To properly service an A/C system, you will need a set of manifold gauges and an electric vacuum pump. It is best to leave this task to a professional that has an A/C charging station, along with a freon recovery machine. It is illegal to deliberately discharge refrigerant into the atmosphere. A complete service usually costs around $100 and varies with the refrigerant capacity.
2 Distributing The Good
Keeping the dwell of the breaker points properly adjusted will provide peak performance and fuel economy. As the points wear, the dwell increases and the ignition timing retards.
Don't be afraid to look inside the distributor in between tuneups. Make sure the centrifugal weights are free and well lubricated.
If your Pontiac has breaker points, readjust the dwell once every 2,000 miles. With the Delco V-8 distributor, this is very easy using a dwell meter. The dwell controls the coil saturation and directly impacts performance and fuel mileage. Examine, clean, and lubricate the centrifugal weights, and don't forget to oil the distributor wick. Place a small amount of distributor-cam lube on one lobe every 4,000 miles to minimize rubbing block wear.
With HEI, remove the ignition module once every two years, and renew the heat sink/dielectric grease underneath it. This material pulls heat from the module and makes it last much longer. When the grease gets old, it loses its heat-transfer ability. Also, maintain the advance weights as is recommended with the breaker points.
3 Lube It Up
Synthetic disc-brake lubricant resists being washed off while driving in the rain. It's also an excellent choice for drum-brake adjusters and the slide points on the backing plate.
Have you ever performed a brake job without changing the brakes? Well, it's about time that you did. Many enthusiasts and mechanics don't think about servicing the brakes as preventive maintenance before the pads or shoes wear out.
The main reason for premature lining wear is a lack of lubrication on the caliper pins and backing plate with a drum design. This often results in uneven wear that will force a renewing of the friction material because it's only worn in one place. Depending on the number of miles you drive your Pontiac per year, a service schedule needs to be created. Once a year is usually all that's required.
Remove the brake parts, and clean and polish any areas of contact where movement is realized. Treat the areas with a high-quality synthetic brake lubricant that can be purchased at a better auto parts store. It will come in a small jar and will last for many years. Clean the shoes/pads with sandpaper, then spray them with brake cleaner and examine the rotors and drums for wear.
It is a good idea to build a relationship with a parts store or shop that has a brake lathe. Have the technician place the drum/rotor on the lathe and adjust the cutting tool so that it just touches. This will determine the amount of runout, and a very minute cut can be made to bring the friction surface to the proper condition. Many technicians don't do this. They make an aggressive cut that removes more material than is necessary to bring the drum/rotor back to like new. If the part doesn't need to be machined, just remove it from the lathe.
Don't forget to take apart, clean, and lubricate the adjuster on drum brakes while also inspecting the parking brake cable/mechanism. Examine, clean, and repack the front wheel bearings. By doing this, you will greatly extend the life of the pads and shoes while keeping the braking performance at 100 percent.
4 Beyond Freezing
Changing the antifreeze every few years is one of the best things that you can do for your Pontiac. Other than damage from overheating, the number one cause of head-gasket failure is a lack of cooling system service. Checking the coolant's ability to resist freezing doesn't determine the strength of the anti-corrosion inhibitors.