Page 182 of 322

If You’re Caught in a Bli’ard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be in a serious situation.
You
should probably stay with your vehicle
unless you know for sure that
you are
near help and you can hike through the
snow. Here are some things to
do to
summon help and keep yourself and
your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert
police that you’ve been stopped by the
snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a
blanket around you.
If you have no
blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap
bags, rags, floor mats-anything you
can wrap around yourself
or tuck
under your clothing to keep warm.
but be careful.
You can run the engine to keep warm, cause deadly
CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside.
CO
could overcome you and kill you.
You can’t see it or smell it, so you
might not know
it was in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking your
exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be
sure
snow doesn’t collect there.
Open a window just a little on the
side of the vehicle that’s away from
the wind. This
will help keep CO
out.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 191 of 322
Your Driving and the Road
Maintenance When Tmiler Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on
this. Things that are especially
important
in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system, and
brake adjustment. Each
of these is
covered
in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
... 190
ProCarManuals.com
Page 196 of 322

, Using a match near a battery
- b can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. .Use a flashlight
if you
need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough
water. You don’t need to add water
to the Delco Freedom@ battery installed in every new
GM vehicle.
But if a battery
has filler caps, be
sure the right amount
of fluid is
there. If
it is low, add water to take
care
of that first. If you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get it
on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missin.g insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or
you’ll get a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts, too. Fans
or other moving engine
running.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 206 of 322

should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How
to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t up to the
FULL
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and a
proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank. See the Index under Coolant for
more information about the proper
coolant mix.
I b-Au I IUN If there seems to be no leak, check to
see
if the electric engine fan is running. Adding only plain water to
If the engine is overheating, the fan L your cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant
mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant
warning
,k L
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on
hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are
hot enough. Don’t spill coolant
on a hot engine.
system is set for the proper coolant
I
mix. With plain water or the
too hot but you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch fm and you or others
be Use a mix
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze. When
the coolant in the coolant
COLD, start your vehicle. If the
overheat warning continues, there’s one
proper coolant mix directly
to the
more
thing you can try. You can add the
radiator, but be sure the cooling system
is cool before
you do it.
wrong
mix, Your
engine could get recovery tank is at or above FULL
I
In cold weather, water can freeze II
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other
parts. Use
the recommended coolant.
I
r
205 ”
ProCarManuals.com
Page 222 of 322

Part 6
I .
COO25
Here you will find information
about the care of your Pontiac
. This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it
shows how
to check important fluid and
lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about your
vehicle. and
a section devoted to its
appearance care
.
Service G Appearance Care
Service ............................. .................. 222
Fuel
......................................................... 222
Engineoil
...................................................... 231
HoodRelease
.................................................... 227
Aircleaner
..................................................... 233
TransaxleFluid
.................................................. 236
Enginecoolant
.................................................. 238
Power Steering Fluid
.............................................. 242
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................... 242
Bulb Replacement
.............................................. 246
Loading Your Vehicle
............................................. 248
Appearance Care
................................................. 257
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................................. 264
Add-on Electrical Equipment
....................................... 265
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................................... 266
Capacities
& Specifications ......................................... 270
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................... 271
Fluids
& Lubricants ............................................... 272
Replacement Bulbs
................................................ 273
Brakes
......................................................... 243
Battery
.......................................................... 245
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
...................... ....... 248
Tires
.......................................................... 250
221 ...
ProCarManuals.com
Page 226 of 322

Fuels in Foreign Countries
tf you plan on driving in another
country outside the
U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find.
Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tankful, your emission controls
won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get
fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All of that means
costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty. To
check on fuel availability, ask an auto
club, or contact a major oil company
that does business in the country where
you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following
address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors
of Canada Ltd.
International
Export Sales
P. 0. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
Fuel Door Lock (omoN)
On SSE and SSEi models equipped with
the Theft-Deterrent System option,
the
fuel door is locked and unlocked
together with the power door locks.
Therefore, to unlock the fuel filler door,
you may use the outside door key lock,
the inside power door lock button, or
the Remote Keyless Entry key chain
transmitter.
To unlock the fuel door, just
unlock the driver’s door.
225
ProCarManuals.com
Page 232 of 322

Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel. In order to get
an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm and the vehicle must be on level
ground. Turn off the engine and give the
oil
a few minutes to drain back into the
oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might
not show the actual level.
To Check Engine Oil:
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push
it back
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower.
When to Add Oil:
If the oil is at or below the ADD line,
then you’ll need
to add some oil. But
you must use the right kind. This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see the
Zr.z&x
under Capacities & Specijicatiow.
Don’t add too much oil. If your
engine has
so much oil that the oil
level gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, your engine could
be damaged.
I
Just fill it enough to put the level
somewhere
in the proper operating
range. Push
the dipstick all the way
back
in when you’re through.
231
ProCarManuals.com
Page 235 of 322
Service & Appearance Care
4
Air Cleaner (CONT.)
To Check or Replace (3800 Engine):
1. Unscrew the three wing screws in the
housing cover and pull back.
2. Unscrew the clamp on the air intake
hose where the hose attaches
to the
throttle body near the top
of the
engine. Detach the hose
from the
throttle body, then
pull back the rear
of the housing cover.
3. Remove the air filter.
4. Be sure to install the air filter and
5. Reattach the air intake hose and replace
the cover tightly.
tighten the clamp.
I.. 234
ProCarManuals.com