PONTIAC PONTIAC 1996 Owners Manual

Radiator Pressure Cap Power Steering Fluid
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must
be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating.
Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow.tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat,
an AC'thermostat
is recommended.
3.1L L82 Engine 3.4L LQ1 Engine
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
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How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the
level should be at the
H
mark. When it’s cold, the
level should be at the
C
mark. If the fluid is at the
ADD mark, you should
add fluid.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses
and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below..freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
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Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY. Add
washer fluid until the tank is full.
NOTICE:
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When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank
only
three-quarters full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could damage
the tank
if it is completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
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There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put
in, the fluid level
goes back
up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes
won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add ‘fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary,
only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
’ A CAUT-ON:
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- I
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned, and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System
Warning
Light” in the Index.
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What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-?
brake fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing
it.
A CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in youp brake
system, your brakes may not work
well, or they
may not even
work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example,
just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t
let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
0 If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
dgmaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See LLAppearance Care” in
the Index.
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Brake Wear
Your Pontiac has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn
and new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal
fldy).
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner
or later
your brakes won't work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have
your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could
result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with
your brakes.
Free movement
of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to
GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal navel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign
of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Pontiac does when it is new.
When
you replace parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change -- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come,to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake narts.
Battery
Every new Pontiac has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for
a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s @bel, : . :. .. .K . - ’ I- I c ’. :“I z: , ’ . .-
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Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take
off the black, negative (-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
I I
I A CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful.
See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting
hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
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Bulb Replacement
In this section you'll find directions for changing the
bulbs in some of the lamps on your Pontiac. See
"Replacement Bulbs" in the Index
to find the type of
bulb you should use.
Halogen Bulbs
I
I /r CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps (2-Door Models)
1. Open the headlamp panel.
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/ 2. Remove the screw at
the top
of the headlamp
support panel. Loosen
the two screws at the
bottom
of the panel.
Loosen these two screws
until they
are out of the
headlamp frame, but still
in the brackets on
the
headlamp assembly.
3. Carefully lift the headlamp assembly and
support panel.
4. Lift the plastic locking tabs on the electrical connector
and pull the connector from the headlamp socket.
0 Note which way the socket is pointing before
you disconnect
it. You’ll need to install the
new headlamp
so the socket points in the
same direction.
5. Set the headlamp assembly on a work surface with
the lens facing you.
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6. Remove the Ton@
screws
at the end of the
aiming ring. The aiming
ring will swing open like
a gate.
$1 10. Insert the tabs on
the aiming ring into
7. Remove. the aiming ring. Place it face down on the
8. Check that the number on the new headlamp
work surface
with the
aim indicator up.
matches the number on the headlamp being replaced.
The letter on the headlamp (U or L) must also match.
9. Put the new headlamp in position.
Makesure the socket points in the same direction
as it did with the old headlamp.
11. Holding the aiming ring closed, insert the screws at
the end
of the ring. Tighten the screws until the
aiming ring touches the plastic nuts
on both the top
and bottom.
0 Do not overtighten.
e Do not damage the vertical aiming bubble.
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