PONTIAC PONTIAC 1995 Owners Manual

NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
P en 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. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the
pressure, especially if you have radial tires
-- which
may look properly inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regularrotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services”
in the Index for scheduled rotation intervals.
I
n
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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 inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make
certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the
Index.
When It’s Time for New Tires
.. .
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires
is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less
of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size
or location
of the damage.
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Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same
TPC Spec number. That way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service
on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the
TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having
a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires
by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
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Treadwear Temperature - A, B, C
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conltions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction. The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which
all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
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While the tires available as standard or optional equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel thatsis bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
Pontiac dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the
same way
as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Pontiac model.
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Used Replacement Wheels
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain clearance
to the body and chassis.
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!
i Tire Chains
NOTICE:
If your Pontiac has P215/60R16 or P225/60R16
size tires, don’t use tire chains; they can damage
your vehicle.
If you have other tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when
you must. Use only SAE
Class “S” type chains that are the proper size for
your
tires. Install them on the front tires and
tighten them
as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop and
retighten them. If the contact continues, slow
down until
it stops. Driving too fast or spinning
the wheels with chains on will damage your
vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be haza )us, Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes
in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Pontiac, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
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Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two
GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
0 Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often.
A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
only.
If you use them, don’t saturate the stain.ed area.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
area immediately or it will set.
Using Foam-mpe Cleaner on Fabric
0
0
e
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim panel
or section. Mask
surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the
directions on the container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
Rinse the section with a clean, wet sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with a slightly damp paper towel
or cloth.
Then
dry it immediately with a blow dryer or a heat lamp.
NOTICE:
Be careful. A blow dryer or a heat lamp may
scorch the fabric.
0 Wipe with a clean cloth.
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Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all.
Some spots and stains will clean off better with just
water and~mild soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
0 Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material
with a clean, dull knife or scraper. Use very little
cleaner, light pressure and clean cloths (preferably
cheesecloth). Cleaning should
start at the outside
of the stain, “feathering” toward the center. Keep
changing
to a clean section of the cloth.
When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately dry
the area with a blow dryer to help prevent a cleaning
ring. (See the previous
NOTICE.)
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain.
Follow the solvent-type instructions described
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left on
a vehicle seat fabric. They should be removed
as
soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner
will dissolve them and may cause them to spread.
earlier.
Non-Greasy Stains
Stains
caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice,
milk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
soiled area with
cool water.
described earlier.
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0 If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with a waterhaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
0 If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
cool water and allow to dry.
If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
may have to do
it more than once.
Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if
you don’t get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
a
GM vinylheather cleaner.
ueaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle
soap.
For stubborn stains, use a GM vinyl/leather cleaner.
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt
is allowed to work into finish, it can harm the
leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
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