change wheel PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1995 Owners Manual

Tilt Wheel (Option) Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can
also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel
to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlamp High-Low Beam
0 Flash-To-Pass Feature
0 Cruise Control (Option)
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Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels. Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time
you need
Of the is about to stop the computer wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
to get your foot up to the brake pedal. If you get too
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close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time
to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though
you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system
working, or
you may notice some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Variable Effort Steering (Option)
This steering system provides lighter steering effort for
parking and at low vehicle speeds. Steering effort will
increase at higher speeds for improved road feel.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much
of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
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Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your Pontiac’s
three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid
too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your
best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear).
Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You
may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle
is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
-- such as
enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”
-- and slow down when you have
any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a
2.3L Quad 4 Engine (Code D).
Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with a 3.1L
V6 Engine (Code M) and proper trailer towing
equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the
information in “Weight of the Trailer’’ that appears later
in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
e
e
e
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow
a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 kmk) and
don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster
than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden
turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re
a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the. steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to
the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide
you.
Making ’Ihrns
I
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
I ..
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
’Ihrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a
turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will
also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about
to turn, change lanes or stop.
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service
tow your Pontiac. The
usual towing equipment is:
(A) Sling-type tow truck (see Notice on the next page)
(B) Wheel-lift tow truck
(C) Car carrier
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.
Before you
do anything, turn on the hazard warhing
flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment,
as described later in
this section.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 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.
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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 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.
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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 instructions label
on the underside of the tire cover,
2. Remove the wing bolt securing the compact spare
tire and spacer by turning it counterclockwise. Then
lift
off the spacer and remove the spare tire.
3. The jack and the wheel wrench are stored in a foam
tray by the compact spare tire.
a few inches.
4. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack head
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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Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Adding .................................... 6-22
Checking
................................... 6-22
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-16
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ......... 5-29
Ignition Key Positions
........................... 2-1 1
Ignition Switch ................................. 2- 11
Illuminated Entry System .......................... 2-6
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-46
Inspections
Brakesystem ............................... 7-42
Exhaustsystems
............................. 7-42
Restraint Systems
............................ 7-41
Steering. Suspension and Front-Wheel-Drive
Axle Boot and Seal ......................... 7-41
-Throttle Linkage
............................. 7-42
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-52
Instrument Panel Cluster
Optional
................................... 2-55
Standard
................................... 2-54
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
. ......... 2-43
Instrument Panel. Cleaning
....... ........... 6-46
.................................... J ack. Tire 5-21
Jump Starting ................................... 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders ............................ 7-39
Key Release Button
............................. 2- 12
Key Reminder Warning .......................... 2-12
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Lamp Controls ................................ 2-34
Lamp. Malfunction Indicator ...................... 2-64
Lamp. Trunk
................................... 2-45
Lamps. Daytime Running
........................ 2-43
Lamps. Fog
................................... 2-43
Lamps On Reminder
............................ 2-35
Lane Change Indicator
........................... 2-33
Larger Children. Safety Belt Use
................... 1-43
Latches. Front Seatback
........................... 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-5
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
....... 2-27
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ...................... 1 - 19. 2-59
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
........... 2-61. 4-6
Battery Warning
............................. 2-59
Brake System Warning
........................ 2-60
Charging System
............................. 2-59
CheckGages
................................ 2-68
CheckOil
.................................. 2-66
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
............ 2-62
LowCoolant
................................ 2-63
Manual Transaxle Shift
................... 2.23. 2-60
Oilwarning
................................. 2-65
Safety Belt Warning
...................... 1-7. 2-58
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-64
Lighter ....................................... 2-51
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-28
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