Page 226 of 323
Service & Appearance Cure
224
P P
3800 V6 Engine (CODE L)
1 . Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
(3 U6085
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Page 238 of 323

Service & Appearance Care
Engine Coolant (CONT.)
I
fmIlTIfi I I
Adding only plain water to I
L L your cooling system can be
aangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
I
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water or the
wrong
mix, your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mi
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
I
I’
NOTICE
If you use an improper coolant
mix, your engine could overheat
and be badly damaged. The repail
cost wouldn’t
be covered by your
warranty. Too much water
in the
mix can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
I
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant:
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be
at COLD, or a little
higher. When
your engine is warm, the
level should be
up to mJLL HOT, or a
little higher.
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Page 239 of 323
3.1L V6: Checking Coolant
3800 V6: Checking Coolant
To Add Coolant:
If you need more coolant, add the Add
coolant mix at the recovery tank,
r
proper mix at the coolant recovery but be careful not to spill it.
tank.
coolant on hot engine parts.
cap when the engine and Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
radiator are hot can allow steam and it will burn if the engine parts
and scalding liquids to blow out are hat enough. Don’t spill coolant
and burn you badly. With the
coolant recovery
tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at
the radiator. Never turn
the
radiator pressure cap-even a
little-when
the engine and
radiator are
hot
237
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Service & Appearance Care
238
Radiator Pressure Cap
(105 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
$3
coolant loss and possible engine +-
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
the overflow tube on
the radiator
filler neck.
When
you replace your radiator pressure
cap, an
AC@ cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat
in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow
of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
How to Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot,
the level should be at the
H (Hot)
mark.
the level should be at the
C (Cold)
mark.
When the engine compartment is cool,
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Page 242 of 323

Service & Appearance Care
Windshield Washer Fluid (CONT.)
I 1 When using concentrated washer ” I
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
I 1 Don’t mix water with ready-to-
use washer fluid. Water can
cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank
and other parts of the washer
system. Also, water doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
It
-1 Fill your washer fluid tank only
% full when it’s very cold. This
allows
for expansion, which
could damage the
tank if it is
completely full.
I 1 Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer.
It can
damage your washer system and
paint.
I
240
.. -. -. .. , .:.
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is
filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are
only two reasons why the
brake
fluid level in your master cylinder
might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear.
When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other
reason is that fluid is leaking
out
of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system
fixed,
since a leak means that sooner or later
your brakes won’t work well, or won’t
work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to
“top
off’ your brake fluid. Adding
brake fluid won’t correct a leak.
If you
add fluid when your linings are
worn,
then you’ll have too much fluid when
you get new brake linings. You should
add (or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary,
only when work is done on
the brake hydraulic system.
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Page 287 of 323

ITEM
NO.
5
6
7
SERVICE
Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection-
Inspect the drive belt for cracks, hying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as needed.
Cooling
System Service*-Drain, flush and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See the
Index under Coolant. This provides proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level and engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they
are cracked,
swollen or deteriorated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser. Wash the pressure cap and
neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we recornmend a
pressure test of both the cooling system
and the
pressure cap.
Transaxle Service-Change both the fluid and
filter every
15,000 miles (25 000 km) if the vehicle
is mainly driven under one or more
of these
conditions:
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
In heavy city traffic where the outside tem-
perature regularly reaches
90" F (32" C) or
higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police car or delivery
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change both the fluid and filter
every
100,OOO miles (160 000 km).
with the proper type. See the Index under
Replacement Parts.
9 Spark Plug Wire Inspection*-Inspect for burns,
cracks
or other damage. Check the boot fit at the
distributor or coils and at the spark plugs. Replace
wires as needed. service.
8 Spark Plug
Replacement*-Replace spark plugs
285
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316
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Requirements
............ .60. 178
Night Driving
.................. 159
Night Vision
................... 160
octane Requirements
(see
Fuel Requirements)
Odometer and Speedometer ....... 103
Oil. Engine ................... 225
Pressure Gage
................ 106
Pressure Indicator
............. 106
Quality
..................... 227
Thickness
................... 227
UsedOil
.................... 230
When to Change .............. 229
Oil Warning
................... 106
Operation
of Lights .............. 80
Outside Rearview Mirrors
......... 92
Overhead Console
............... 85
Overheated Engine .............. 195
Warnings
........... .195, 236, 238
Owner Checks
& Services ........ 287 park.
Shifting Into
.............. 69
Parking On
Hills ................ .171. 183
Parking Brake
.................. 68
Parking on
Hills ........... .171. 183
Passing
....................... 156
Payload ...................... 245
Over Things That
Burn.
......... 71
With the Engine Running
.... .70. 72
Passenger Belts (see
Safety Belts)
Periodic Maintenance Inspections ... 290
Polishing and Waxing
(see
Appearance Care)
Power (Anti-Lock) Brakes ........ 149
Power Door Locks
.............. 48
Power Mirrors
.................. 92
Power Outlet. Accessory
.......... 90
Power Seat Controls ............. 15
Power Sliding
Door .............. 54
Power Steering
................. 153
Power Steering Fluid
... .238. 270, 272
Power Windows
........... .74. 268
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts During
...................... 29
Problems on the Road
........... 185
Publications
.................. 304 Radiator
Overheating
(see Overheated Engine)
Radiator Pressure Cap ........... 238
Radio (see
Audio Systems)
Reading Lights .................. 85
Rear Climate Control
............ 117
Rear Interior Lights
.............. 89
Rear Seats
...................... 17
Adjusting
.................... 19
Removing
.................... 18
Replacing
.................... 20
Third Row Entry
............... 17
Rear Window Defogger
........... 119
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
.... 84
Rearview Mirror
................ 92
Reclining Seatbacks
.............. 15
Reminder Light ................. 25
Remote Keyless Entry
............ 49
Replacement Bulbs
.............. 273
Replacement Fuses
............. 265
Replacement
Parts .............. 271
Remote Fuel Door Release
........ 219
Removing Rear Bucket Seats
...... -18
Replacing Brake System
Parts ..... 242
Replacing Bulbs
........... .243, 244
Replacing Rear Bucket Seats
....... 20
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