Repair And Fix it

Pontiac has always been GMs excitement division, and its V-8 production strategy was one reason its stayed that way for so long. Unlike many other divisions that had large- and small-block engine families, Pontiac had only one engine that spanned from 265 all the way up to 455 cubic inches. Smaller-displacement engines like the 350 were oft-overlooked cult classics, mostly because of serious junkyard upgrades in the form of higher flowing heads, intakes and cam packages for the 428 and 455.

Rotation Direction

Most V-8 and V-6 engines use common-journal crankshafts, meaning that the connecting rods from two opposing cylinders ride on one arm of the crankshaft. Such is the case here: Pistons 1 and 2 share a crankshaft arm, as do 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8. Knowing this, and the fact that the even numbers are on the passenger side of the block, you can figure out the direction of rotation from the engines firing order.

The Pontiacs firing order is 2-1-8-4-3-6-5-7. Notice that in this order, you have a couple of pairs: 2-1 and 6-5. Since you know that those cylinders share a common arm, you can deduce that the crankshaft hits the passenger side first, and then the driver side. Theore, the crankshaft rotation is clockwise when looking at the engine from the front, counterclockwise when looking at it from the rear. Inside the distributor, the rotor spins counterclockwise.

Its important to replace your cars headlamp bulbs as soon as they stop working. Failure to do so can result in a ticket or, even worse, cause an accident. Replacing the headlamps on a Pontiac Grand Prix may seem intimidating to those who have little or no experience working with vehicles, but the process is surprisingly straightforward.

Instructions

1

Open the vehicles hood and turn the engine off. Wearing protective gloves, locate the metal retaining clip above the headlight and use a socket wrench to remove the bolt.

2

Pull up on the retaining clip while pushing back on the headlamp and align the marking on the retaining clip with the notch on the headlamp. Pull the headlamp assembly out of the vehicle.

3

Remove the bulb socket ring from the headlamp assembly by turning the ring counterclockwise. Pull the old bulb out from the socket and place the new bulb in.

4

Reinstall the bulb socket ring by placing it back onto the headlamp assembly and rotating it clockwise. Place the headlamp assembly back into the vehicle.

5

Push down on the retaining clip while at the same time pushing back on the headlamp to ensure that the headlamp assembly is secured into place. Place the bolt back into its initial position and securely tighten it.

The blower resistor on most cars and trucks controls the speed of the blower motor by changing the voltage that reaches the motor when the speed switch is moved from one setting to another. On the Pontiac Aztek, the resistor is part of a controller mounted on the front of the blower motor housing under the passengers side dash. If the motor runs on high but not on any other speed, theres a good chance that the resistor is no longer functioning and needs to be replaced.

Instructions

1

Locate the blower motor under the passengers side of the dash. Find the blower controller to the left of the motor and disconnect the wiring harness connection on the controller from the connector on the wiring harness.

2

Depress the locking tab as you separate the two halves of the connection. Lay the connector from the wiring harness aside where it will not get damaged.

3

Locate the two retaining bolts on the bottom edge of the controller and remove them with a socket and ratchet. Pull the controller off the housing and remove it from under the dash.

The Pontiac Bonneville has a window regulator in each of its four doors in order to open and close the windows. Since mechanical items always break sooner or later, if you own your Bonneville long enough youll eventually face a window regulator replacement job. While this isnt the easiest repair a Pontiac owner will meet, its not the hardest either. If you have basic mechanical repair skills and an hour of time on your hands, you can install a new window regulator in a Pontiac Bonneville.

Instructions

1

Remove the Bonnevilles window and lock switch plate from the door panel using the trim tool. Unplug each switch from the wiring harness by hand and place them aside.

2

Remove the screws holding the Bonnevilles door panel to the door skin using the Phillips screwdriver. Pry the door panel trim pins loose with the trim tool by inserting the head of the tool between the door panel and door, then working your way around the perimeter until youve freed each of the pins from their anchor holes.

3

Remove the door panel from the door by lifting up on it until it clears the lower edge of the window frame and then moving it away from the door.

4

Lift the Bonnevilles window to its full height by hand. Tape it to the top of the door with packing tape to give you clear access to the regulators mounting bolts.

5

Remove the two bolts holding the regulator to the window, the two bolts holding the regulator to the door and the single bolt holding the window motor to the regulator using the socket set.

6

Remove the Bonnevilles window regulator by hand. Position the new regulator and bolt it in place. Remove the packing tape and then reinstall the door panel in reverse of how you removed it.

As of 2010, General Motors has issued two recalls on the 2005 Pontiac G6. One addressed a brake problem, while the other corrected owner manual instructions for child safety restraint systems. Intermittent power steering lock-ups and failures, a common problem with this model, have not yet resulted in a safety recall.

Brake Lights

General Motors recalled 8,012 2005 and 2006 Pontiac G6 vehicles to repair a problem with the brake lights. A wiring connector could corrode and cause the brake lights to malfunction, both lighting up when the brake isnt being pressed and not lighting up when the driver is braking. This issue can also affect the cars cruise control, causing the driver to have to apply extra force to brake. If not repaired, this problem could lead to a traffic accident.

Child Restraint Equipment

General Motors recalled 35,777 2005 Pontiac G6 vehicles to correct misprints in the owners manuals that could cause problems with installing child safety seats. The way the erroneous manual instructs the owner to install the child restraint system could cause the safety seat to be installed in a way that could potentially not protect the child in the event of a crash.

Power Steering

Multiple consumer complaints to NHTSA indicate a common intermittent power steering problem in the 2005 Pontiac G6. The power steering may lock up or go out completely on these vehicles, which could lead to a dangerous accident. As of 2010, no recall has been issued to resolve this problem.

The Pontiac G6 is an entry-level sports sedan that replaced the Pontiac Grand Am in 2004. It has a sports car look and is often modified for performance and cosmetics. One relatively inexpensive way to modify these cars is to add an upgraded exhaust tip. These exhaust tips come in a number of different styles, such as single chrome tips, dual and custom-shaped tips, and even some very exotic ones.

Single Tip

The most basic upgrade is a single, chrome exhaust tip. These tips are typically welded to the factory exhaust and add a slightly more custom look. Single exhaust tips can be purchased for less the $20 from on-line retailers and then taken to local exhaust shops for installation.

Dual and Custom Tips

The G6 comes standard from the factory with single exhaust, meaning the tailpipe terminates in a single tip. However, by adding a dual exhaust tip it gives the impression of a more robust exhaust system. Alternately, a wider, oblong or box-shaped exhaust tip can be installed just as easily as a single tip and can be purchased for less than $25.

Exotic Tips

If a single or dual chrome tip is too subtle, there are a number of exotic tips that do much more than vent exhaust gases. Street Beat Customs and other on-line retailers sell exhaust tips that have LED lights around the tips and even exhaust tips that increase or change the sound of the car. These exotic tips cost more than tamer chrome tips, starting at $40 for noise-making tips and more than $80 for LED tips.

The catalytic converter collects the exhaust waste from the engine and reduces as many pollutants as possible. The converter on a Vibe is bolted to the exhaust manifold, but welded to the exhaust pipe. If you need to replace the converter on your Vibe, experience in cutting and welding is essential. Please note that federal law mandates an extended warranty on all exhaust components, so it may be easier and cheaper to have the converter replaced professionally. The process can also vary greatly depending on the model year.

Instructions

1

Raise the Vibes rear end with a floor jack and support it on jack stands. The catalytic converter looks similar to the muffler, but is located closer to the engine.

2

Apply penetrating oil to the nuts and studs connecting the converter to the exhaust manifold.

3

Unscrew and remove the nuts on the front exhaust flange with your wrench and separate the front end from the exhaust manifold.

4

Dress in long-sleeved, flame retardant clothing, along with a full protective welders mask, and cut the rear end of the catalytic converter from the Vibes exhaust pipe using an acetylene cutting torch.

5

Install the replacement converter to the exhaust flange using the nuts and your wrench.

6

Weld the catalytic converter onto the rear exhaust pipe with your welding torch.

7

Lower the car off the jack stands once the weld is cool and solid.

The Pontiac Sunbird was a small car made by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1975 to 1994. The third generation of this series included the 1988 through 1994 models, and was available in a variety of body styles. The heater in a 1991 Pontiac Sunbird contains hot coolant from the engine that radiates heat into the interior of the car when the heater is turned on. The procedure for replacing the heater is generally the same for all versions of the 1991 Sunbird.

Instructions

1

Remove the cable from the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench to ensure you dont start the engine inadvertently. Place a drain pan under the radiator, and open the drain with a socket wrench. Drain the coolant and replace the drain plug. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack, and support it safely on jack stands.

2

Remove the strut mount for the rear lateral transaxle with a socket wrench, if your vehicle is so equipped. Detach the drain line and coolant hoses from the heater. Lower the vehicle.

3

Disconnect the sound insulators from the floor of the vehicle with a socket wrench. Remove the opening filler for the steering column, and remove the air outlet duct from the floor of the vehicle.

4

Remove the retaining bolts for the heater cover with a socket wrench, and detach the cover. Disconnect the retaining straps for the heater core, and remove the heater core from the vehicle.

5

Install the new heater core and attach its retaining straps. Replace the cover for the heater with a socket wrench. Install the outlet duct and sound insulators to the floor of the vehicle. Connect the filler for the steering column.

6

Raise the vehicle and support it on jack stands. Connect the hoses and drain line to the heater, and attach their clamps. Install the strut mount for the rear lateral transaxle, if your vehicle is so equipped.

7

Lower the vehicle and replace the coolant in the radiator. Check the vehicle for coolant leaks, and ensure the new heater is functioning properly.

General Motors, the manufacturer of the Pontiac Transport, has issued multiple safety recalls due to problems that could cause accident or injury to drivers and passengers. Registered vehicle owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine if their minivans were recalled.

Steering Problems

General Motors recalled certain 1998 Pontiac Transports due to a manufacturing error that could cause steering difficulty. Drivers could have trouble steering left due to the pinion shaft shifting upward. Authorized dealers will replace lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly to remedy this problem.

Door Problems

General Motors recalled certain 1998 and 1999 Pontiac Transports for a sliding door problem that could cause injury. These doors close, but sometimes dont latch. A follow-up recall addressed a problem with the interior handle used to open power sliding doors. These handles could injure a passengers arm if the door is manually opened while the door is also opened by the motor. Dealers will replace the affected latches and handles.

Air Bag Problems

General Motors recalled certain 1999 Pontiac Transports because the drivers side airbag inflation module could produce excess pressure and explode during a crash. Occupants of the vehicle could be injured by flying metal and plastic debris. Authorized dealers will replace the air bag module.

Camber is the measurement of the plane of the front wheel and its relationship to the plane of the ground measured in degrees of the angle. If the two surfaces are perpendicular, the vehicle has 0 degrees camber. If the plane of the wheel tips outward, the vehicle has positive camber, and negative means it tips inward. Camber is one of the alignment angles of the Grand Am, and is applicable to both the front and rear wheels.

Suspension Details

The 1997 Pontiac Grand Am has a McPhereson strut suspension system. This is a system where the lower part of the steering knuckle is supported and held in place by the lower control arm, and the upper part of the steering knuckle is supported by the strut assembly. The strut assembly consists of a shock and a coil spring which serve the dual role of supporting the weight of the vehicle and dampening excessive suspension bounce.

Front Camber Specifications

The specifications for front wheel camber for the 1997 Grand Prix are between -1.15 and 0.35 degrees. Any measurement between those two numbers is acceptable and should result in good tire wear and vehicle handling as long as the other angles are set correctly. The ideal measurement is -0.40 degrees camber.

Rear Camber Specifications

Rear-wheel camber specifications are between -1.0 degrees and 1.0 degrees. The rear wheels are given a larger variance in the acceptable measurements because their role in turning is not as pronounced. Ideally the measurement should be in the center of the range, or as close to 0 degrees as possible.

Cross Camber Specifications

Cross camber is the difference in camber between both the left and right side. This would allow the left wheel to have a slight positive camber and the right wheel to have a negative camber. The cross camber specifications for the front wheels are between -1.0 degrees and 1.0 degrees. You may vary the cross camber to compensate for vehicle pull as necessary as long as you stay within the specifications.

The 2000 Pontiac Montana features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine. The battery is located in the engine compartment behind the passenger side headlight assembly. It fits snugly inside the engine compartment and requires the removal of a cross brace to gain access to the side-post battery. The battery also is very heavy and needs to be maneuvered out of the engine compartment, which can be a challenging task for some people.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the 2000 Pontiac Montana after removing the keys from the ignition (if applicable).

2

Remove the two lower retaining bolts of the passenger-side cross brace on the front radiator frame rail, using the ratchet and a socket. Remove the upper retaining bolt of the cross brace near the passenger-side firewall with a wrench. Remove the cross brace.

3

Remove the black negative terminal bolt from the side post battery using a hand wrench. Remove the red cap (if applicable) from the positive battery terminal and remove the terminal bolt with the wrench.

4

Remove the battery hold-down wedge bolt with the ratchet, extension and socket. Remove the bolt and hold down wedge.

5

Tilt the battery slightly toward the center of the engine and place one hand underneath the left side of the battery and the other hand on the right top. Lift the battery out of the engine compartment.

6

Install the replacement battery into the engine compartment by reversing Step 5.

7

Replace the hold-down wedge and retaining bolt and tighten the bolt.

8

Connect the positive terminal bolt to the battery and hand-thread it into the side post. Tighten the bolt snugly with the wrench.

9

Connect the negative terminal bolt in the same way as the positive terminal bolt in Step 8.

10

Start the engine to test the operation of the battery before replacing the cross brace and retaining bolts.

A "Check Engine" light flashing on the dash can warn you of impending problems with your Grand Am, but it can also be annoying if you fixed those problems without resetting the warning light. If you dont have access to an on-board diagnostics scanner, the quickest and most popular way to reset a "Check Engine" light is to disconnect the battery. Removing the computers power source for an extended period of time will cause it to lose most of its stored information, including the parameters that triggered the "Check Engine" light.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and locate the battery. In the Grand Am, the battery will be on the drivers side of the vehicle.

2

Disconnect the black negative terminal cable with a ratchet and socket. When setting the cable aside, make sure the metal end of the cable is not touching any metal surface. Disconnect the red positive terminal cable with a ratchet and socket and set it aside.

3

Drain the residual energy in the vehicles wiring and circuitry by pressing on the horn or brake pedals until there is no power left. Wait at least 15 minutes for the vehicles engine computer to "forget" its settings.

4

Reconnect the positive and negative terminal cables to the battery. Tighten the connections with a ratchet and socket and close the hood. The engine computer may require a "learning period" in which the computer readjusts the transmission shift points and throttle input according to the owners driving style.