Page 1 PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 Owners Manual

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used on a
vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle parts. The
area damaged by the tire chains could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a
crash. Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends
it for use on your vehicle and tire size
combination and road conditions. Follow
that manufacturer’s instructions. To help
avoid damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
re-adjust or remove the device if it is
contacting your vehicle, and do not spin
your wheels. If you do nd traction devices
that will t, install them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no
spare tire, no tire changing equipment, and
no place to store a tire.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 284. If air goes out
of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly.
But, if you should ever have a blow out, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane position,
and then gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blow out, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blow out,
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.
302

If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place
and stopping. Then do this:
1. Turn on the hazard warning ashers. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 110.
2. Park your vehicle. If your vehicle has an
automatic transmission, set the parking
brake rmly and put the shift lever in
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 87.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission,
move the shift lever to REVERSE (R) and
set the parking brake rmly. SeeParking
Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission) on
page 89for additional information.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel or
has damaged sidewalls or large tears that
allow rapid air loss, call a tire repair facility. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 368.If the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a
nail or other similar road hazard, the tire inator
kit may be used to repair the damaged tire
temporarily. The kit uses a liquid tire sealant to
seal small punctures in the tread area of the tire.
After repairing a tire with the tire inator kit,
take your vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to
have the tire inspected and repaired as soon
as possible. The tire sealant is a temporary repair
only. SeeTire Inator Kit on page 303.
Tire Inator Kit
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no jack
or spare tire. The kit uses a liquid tire sealant
and air at the same time to seal small punctures
in the tread area of the tire. Be sure to read
and follow all of the tire inator kit instructions.
303

Accessing the Tire Inator Kit
To access the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Make sure the convertible top is in the up
position before accessing the tire inator kit.
2. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 68for
more information.
3. Locate the tire inator kit on the driver’s
side of the vehicle, near the back corner of
the trunk.4. Remove the tire
inator kit strap
by squeezing
the two tabs of
the quick release
buckle.
5. Remove the inator kit from its foam
container.
305

5. Plug the air compressor accessory plug (C)
into an accessory power outlet in the vehicle.
SeeAccessory Power Outlet(s) on page 121
for more information.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine in a closed-in place or
with the climate control system off can
cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO).
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 91.
6. Start the vehicle. SeeStarting the Engine
on page 80for more information. The
vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make
it explode, and you or others could be
injured. Be sure to read the inator
instructions, and inate the tire to its
recommended pressure. Do not exceed
36 psi (248 kPa).
7. Move the inator kit switch to the I (on) position.
The inator kit forces sealant and air into the
tire. Sealant might leak from the puncture
hole until the vehicle is driven and the hole
has sealed.
8. Make sure there is a proper connection
between the tire valve stem and the
sealant lling hose by looking at the air
pressure gage. If there is not a pressure
reading while the compressor is running,
the connection between the inator kit and
the tire is bad.
Check the attachment between the sealant
lling hose and the tire valve stem.
307

9. Inate the tire up to the recommended
ination pressure, found on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on
the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar) below the
vehicle’s door latch, using the air pressure
gage on the top of the unit.
The pressure gage reading is slightly high
while the compressor is on. Turn the
compressor off to get an accurate pressure
reading.
Notice:If the recommended pressure cannot
be reached after 15 minutes, the vehicle
should not be driven farther. Damage to the
tire is severe and the sealant will not be
effective. Remove the air compressor plug
from the accessory power outlet and unscrew
the inating hose from the tire valve. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 368.
10. Move the inator kit switch to the O (off)
position once the correct tire pressure is
obtained.11. Turn off the engine.
12. Unplug the air compressor accessory plug
from the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle.
13. Disconnect the sealant lling hose from the
tire valve stem, by turning it counterclockwise,
and replace the tire valve stem cap.
Be careful when handling the tire inator
components as they could be hot after usage.
14. Wrap the sealant lling hose around the air
compressor channel to stow it in its original
location.
15. Stow the air compressor accessory plug back
in the air compressor. To do this, wrap the
air compressor accessory plug, snap in
the plug, and then push in the bottom and
then the top of the wrapped air compressor
accessory plug.
308

18. Immediately drive the vehicle 5 miles (8 km)
to distribute the sealant evenly in the tire.
Stop at a safe location and check the
tire pressure, refer to Steps 1 through 8 under
“Using the Air Compressor without Sealant”
next in this section. If the tire pressure
has fallen more then 10 psi (68 kPa), below
the recommended ination pressure, stop
driving the vehicle. The tire is too damaged for
the sealant to work. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 368.
If the tire pressure has not dropped more than
10 psi (68 kPa) from the recommended
ination pressure, you can inate the tire back
up to the recommended ination pressure.
19. Dispose of the sealant canister at a local
dealer or in accordance with your local
state codes and practices.
After using the sealant canister, replace it with
a new canister from a dealer.
20. After temporarily repairing a tire with the
emergency at tire repair kit, take your
vehicle to a dealer to have the tire inspected
and repaired.Using the Air Compressor without
Sealant
To use the air compressor by itself to inate a tire,
do the following:
1. Remove the air compressor accessory plug
from the air compressor.
2. Unlock the air compressor hose from the
sealant canister by pulling up on the lever.
3. Pull the air compressor inator hose from the
sealant canister.
310

4. Push the air compressor inator hose onto the
tire valve stem and push the lever down to
secure in place.
5. Plug the air compressor accessory plug into
an accessory power outlet in the vehicle. See
Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 121for
more information.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine in a closed-in place or
with the climate control system off can
cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO).
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 91.
6. Start the vehicle. SeeStarting the Engine
on page 80for more information. The
vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make
it explode, and you or others could be
injured. Be sure to read the inator
instructions, and inate the tire to its
recommended pressure. Do not exceed
36 psi (248 kPa).
7. Move the inator kit switch to the I (on)
position.
8. Make sure there is a proper connection
between the tire valve stem and the air
compressor hose by looking at the air
pressure gage. If there is not a pressure
reading while the compressor is running,
the connection between the inator kit and
the tire is bad.
Check the attachment between the air
compressor hose and the tire valve stem.
311

Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is
necessary, a clean soft cloth dampened with a
mild soap solution can be used to gently remove
dust and dirt. Never use spot lifters or removers
on plastic surfaces. Many commercial cleaners and
coatings that are sold to preserve and protect
soft plastic surfaces may permanently change
the appearance and feel of your interior and
are not recommended. Do not use silicone or
wax-based products, or those containing organic
solvents to clean your vehicle’s interior because
they can alter the appearance by increasing
the gloss in a non-uniform manner.
Some commercial products may increase gloss
on your instrument panel. The increase in
gloss may cause annoying reections in the
windshield and even make it difficult to see through
the windshield under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you
do, it may severely weaken them. In a
crash, they might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean safety belts
only with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth. During
very cold, damp weather frequent application may
be required. SeePart D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 353.
317

Washing Your Vehicle
The paint nish on the vehicle provides beauty,
depth of color, gloss retention, and durability.
The best way to preserve the vehicle’s nish is to
keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm
or cold water.
Do not wash the vehicle in the direct rays of the
sun. Use a car washing soap. Do not use
strong soaps or chemical detergents. Be sure
to rinse the vehicle well, removing all soap residue
completely. Approved cleaning products can be
obtained from your dealer.SeeVehicle Care/Appearance Materials on
page 324. Do not use cleaning agents that are
petroleum based, or that contain acid or abrasives.
All cleaning agents should be ushed promptly
and not allowed to dry on the surface, or they
could stain. Dry the nish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to
enter the vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and
a car washing soap to clean exterior lamps
and lenses. Follow instructions underWashing
Your Vehicle on page 318.
318

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle
by hand may be necessary to remove residue
from the paint nish. Approved cleaning products
can be obtained from your dealer. SeeVehicle
Care/Appearance Materials on page 324.
Notice:Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint
nish may damage it. Use only non-abrasive
waxes and polishes that are made for a
basecoat/clearcoat paint nish on your vehicle.
The vehicle has a basecoat/clearcoat paint
nish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss
to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes
and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for
a basecoat/clearcoat paint nish.Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and
other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and
tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, etc., can damage the vehicle’s
nish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash
the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging,
weather, and chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. To help keep the
paint nish looking new, keep the vehicle in a
garage or covered whenever possible.
319