tire pressure PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2004 User Guide

In¯ation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct in¯ation
pressures for your tires when they're cold. ªColdº means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Notice:Don't let anyone tell you that underin¯ation
or overin¯ation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underin¯ation), you can get
the following:
·Too much ¯exing
·Too much heat
·Tire overloading
·Bad wear
·Bad handling
·Bad fuel economyIf your tires have too much air (overin¯ation),
you can get the following:
·Unusual wear
·Bad handling
·Rough ride
·Needless damage from road hazards
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly in¯ated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly in¯ated even when they're underin¯ated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
5-69

Tire Pressure Monitor System
This vehicle has the tire in¯ation monitor system, it can
alert you to a large change in the pressure of one
tire. The system ªlearnsº the pressure at each tire
throughout the operating speed range of your vehicle.
The system normally takes between 45 and 90 minutes
of driving to learn the tire pressures. This time may
be longer depending on your individual driving habits.
Learning need not be accumulated during a single
trip. Once learned, the system will remember the tire
pressures until the system is recalibrated.
See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-65for
more information.
This symbol, along with the
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning message will
appear in the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
if the pressure in one tire
becomes 12 psi (83 kPa)
lower than the other
three tires.
The tire in¯ation monitor system won't alert you if the
pressure in more than one tire is low, if the system is not
properly calibrated, or if the vehicle is moving faster
than 70 mph (110 km/h).The tire in¯ation monitor system detects differences in
tire rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire
pressure. The system can alert you about a low tire ± but
it doesn't replace normal tire maintenance. See
Tires on
page 5-68.
When the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning message
comes on, you should stop as soon as you can and
check all your tires for damage. (If a tire is ¯at, see
If a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-78). Also, check the
tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can.
See
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-69.
The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning message will
also be displayed (while the ignition is on) until you reset
(calibrate) the system. To reset the system, see ªTire
In¯ation Monitor Systemº under the options mode in
DIC
Controls and Displays on page 3-45.
Don't reset the tire in¯ation monitor system without ®rst
correcting the cause of the problem and checking
and adjusting the pressure in all four tires. If you reset
the system when the tire pressures are incorrect,
the system will not work properly and may not alert you
when a tire is low.
Any time you adjust a tire's pressure, rotate your tires,
or have one or more tires repaired or replaced, you'll
need to reset (calibrate) the tire in¯ation monitor system.
You'll also need to reset the system whenever you
buy new tires and whenever the vehicle's battery has
been disconnected.
5-70

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles (12 500 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-72andWheel Replacement
on page 5-75for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See ªPart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services,º in Section 6, for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear in¯ation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº under
Capacities and Speci®cations on page 5-104.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make 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
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. See ªChanging a Flat
Tireº in the Index.
5-71

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully in¯ated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the in¯ation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure
your spare tire is correctly in¯ated. 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 ®nish 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 ®t. Keep your spare tire
and its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains won't ®t your compact spare.
Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Don't use tire chains on
your compact spare.
5-89

90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qFor supercharged engines only: Check the
supercharger oil level and add the proper
supercharger oil as needed (or every 36 months,
whichever occurs ®rst). See
Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-16.An Emission
Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-71for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter. If you
drive regularly under dusty conditions, the ®lter
may require replacement more often.
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-71for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
qIf you haven't used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven't
changed your automatic transaxle ¯uid, change both
the ¯uid and ®lter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-26for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
6-9

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals speci®ed to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any ¯uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel ®ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-26for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer ¯uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper ¯uid if necessary. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-43for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire In¯ation Check
Make sure tires are in¯ated to the correct pressures.
Don't forget to check your spare tire. SeeTires on
page 5-68for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every 50 hours of tape play. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-88for further details.
6-10

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-64
Chains, Tires..................................................5-77
CHANGE OIL SOON.......................................3-66
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE........................3-67
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-40
Check Engine Light.........................................3-40
CHECK GAS CAP..........................................3-67
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE...............................3-68
Checking Coolant............................................5-28
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-16
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-56
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-96
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-41
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-45
Top Strap...................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-40
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-24
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-90
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-93
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-95
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-94
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-90
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-92
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-92
Cleaning Leather............................................5-92
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-92
Cleaning Tires................................................5-95
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-92
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-25
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-29
Compact Disc Messages..............3-99, 3-113, 3-128
Compact Spare Tire................................5-88, 5-89
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-38
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-39
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-39
Heater, Engine............................................2-20
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-17
3

HOT TRANS FLUID........................................3-72
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-35
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-37
How to Add Fluid............................................5-26
How to Check and Add Oil...............................5-22
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-42
How to Check........................................5-24, 5-69
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
Hydroplaning..................................................4-22
I
If No Steam is Coming From Your Engine..........5-31
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-30
If the HUD Image Is Not Clear.........................3-22
If the Light is Flashing.....................................3-41
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-41
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-32
If You Can't See the HUD Image When the
Ignition Is On..............................................3-22
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-38
If You're Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-30
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check..........................6-13
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-32
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure..................................5-69Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-15
Engine Cooling System................................6-15
Exhaust System..........................................6-14
Fuel System...............................................6-14
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-14
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal.........................................6-14
Throttle System...........................................6-15
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-32
Overview..................................................... 3-2
Interior Lamps................................................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-16
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-100
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-49
K
KEY FOB BATTERY LOW...............................3-73
KEY IN IGNITION...........................................3-73
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-11
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-2
7

Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
R
Radiator Pressure Cap....................................5-29
Radio Data System (RDS)............3-89, 3-100, 3-114
Radio Messages...................................3-95, 3-106
Radios..........................................................3-88
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-130
Care of Your CD Player..............................3-131
Care of Your CDs......................................3-131
Radio with Cassette and CD.......................3-100
Radio with CD............................................3-89
Radio with Six-Disc CD..............................3-114
Setting the Time..........................................3-88
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-128
Understanding Reception............................3-130
RDS Messages...........................3-94, 3-105, 3-120
READING LAMP ON.......................................3-78
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps...................3-18
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-26
Rear Seat Passenger Positions.........................1-23
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-23
Rearview Mirror with OnStar
ž...........................2-33
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-33
Recirculation..................................................3-28Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-6
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-33
REDUCED ENGINE POWER...........................3-79
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
Remote Trunk Release....................................2-10
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-82
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-80
Removing Wheel Nut Caps..............................5-82
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-66
Replacing Brake System Parts..........................5-48
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..............................................1-57
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-10
General Motors...........................................7-10
United States Government.............................. 7-9
Restraint System Check...................................6-11
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-56
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-57
Restraint Systems
Checking....................................................1-56
Replacing Parts...........................................1-57
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-19
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-23
RIGHT FRONT TURN LAMP OUT....................3-79
RIGHT REAR TURN LAMP OUT......................3-80
11

Throttle System Inspection...............................6-15
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire In¯ation Check.........................................6-10
Tires.............................................................5-68
Buying New Tires........................................5-73
Chains.......................................................5-77
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-78
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-89
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-78
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure...............................5-69
Inspection and Rotation................................5-71
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-75
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-75
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-72
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-21
Top Strap......................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-40
Torque Lock...................................................2-29
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires..................4-39
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-33
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-37
Your Vehicle...............................................4-33
Traction
Control System (TCS)..................................4-10
Control System Warning Light.......................3-38
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)...................4-11Traction (cont.)
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Warning Light..........................................3-38
Stabilitrak
ž& Plus System.............................4-13
TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE.........................3-87
TRACTION CONTROL OFF.............................3-87
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-40
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-24
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-22
Transmission
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-35
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-10
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trunk............................................................2-10
Trunk Assist Handle........................................2-11
Trunk Lock....................................................2-10
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.........................3-14
TURN SIGNAL ON.........................................3-87
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-42
U
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-13
Underhood Fuse Block...................................5-102
Understanding Radio Reception.......................3-130
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-74
14