Pontiac 1953 User manual

OWNER'S SERVICE , G
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BREAKING-IN
AND LICENSE
D AlA
NEW CAR BREAK-IN When starting out with your new car, you
should drive moderately for 10 to 15 minutes
to allow time for the
engine, transmission
and rear axle to warm up. Speeds can then
be increased as shown below.
CAR SPEED. First 200 miles not to exceed SO miles per h'our.
Second 200 miles Dot to exceed 60 miles per hour.
Third
200 miles not to exceed 70 miles per hour .
After your car has warmed up, speed should be increased gradually
to the maximums in the above schedule, held there for a short
distance, then gradually decreased to a slower speed for a short
distance.
Driving at speeds up to 50 miles per hour, even for distances
greater than the 200 mile period, will not break in your car for
sustained high
speed driving. 5ustained high speed driving should
not
be undertaken until the above schedule of maximum speeds (or
its equivalent) is completed.
NOTE: Brakes too need "breaking in", Avoid fast stops during 'the first few hundred
miles.
ENGINE AND CAR SERIAL NUMBER. The serial number is located on a
plate which is attached to the left front pillar post on all models . The engine serial
number of your car is . (The enqine serial number is
stamped on a machined pad at the top left hand front corner of the cylinder black-
all models-and is the same as the car serial number.)
STYLE, PAINT, AND TRIM NUMBERS. The style, p oi nt and trim numbers
are stomped on the plate attached to the right front side of the dash. Style number
____ ___ __ __ • Faint number _____ ________ _
Trim number ___________________ _
KEY NUMBERS. There are two leeys to your car, The one with on octagonal
shaped handle fits the ignition and front door locks. The other key is ova l in shape
and fits the Qlove and rear luggage compartments, IQn ition key number ___ __
Trunk key
number _____ _
STARTING HINTS. If you live in on area where cold weather is experienced, it
might
be a good idea to read "Starting the Engine" on page 21.
WHERE TO PUT YOUR SERVICE GUIDE. Slip th;, Se,. ;ce Gu;de ;.to the clip
in the roof of the glove compartment for ready reference. This clip is al so handy for
holding
maps and other papers.
If it becomes necessary for you to order any parts or correspond with your dealer
or the factory about your car, you can"Ovoid any possible misunderstanding by giving
Ihe Seriul, Style, and Paint numbers of your car.
FORM S - 52.0l -1.I TH O U.S...... 1-52.

OWN E R
SERVICE POLICY
Along with this Service Guide, you
have received an "Owner Service
Policy," which your dea l er filled
in for you when
he delivered t he
car. Read this policy carefully.
Most owners
keep the Service
Policy in the glove comportment.
There are t wo coupons attached to your "Owner Serv1ce Policy"
which entitle you to have inspections performed on your car . These
inspections
are performed to correct any changes in the initial set-
tings which may occur during the break-in period. One entitles you
to certain adjustinent s, as speCified on the back of the coupon, at
the end of 1,000miles provided the coupon is presented within
1, 500 miles of car operation. The other provides for addi ti onal
services at the end of 2,000 miles, provided the coupon is pre-
sented within 2 , 500 miles of car operation. T hese services will
be performed for you without charge (except for chassis lubrication,
engine oil and other lubricants) by the deale r from whom you pur -
chased your car. In case you are touring or have changed your
residence,
any autho rized Pontiac dealer in the United Sta t es or
Canada will perform them for you upon presentation of the Owner
Service Policy and Coupons' By making an appointinent for your
inspections,
much the same as you would reserve a hotel room, you
can avoid rush periods and get the inspection the day you want i t.
Pontiac dealers everywhere stand ready to provide you with the
best possible service at all times. It is the ir responsibility to assure
your continued satisfaction with your car. But you. too, have a
responsibility to yourself
as an owner - the responsibility of giving
your Pontiac car the reasonable care and attention that any mechan - .
iccl device deserves.
"Be sure yOU l d ea ler ho s si gned t he po li cy os we ll as th e co upons 80 thai you can
qet your 1,000 and 2,000 mile in spec ti ons willie trov el ing.

MANUFACTURER'S
WARRANTY
It is expressly agreed that there are no warranties, expressed or
implied, made by either the dealer or the manufacturer on the
Pontiac Mot or vehicles, chassis or parts furnished hereunder, except
the
Manufacturer's warranty against defective materials or work-
manship as follows:
"The Manufacturer warrants each new motor vehicle, including all equip_
ment or accessories (except tires) supplied by the Manufacturer, chassis
or part manufactured by it to be free from defects in material and work.
manship under normal use and service, its obligation under this warranty
being limited to making good at its factory any part or parts thereof which
shall, within ninety (90) days after delivery of such vehicle to the original
purchaser or before such vehicle has been driven 4000 miles, whichever
event shnll lirst occur, be returned to it with transportation charges
prepaid and which its examination shall disclose to its satisfaction to have
been thus defective; this warranty being expressly in lieu of aJI other
warranties, expressed or implied, and aJI other obligations or liabilities on
its part , and it neither assumes nor authorizes any other person to assume
fOr it any other liability in connection with the sale of its vehicles.
"This warranty shaJI not apply to any vehicle which shall have been
repaired or altered outside of an authorized Pontiac Service Station in any
. way so as in the judgment of the Manufacturer to affect its stability and
reliability, nor which has been subject to misuse, negligence or accident. II
The Manufacturer has reserved the right to make changes in
design
or add any improvements on motor vehicles at any time with-
out incurring
any obligations to install same on motor vehicles and
chassis previously purchased.
TIRE WARRANTY
Tires are warranted by the tire manufacturer again st defects in material and work·
manship. If, during the life of the tire, tire failure should occur due to this cause, the
tire
manufacturers will either repair the tire or make a reasonable allowance on it ·
towards the purchase of a new tire.
BATTERY WARRANTY
Your Pontiac Delco battery is guaranteed for 90 days. Be sure your Pontiac dealer
has filled in the Delco Battery Service Policy which gives you protection for 18 months
or
18,000 miles in accordance with the terms of the policy.
2

LICENSE
AND
CAR
DATA
NAME
CHIEFTAIN
SEDAN DEUVERY
STATION WAGON
NUMBER
'Cyl. 8 Cyl.
51-25 51 - 27
51-25 51-27
51-25 51-27
WHEEL-
BASE
120 '"
120-
120 '"
Developed Horsepower (6.8 to 1 Compression) , ,
~A . ~~\i~~s~;~~ . ~~~ . (~ : ~ . I~ ,I , ~~~:.r~~~~~~ : .
Bore .. ....... ... ... . . ........ .
Stroke ....... .
Piston Displacement. . . .. .. .
Tappet
Clearance-Hot and Running.
Spark Plug Gap . . . . . ........... .
Breaker Point Gap .
Cooling System Capacity ........ ... .
Cooling System Capacity with Underseat Heater.
Crankcase, Refill .
OVERALL
LENGTH
202.5-
203.0-
203.9-
SIX
100.0
102.0
30.4
3~ ·
4-
239.2 cu. in.
.0ll"-.013-
.025-
.022-
18 qls.
19'A qls .
5 qt •.
FUSES
See page 11 .
OASTANK
CAPACITY
17Y2 gal.
16 gal.
16 gal .
EIGHT
118 .0
122.0
36.4
3~ -
3~ "
268.4 cu. in.
.0ll"-.013-
.025-
.0 16 -
19~ qts.
21'A qts .
5 qt •.
GASOLINE
Synchro-Mesh equipped cars are fur.
nished with a standard compression
ratio of 6.8 to 1 for use with r eg ular
type fuels. An optional compression
ratio of 7.7 to 1 is available (or use with
premium fuels.
LAMP SPECIFICATIONS '
Hydra·Malic equipped cars are fur.
nished with a standard compression
ratio of 7.7 to 1 which requires the use
of premium fuels. The optional compres -
sion ratio for Hydra -Matic equipped
cars is 6.8 to 1for use wi th reqular fuels_
CHOKE
No choke button to bother with-chok -
ing is automatic. See page 22.
OIL
Use 10-W oil in your engine for the
nrst 1000 miles. You will find the whole
story about engine oil on page 30 .
ANTI-FREEZE SOLUTIONS
Winter driving recommendations as re-
gards to the coolinq system are care-
fully explained on page 51.
TIRES
It is a qood idea to check the pressure
every month. Se e page 45 for furiher
details.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Headligbt Unit - Upper . . . .
Lower ... .
Parking Lamps ...
Instrument Lamp.
Beam Indicator Lamp.
Dome Lamp .. .
License Lamp ...... .. .
T
ail and Stop Lamps.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
Hydra-MaUc Indicator.
Clock Dial .
Glove Box .. ......... .
Direction Signal-Front.
Ind . .... .
Foq Lamp-Dual .
Safety Lamp ............ .
L.uggage Compartment.
Radio Dial. ..... .
Back-up Lamp .. . .
Underbood. Lamp ........ .
Hood Ornament .. ....... .
Compass Light . . ........ .
Load Comp. Lamp -
Sed. Del. Only .... .
Heater Panel Lamp ..... .
Catalina and Convertible
Courtesy Liqht . .
Lamp No. C.P.
Sealed 45 W
Be
am
Sealed 35 W
Beam
sa 3
55 1
51 1
88 15
sa 3
11 54 3·21
51 I
55 2
55 2
1154 21·3
51 1
Sealed 35 W
Beam
Sealed 32
Beam
81 6
44 25 Ie
1133 32
88 15
51 I
51 I
1133
32
55 2
.2 6
3

FOREWORD
4
Pontiac's engineers strive continually to give you
greater value in each new model Pontiac. This year
we are especially proud of the advanced design and
precision construction which combines comfort, econ-
omy, performance, and endurance to make your new
Pontiac an even greater car than ever before. How-
ever, in order that you may be able to take full
advantage of the many new features which you have
in your new car, we have added this Manual , to give
you the "know-how" for safe
and economical
operation.
Your knowledge and care of the operating parts
of the car will give you greater enjoyment in driving
your 1952 Pontiac Silver
Streak .
Owner's Service Department
PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION
Pontiac, Michigan

•
Instruments and Controls .......... ... ............. . 6
Hydra-Matic Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
All Weather Comfort Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17
Starting the Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 I
Taking
Core of Your Pontiac ......... . .........•.... 23
Factors Governing Service Needs. . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . .. 24
What Service to Buy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26
Direction Signal Wiring Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28
Wiring Diagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
Engine Lubrication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Chassis and Body Lubrication ...... . . .. .. .... . . .. . . . 34
Tune-Up Diagnosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
General Service ... . ..... _ ....... ... . . _. . . . . . . . . . .. 45
Tir es .. ... ......... .... . _. . . .. ... . . . .. .... ...... . . 45
Cooling System. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 48
Anti-Freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 51
Clutch. .......... . ..... .. .. . . .... . . . . .. . ..... . ... 52
Brakes. . ...................... . .... . .. • ....... 52
Steering Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . .. 54
Accessories. . . . . . . . . . .... . ... _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Regulating Your Clock .............. . ........ . ..... 58
The Chieftain Radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 59
Housekeeping Your Cor. . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 60
Maintenance Index. .. . .. .. . .. . ... ... .... ..... . . . 74

INSTRUMENTS
AND CONTROLS
•
The location of the controls and instruments on your Pontiac has been
planned with the idea of comfort and convenience for the driver,
which also contributes to greater safety. This arrangement is the
result
of the latestdevelopments in automotive engineering, research,
and styling. Mayb e you helped in this design and arrangement of the
instrument
panel and controls;' and if you have owned Pontiacs
previously, you will probably be familiar with most of them. If you
are a lirst-time Pontiac owner, however, it will be a good idea to
read this section carefully.
SEAT ADJUSTMENT- The seat adjust-
ment is easily made by pushing down the
small
lever on the left end of the front seat
and sliding yourself back and forth until
the
seat is in a position that seems to suit
you
the best. On l ong trips, changing the
adjustment occasionally will be found help -
ful in avoiding fatigue.
IGNITION AND LIGHT SWITCHES-
CIGAR LIGHTER- The ignition SWitch,
cigar lighter and light switch are conven-
iently located on the instrument panel, and
the instrument dials are grouped for best
visibility. The
cigar lighter, located by the
.ignition switch, is
operated by pushing in-
ward on the lighter, which automatically starts the
element heating . When the proper temperature is
reached, the li'ghter clicks back into position for use.
It is unnecessary to hold the lighter in by hand.
As a further convenience to the owner the ignition.
switch is illuminated when
the light switch is pulled out.
·Each year General Motors, through its Proving Ground of Public Opinion, invites
well over Q million motorists-owners of all ma kes of COls-to expreSS their preference
on various features of design- "to pool their practical exper ience with the t ech n ical
skill of Gener al Motors En gin ee rs,"
6

BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR-GASOLINE GAUGE~ The
battery "charge" and "discharge" indicator located at the le ft end
of the instrument group indicates the current flow to and from the
battery. Electrical
current going from the
generator to the ba ttery registers on the
"charge" side. The indicator will show a "dis-
charge" reading when more electrical energy
is being consumed than is received from the
generator.
The gasoline gauge is electrically operated.
It indicates the quantity of gasoline in t he tank
only when the ignition is turned on . When the
ignition is
turned off, the pOinier drops back beyond the "empty"
mark.
OIL PRESSURE GAUGE-WATER TEMPERATURE INDI-
CATOR- The oil gauge on the panel indicates the pressure in the
engine lubrication system. This shows whether
the oil
pump is working. It does not show how
much oil
there is in the crankcase . At normal
driving sp
eeds the gauge should read approxi -
mately 40. If the indicatordoes not come above
zero or fluctuates greatly, you should check
your oil level immediately; and, if low, add
oil to bring to the proper level. If the oil level
is not low and fluctuations continue, you
should
contact a Pontiac dealer immediately.
T
he temperature of the water in your engi(le is shown by the water
temperature indicator. When the engine is thoroughly warmed up
the indicator will indicate between 160· and 200· . If the tempera -
ture indicator needle goes to the 230· mark, you should look into
the
cause immediately.
LOCKS AND KEYS- Maximum protection
is provided
by the Pontiac system of locks and
.keys. Two sets of two keys each are furnished
with your
car. The octagona l handl ed key
operates the front door and ignition lock. The
oval handled key operates the glove and rear
deck compartments.
CAUTION: Never lea ve keys in yo ur car. In s ur an ce records show ove r 75% of
cars stol en have be en le ft with t he ignition k ey in t he lock.
7

REMOVING KEY NUMB ER S- To prevent unauthorized persons
from
securing duplicates of your keys, the key numbers do not appear
either on the keys or the face of the
locks
but on small metal slugs
fastened in the keys.
Mark these key
numbers in the
space provided on
the inside front
cover of this Service
Guide and Your Owner Service
Policy as soon as you take delivery
of the car and have your dealer
knock out these slugs and destroy
them. You will lose
part of your protection if you do not do this.
If you ever require duplicate keys, they should be ordered from your
local Pontiac dealer, rather than from the factory. The key numbers
for your
car are on record at the factory, and in the event you lose
your keys, the
proper numbers may be secured by wiring or writing
the
Owners Service Department at Pontiac , Michigan, giving the
serial number of your car.
DOOR LOCKS- If you want to lock the doors from the inside, push
down
the small button on the window moulding of each door'. Both
front doors lock from
the outside with a key in the usual way, but
you
don't have to use the key to lock your car. Simply open the door.
press
the button down and then
close the door while pushing the
outside door handle plunger in.
When the door is closed, release the
plunger, and the door is locked.
IMPORTANT : ALWAYS LOCK YOUR
CAR WHENEVER YOU LEAVE IT UN-
ATTENDED.
COMBINATION HEADLAMP AND INSTRUMENT SWITCH-
Beneath the battery charge indicator and gas gauge , you will
find
the combination headlamp and instrument panel switch.
When the knob is pulled out to the first position, the parking lamps
are t urned on. When t he knob is in the second position, the sealed
beam headlamps are on.
* If you have a 4·doo[ seda n aDd h ave chil dr en, you might want the r ea r door locks
fixed 80 that the inside door handle is inoperative as lo ng as the door locking button
is pushed down,
th ereby eliminating the c bance of the children o pen ing the doors
O Dd f allin g out while they ale in the car. It will t ake your Pontiac dea ler just a few
minutes to fix t he locks.
8

In conjunction with the headlamp
switch, ther e is a convenient loot switch
located at the left of the clutch pedal
which allows you to raise or lower the
headlamp beams withoutremoving your
hands from the steering whee l. The
diagram on this page explains the
operation of the foot (dimmer) switch
and "red light" beam indicator in the
speedometer below the numeral 50 in
combination with the
hand switch.
OPERATION OF PONTIAC'S
SEALED BEAM HEAD LAMPS-
Pontiac's "sealed beam" headlamps
have been designed to insure you the
maximum safety
and comfort for night
driving. To
obtain this safety for y our ·
self and for others, however, you must
be willing and anxious to use your
headlighting equipment in the manner
intended. Good drivers are always
courteou s;.
F or city driving or for meeting cars in
the country, there is a beam switch
on the floor near your left foot. It is for
use only when the light switch is pulled
all the way out to the'second position.
This
"beam switch" turns down the
beams of the headlamps, thus prevent ·
ing glare in the eyes. of the approaching
driver. Incidentally, it's not necessary
to hold this button down when passing
cars-one push of the foot sn aps the
lights into the "lower" position (red
light
off); another push snaps them
back into the "upper" position (red
light on).
N EV ER PASS AN APPROACHING CAR WITH
THE RED LIGHT BEAM INDICATOR BURNING.
9

LIGHT SWITCH INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS-
You may have noticed that the instru-
ment lights come on when the light
switch is
pulled out. Tu rning the knob
clockwise
decreases the brightness of
the instrument lighting and counter -
clockwise incr eases the brightness of
the lighting. When turned as for as
possible in a clockwise direction, the
instrument lights are off. This enables you to adjust the brightness of
the instrument panel to your visual comfort.
HOOD LOCK- Just below the light
switch is
the hood lock knob. As the
hood is closed, it locks automatically
and can only be opened when this
knob below
the instrument panel is
pulled out. Even then, the hood safety
catch out in front is still engaged and
must be released by hand before the hood can be raised. T he catch
is a safety feature provided to hold the hood in case the knob should
be pulled out while the car is in motion. This inside hood lock gives
better protection against theft of accessories on your Pontiac.
CANE HANDLE HAND BRAKE-
The hand brake lever, generally re-
ferred to as "Cane Handle", is located
on the left hand side of the steering
column below the instrument
panel.
Pull handle to apply the brake and
release with a counter-clockwise twist.
WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL BUTTON-T he windshie ld
wiper control button is l
ocated at the bottom of the vertical bar that
divides the windshield. Turning the button to the left regulates wiper
speed.
If the c ar is equipped with a windshield washer, turn the
button slightly to the right, and hold for a few seconds to operate
the washer, then back to the left for wiper operation .
VENTILATION SYSTEM- Duct type ventilators controlling the
amount of ou tside air coming into the car are located on both the
right
and left hand side bringing air through the dash panel. The
10

ducts are controlled by two knobs
located centrally below the instrument
panel to the right of the steering column
and identified with a large "V" in the
center of t he knob. T he amount that
either the right or left knob is pu ll ed out
will
regulate the amount of air entering
for that particular duct.
The ventilating
panes in the front
door windows
can be pivoted to secure any degree of ventilation
with a minimum
of drafts. In cold weather,
rain or snow, they
can be opened slightly to provide just
enough air circulation to prevent win-
dows and windshield steaming or
fogging. (If you have an underseat
heater, refer to page 17 for more
detailed information on ventilation.)
In extremely hot
weather the front
ventilator
can be turned almost com-
pletely around to a poSition that will scoop air into the car.
You will note that the ventilators lock when the little lever is turned
down. Thumb pressure on the button will release the lever for
opening the ventilator.
S UN VISORS- Folded up against the
top directly in front
of the driver and
passenger are two sun visors. T he
visors may be moved toward the center
of the car, as well as swung around to
either the right or left to protect your
eyes
when the sun is at either side.
F US ES- The headlight wiring system on your Pontiac is protected
from
damage in case of short circuits by a thermostatic circuit
breaker mounted on the light control switch. The circuit breaker
opens and closes intermittently, thereby reducing the current load
sufficiently to protect the wiring from damage . This action will con-
tinue until the cause is eliminated and is usually noticed due to a
snapping sound at approximately 3 to 5 second intervals. If you
are driving at night, the action of the Thermo Circuit Breaker will
be noticed by the headlamps burning intermittently. When this
11

happens, it is an indication of trouble which should be cor rected
immediately.
--, .
MAIN FUSES- A fuse block is mounted on the engine side of the
dash panel, just above the steering column, to carry the fuses which
protect the main wiring. Ta il lamp circuit which includes rear
license lamps , instrument cluster lamps, ignition switch lamp, clock
lamp, Hydra-Matic control
lamp and heater panel lamp requires
14
ampere fuse in gold co l ored line fuse holder.
Stop lamp circuit, which includes
rea r corner lamps on Catalina, cour·
tesy lamps on Convertible and Cata -
lina, dome l amp and trunk lamp,
r~ui r es 14 ampere fuse in gray
colored line fuse holder.
Spare fuse for both the above
circuits and radio power is mounted
in clip adjacent to line fuse holders.
ACCESSORY FUSES- The acces-
sory fuses are carried on a block on
the pass enge r side of the dash. Like
your fuse box in your home
all fuses
are visible upon removal of the cover.
Fuse identification is printed inside
the cover. This makes it easy to locate
a blown fuse and replace with a spare
fuse which is conveniently clipped at
the boltom of the terminal assembly.
All
acces sories use 20 ampere fuses with the exception of the
radio which uses a 14 ampere fuse, a spare f or which is located on
the engine side of the dash in the main wiring fuse block, and the
electric power
antenna which uses a 30 amper e AGC fuse (located
in
the line holder acove the fuse block).
A
cigar lighter has a special replaceablEl fuse attached to re ar
end of lighter socket.
RATTLE PROOF TOOL STORAGE-T he
annoying rattles often caused by loose car
tools in the trunk, are completely eliminated
by proper use of the tool an ti -rattle spring.
When removing tools it is only necessary
, to remove the connecting ring on the right
side from t he hook on t he floor.
•
12

DUAL-RANGE
HYDRA-MATIC DRIVE
The Hydra-Matic Drive is an automatic means of transmitting the
engine power to the vehicle propeller shaft, through which it is
transferred
to the rear axle and wheels in the conventional manner.
The Hydra-Malic Drive consists of a fluid coupling, which replaces
the conventional clutch and is combined with a hydraulically-con-
trolled
automatic transmission having four speeds forward and one
reverse.
Gear changing is accomplished automatically by the
transmission in accordance with the performance demands of the
road conditions encountered and the wish of the car driver.
HOW TO OPERATE THE HYDRA-MATle DRIVE-This trans-
mission Simplifies driving beyond belief. The small control lever
located just below the steering wheel is used to select neutral, one
of three forward speed ranges, or reverse. These poSitions are all
shown on the indicator segment and are plainly visible in daylight.
They
are also illuminated when the instrument lights are turned on.
These positions
are deSignated as follows:
N = Neutral
and starting.
... DR = For all normal forward driving and improved fuel economy.
DR.l= For faster acceleration and driving in congested traffic.
LO = For controlled power. (Note: Control lever must be lifted to
change from DR to LO.)
R = For Reverse and porking.
TO START ENGINE-Place Hydra-Matic control lever in N
(neutral) position. The starting circuit is wired so the starter will
not operate unless the lever is in neutral; press accelerator pedal
to toe-board once, and release (in order to set the AUTOMATIC
CHOKE);
turn the ignition switch on and press starter button.
Release
starter button as soon a~ engine star t s.
NOTE: When starting a warm or hot engine hold accelerator pedal down hali way
while pressing starter buHon,
CAUTION: Do not "pump" the accelerator pedal at any time. ,
Avoid racing the engine during the warm-up period.
13

NOTE: Should the car f ail to s ta rt in fi ve to ten second s, it is possible th at the engi ne
is fl ooded. In th at case, press th e ac ce lera tor slowly to th e fl oor and hold it th ere
when starling. This re nders th e choke inoperative and [eheves the fl ooded condition.
OPERATING IN DRIVE RANGE
- In cold weather the engine must
idle with the control lever in the N
position until the engine and trans-
mission are nearly or completely
warmed up.
Afier
the engine is started, move
the control lever from N to either one
of the two arrows in the desired
DR poSition. When the engine is cold and running at fast idle, the
car will tend to creep forward after the control lever is moved to
either
of the two DR poSi ti ons. A s li ght application of the foot broke
or hand brake will hold the ca r u nder these conditions. After re-
l easing the brakes the car will move forward when the accelerator
is depressed.
The position
marked by the left hand arrow is provided for all
normal forward driving; it reduces engine speed, provides better
driving comfort
and improves fuel economy. The position indicated
by the right hand arrow is provided for better acceleration and is
very useful when. driving in congested traffic.
It is also effective
when climbing
or descending long mountain grades. T he control
lever
can be moved from one arrow to the other when driving at any
car speed ondry roads.
Acceleration- The shi ft events from first speed to second, second
speed to third, and third to fou rth (direct drive) wilI occur at
progressively higher speed ranges depending upon the amount of
pressure on the accelerator ped a l. With a slight accelera t or pedal
pressure, the shift even ts wlII be at .lower speeds. As accelerator
pressure is increased, the shift event will occu r at higher car speeds.
Forced Downshift - To obtain an ex tra burst of speed needed for
possing when driving in either
of the two DR ranges, depress the
accelerator pedal compl ete l y. The drive will then change to a lower
speedfor
rapid pickup and wilI return to a higher speed automatically
as car speed is increased.
Caution Against Coasting in Neutral- Do not coast with the control
lever in the N (neutral) poSition. This
procedure is unlawful in many
states and under some conditions is harmful to the transmission.
Stopping the Car- To st op the car, merely release the acce l erator
pedal. Leave t he control lever in the DR position you've selected;
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the engine is then "in gear" and helps to slow down the car . For
further
retarding effort apply the brakes in the conventional manner.
CAUTION: U nder no circumstances
should the control lever remain in any
other position except N when the driver
leaves car, with t he engine still running.
For
additional safety, apply porking brake
when opening garage doors or remov ing
mail from rural mail box, etc.
This
precaution pre vents movement of the vehicle, should the
accelerator peda l be accidentally depressed by a passenger.
LO RANGE POSITION-T he LO range
posi ti on (second speed) is provided for
pulling through
deep sand or snow and
ascending or descending steep grades
where traffic signs ca ll for placing the
transmission "in first or second gear. It is
also best for getting the c ar in motion on icy roads.
The
change from either of the two DR positions to LO is made by
lifting the control lever a nd moving it to the LO pOSition. This change .
can be made at ony car speed; however, LO range will not engage
until the car speed is reduced to below 50 MPH .
CAUTION: T he ch a nge from either of the two DR positions to
LO should only be mad e on dry roads where traction is good. It is
not recommended to
ch a nge to LO on slippery roads since this
change could induce a skid. On slippery roads, safety demands that
the car speed be reduced by judicious use of your brakes.
Release the
accelerator pedal when movi ng the selector lever from
either
of the two DR poSitions to LO.
Forced Downshif!- When driving in the LO range position at a
car speed of less than 10 MP H, the transmissi on will shift down to
the first speed when the accele r ator pedal is completely depressed.
T
he transmission will automatically shift to second speed at a
higher
car speed.
REVERSE- It is not necessary to bring
this 1952 Pontiac to a compl ete stop before
engaging reverse; simply raise the control
l ever and move it to the RpoSition. Moving
the l
ever between LO and R with light ac-
celerator pressure permits rocking the car
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when required to get out of deep snow, mud or sand. Avoid engaging
reverse at speeds above 5 MPH.
NOTE: The control lever will stop at the left drive position when moved from reverse
towards neutral with the
le ver raised.. This prevents unwanted "over-selecting" into
neutral.
Parking-F or additional safety while parking, turn off ignition key
and move selector lever to R pasition. This permits engagement of
transmission parts thereby providing "in gear" parking ability.
When parking on an incline, hold the car with foot brake a few
seconds to permit
engagement of transmission parts.
TO START ENGINE BY PUSHING CAR- If it becomes neces-
sary to start engine by pushing the car for a short distance due to
a low battery, move control lever to N pasition. When a speed of
approximately 25 MPH is attained, turn ignition switch on and move
the control lever
to either DR poSition.
TOWING THE CAR
For Transmission Not Functioning Properly-Disconnect the pro-
peller shaft at the rear universal joint and remove from the car by
sliding the front universal joint and shaft assembly backwards or
raise the rear wheels off the ground to prevent possible damage to
the transmission.
For Mechanical Failures Other Than Transmission-Propeller
shaft need not be disconnected if transmission has been operating
normally providing that car has been driven a minimum of 1,000
miles and that towing speeds of not more than 25 miles per hour are
maintained. When towing, place selector lever in neutral.
GM HYDRA-MATIC DRIVE FLUID-Th e Hydra-Matic transmis-
sion should be drained and refilled every 25,000 miles. Use only
"GM Hydra -Malic Drive Transmission Fluid" (available at all
authorized Pontiac Dealers). or "Automatic Transmission Fluid
(Type
A)" from containers bearing the marking "AQ-ATF" followed
by a series
of numbers. (No special additives to these fluids are
required or recommended.) Total refill capaCity is approximately
11 quarts. In case of emergency, it is possible to use any good grade of
20W engine oil; replace with the specified fluid as soon as possible.
Ordinarily flushing of the unit is not necessary; however, if it is
flushed for any reason, use only GM Hydra-Matic Drive Fluid.
16

ALL WEATHER
COMFORT CONTROL
Pontiac engineers have developed certain features that make your
car usable and comfortable at all times, be the weather clear or
cloudy, rainy or snowy, hot or cold. For example, the Pontiac Unisteel
Body with Turret Top is completely insulated with a lay er of insulat-
ing material that serves to keep out heat !n summer and cold in
winter.
The Fisher Controlled Ventilation (C.V.) system also promotes
your comfort
by facilitating the proper ventilation of the car. The
C. V. window (in the door) may be adjusted in any pcsition to suit
weather conditions and provide circulation of outside air in the
car. Controlled Ventilation is also useful in preventing fogging of .
the windows in cold weather.
Duct
type ventilators controlled by two knobs under the dash, are
also useful in cooling the inside of the car on warm days. The ducts,
bringing outside air in each side of the front compartment, are
equipped with scr e ens to prevent insects from being drawn into
the
car.
In addition to these, Pontiac has added some new features on its
"Venti-Heat" system. With this system you are afforded the luxury
of an atmosphere in your car as comfortable as a we ll heated, well
ventilated modern home
but with additional provisions for driving
ease and safer'.
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