel
-mounting surface.
8. Then reinstall the wheel
nuts with rounded end
of the nuts toward
the wheel.
Make sure each wheel bolt is centered in each wheel
hole while tightening the nuts. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
9. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

5-27
10. Tighten the wheel
nuts firmly in
a crisscross
sequence.
CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
100 lb
-ft (140 N´m).
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Don't try to put the wheel cover on the compact
spare tire. It won't fit. Store the wheel cover in the
trunk until you have replaced the compact spare tire
with a regular tire.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won't fit on your compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
When you reinstall the full size wheel and tire, you
install the wheel cover or nut caps at this point.