PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or the
threads of the wheel nuts. If you do, the
wheel nuts might come loose and the
wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel
to become loose and even come off. This
could lead to a crash. Be sure to use the
correct wheel nuts. If you have to replace
them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque specication.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has
been used or how far it has been driven.
It could fail suddenly and cause a crash.
If you have to replace a wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
301

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.
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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

The kit includes the following:
A. Air Compressor
B. Tire Sealant Canister
C. Air Compressor
Accessory Plug
D. On/Off SwitchE. Air Pressure Gage
F. Air Compressor
Inator Hose
G. Sealant Filling HoseIf the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a
nail or other similar road hazard, the tire inator
kit can be used to temporarily repair the
damaged tire.
After temporarily repairing the tire with the inator
kit, it is recommended to take your vehicle to a
dealer within 100 miles (161 kilometers) of driving
to have the tire inspected and repaired. If the
sealant is not removed from the tire within
100 miles (161 kilometers) of driving, it is more
likely that the tire can get damaged and have to
be replaced.
304

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

Tire Sealant
The kit contains a liquid sealant that when injected
into a at tire, can temporarily repair nail holes
or cuts in the tread area of the tire. The tire sealant
cannot repair tire damage caused while driving
on a at tire or a tire that has had a “blow out” or
a tire that has punctures in the sidewall areas.
The tire sealant solution is to be used for a single
tire and can only be used once.
Check the tire sealant expiration date on the
sealant canister. The sealant might not be
as effective beyond the expiration date. If needed,
see your dealer for a replacement canister.
Using the Tire Inator Kit
To use the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Place the inator kit on the ground and unwrap
the sealant lling hose from the compressor.
2. Remove the air compressor accessory plug
from the unit. To do this, pull the top portion
of the wrapped cord out rst, then the bottom,
and then unsnap the plug. Do not insert the
plug into an accessory outlet yet.3. Remove the valve stem cap from the at tire
by turning it counterclockwise.
If an object, such as a nail, has penetrated the
tire, do not remove it.
4. Attach the sealant lling hose (A) onto the tire
valve stem. Turn it clockwise until it is tight.
Make sure the inator kit on/off switch (B) is in
the O (off) position.
306

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

16. If the at tire was
able to inate to
the recommended
ination pressure,
remove the
maximum speed
label from the
sealant canister.
Place it in a highly visible location such
as the inside of the upper left corner of the
windshield or to the face of the radio/clock.
The maximum speed label reminds you
to drive cautiously and not to exceed 55 mph
(90 km/h) until you have the damaged tire
inspected and repaired.
{CAUTION:
Storing the tire inator kit or other
equipment in the passenger compartment
of the vehicle could cause injury. In a
sudden stop or collision, loose equipment
could strike someone. Store the tire
inator kit in the proper place.
17. Return the equipment to the proper storage
location in the trunk of your vehicle. You may
need to loosen the retention strap to wrap
it around the inator kit and foam container.
To do this, pull apart the strap and loosen
the strap at the quick release buckle.
Then snap the buckle together, pull the
strap tight, and secure the loose end of the
strap by mating the ends.
309

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