PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 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 60 psi
(42Q 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 perfonnwell at posted speed limits for
distances up to.3,OOO 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
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 other vehicles.
And don’t
mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
i
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 a,s
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
/d CAUTION:
If you your .es spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the tran,saxle 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
above35 mph
(55 kdh) as shown on the
speedqmeter. 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
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking y---r vehick ID get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the pea around your front wheels. If your vehicle
has the Enhanced Traction System, you should turn
the system
off. (See “Enhanced Traction System’’
in the Index.) Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear
(or with a manual
transaxle, between FIRST
(1) or SECOND (2) and
REVERSE
(R)), 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 towe’d out, see “Towing Your Vehicle” in the
Index.
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‘ Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will fiid information about the care of your
Pontiac.
This section begins with service and fuel
infomation, 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.
Service
Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you
to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
dealer for all your service needs.
You’ll get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported service people.,
We hope you’ll want to keep your
GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
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.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in
the Index.
You should keep
a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
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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.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, and the proper replacement
parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If
you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
,, ~
Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher.
At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM D4814 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
is at least 87. 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.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 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 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
you 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
sf the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered
by your warranty.
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In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive called MMT.
If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn
on. If this happens, return to your
authorized
Pontiac dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines 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 under your warranty.
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 Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales .(NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
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Filling Your Tank
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.
The cap is behind a hinged door on the right side of your
vehicle.
To open the fuel door, pull the fuel access handle on the
floor by the driver’s seat.
The remote
fuel filler door release can help keep your
kel tank from being siphoned. Always be sure the fuel
door is closed and latched after refueling.
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While refueling, hang the tethered cap inside the fuel
door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
~~ ~ ~
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
fuei 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.
Be careful not td spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Pontiac” in theJndex.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right until
you
hear at least three clicks. Make sure you fully install
the cap.;The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel
cap has been left
off or improperly installed. This would
‘allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
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NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, b'e sure to get the right
type.
Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be
damaged.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic
or rubber. You or others
could b'e burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill
things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Checking "'lings Under the Hood
r
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric
fan.
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
TO open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle.
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Then go to the front of the vehicle and lift the secondary Lift the hood, release the hood prop rod from its retainer
hood release handle upward. and put the hood prop into the slot in the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then
lift the hood to relieve pressure on the
hood prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot ig the
hood and return the prop to its retainer. Then just let the
hood down and close it firmly.
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2.4L (CODE T) Engine
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
Brake Fluid Reservoir
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap G. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Dipstick M. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if so equipped)
D. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick (if equipped) I. Air Cleaner
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir J. Battery
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