PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1994 Owners Manual

Problems on the Road
..
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
(CONK)
1. You can remove the coolant surge
tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly about one-quarter
turn to the left and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap
slowly, and remove it.
. Once the pressure cap is off, look
inside the surge tank opening and look
for a small cylinder at the base
of the
opening. This should be covered with
coolant. If the cylinder
is uncovered,
the coolant
in your system is low.
Fill the coolant surge tank with the
proper mix, up to FULL COLD, or
just above the small cylinder at the
base
of the opening.
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7
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure
cap off, start the engine and let
it run
until you can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside
the coolant surge tank may be lower. If
the level is lower, add more
of the
proper
mix to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches FULL COLD,
or just above the small cylinder at the
base
of the opening.
I
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure
the pressure cap is tight.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” 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
“blowout,” 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, 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
my 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
wmpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Sently brake to a stop, well off the road if
Jossible.
[fa tire goes flat, the next section shows
low to use your jacking equipment to
:hange a
flat tire safely.
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Problems on the Road
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.
The following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is in the trunk.
1. Turn the center retainer nut on the
compact spare tire housing
counterclockwise
to remove it, then
lift the tire cover. You
will find the
jacking instruction label on the
underside
of the tire cover.
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2. Remove the wing bolt securing
the compact spare tire, spacer and
wheel wrench by turning
it
counter-clockwise. Then lift off the
spacer and remove the spare tire.
3. Remove the bolt securing the jack by
turning
it counterclockwise. Then
remove the jack.
4. Remove the band around the jack.
Turn the jack handle clockwise to
raise the jack head a few inches. 5. Using the wheel wrench, remove the
plastic cap nuts (if your vehicle has
them) and loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
On some models, a cover plate must
be removed to find
the wheel nuts.
Carefully use the wedge end of the
wheel wrench to pry
it off.
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Problems on the Road
18 (46cm) 18" (46cm)
Changing a Flat Tire
(CONT.)
i. Near each wheel, there is a notch in
the vehicle's frame. Position the jack
under the vehicle. Raise the jack head
until it fits firmly into the notch
in the
vehicle's frame nearest the flat tire.
Put the compact spare tire near you.
NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned
will damage
the vehicle or may allow the vehicle
to fall off the jack. Be sure to
fit the
jack lift head into the proper
location before raising your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Do not jack or lift the vehicle using
the oil pan. The pan could crack and
begin to leak fluid.
7. Raise the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough
off the ground so
there is enough room for the spare tire
to
fit.
3. Remove all of the wheel nuts, and
carefully pry the wheel cover from the
wheel,
if your flat tire has one. Then
take off the flat tire.
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9. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or
spare wheel.
1O.Place the spare on the wheel mounting
surface.
11,.Replace the wheel nuts with thg
rounded.end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut
by hand until
the wheel
is held against the hub. ‘4 : d-;. .I !I .+ ..$:!7
p ,
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Problems on the Road
II
Changing a Flat Tire
(CONT.)
12. Lower the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench counterclockwise.
Lower the jack completely.
A
13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a
criss-cross sequence, as shown.
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your
compact spare tire. It won’t
fit. Store
the wheel cover and plastic cap nuts
int
the trunk until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.
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.
14. Store the flat tire in the compact spare
tire compartment, and secure
it with
the wing bolt and extension. Store the
jack and wheel wrench
in their
compartment, also.
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P
t
I
A
ir:
in
Ci
SL
W
I Compact Spare Tire
hhough the compact spare was fully
lflated when your vehicle was new, it
in lose air after a time. Check the
iflation pressure regularly. It should be
3 psi (420 kPa). After installing the
Impact spare on your vehicle, you lould stop as soon as possible and make
ire your spare tire is correctly inflated.
he compact spare is made to perform
ell at posted speed limits for distances
J 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:
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 wheel, 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
:ogether.
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.
If You’re Stuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
Jhat you don’t want to do when your
zhicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can help
you get out when you’re stuck, but you
must use caution.
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Problems on the Road
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.
..
locking Your Vehicle to Get it Out:
‘irst, turn your steering wheel left and
ight. That will clear the area around your
ront wheels. Then shift back and forth
letween REVERSE (R) and a forward
ear (or with a manual transaxle, between
IRST
(1) or SECOND (2) and
.EVERSE
(R)), spinning the wheels as
ttle as possible. Release
the accelerator
edal while you shift, and press lightly
on
le accelerator pedal when the transaxle is
1 gear. If that doesn’t get you out after a
:w tries, you may need to be towed out.
F you do need to be towed out, see
Towing Your Pontiac”
in the Index.
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Part 6
Service & Appearance Care
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