Page 182 of 306

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant surge tank with pressure cap
(B) Electric engine fan
bAU I IVIV
1 /r An electric fan under the hood
- b can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing
and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
[f the coolant inside the coolant surge
tank is boiling, don’t do anything else
until
it cools down.
’he coolant level should be at or above
TJLL COLD.
f it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
adiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
dater pump or somewhere else
in the
ooling system.
A
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be
very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a
leak. If
you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could
be burned. Get any leak fixed
before
you drive the vehicle. Engine damage
from
runni
engine without coolant isn’
covered by your warranty.
there seems to be no leak, check
to
x if the electric engine fan is running.
C the engine is overheating, the fan
hould be running.
If it isn’t, your
chicle needs service.
181
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Problems on the Road
Engine Overheating (CONTJ
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
FULL
COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water
(preferably distilled) and a proper
antifreeze at the coolant surge
tank, but
be sure the cooling system, including
the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is
cool before
you do it. (See the Index
under Engine Coolant for more
information about the proper coolant
mix.)
182
L Steam and scalding liquids
L from a hot cooling system can
blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn
cap-evm a little-they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the
pressure cap when the cooliag
tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and coolant
you ever have to turn the pmsure
MP.
the coolant surge tank pressure
system, including the COoIant surge
surge tank pressure cap to cool if
Adding only plain water to
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
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 mix
of
clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
k your cooling system can be I
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Ih Getting under a vehicle when
it is jacked up is dangerous. If
llle vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when
it
is supported only by a jack. Raising your vehicle with the
jack
improperly positioned will damage
the vehicle or may allow
the
vehicle to fall off the jack. Be sure
to
fit the jack lift head into the
proper location before raising
vehicle.
Do not jack or lift vehicle using oil
pan. Pans could crack and begin to
leak fluid.
7. Raise tne venicle ~y rotating tne
wheel wrench clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the ground
so
there is enough room for the spare
tire to
fit.
8. Remove all of the wheel nuts, and
carefully pry the wheel cover from
the wheel,
if your flat tire has onp
Then take off
the flat tire.
189 I..
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Problems on the Road
F"
'hanging a Flat Tire (CONT.)
f A Rust or dirt on the wheel, or
L on the parts to which it is
fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time, The
wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt
from the places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off.
9. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or
spare wheel.
mounting surface.
10. Place the spare on the wheel
Never use oil or grease on
e b studs or nuts. If you do, the
nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious
accident.
I
1 1. Replace the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the
hub
..I 190
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Part 6
... N604
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 & Appearance Care
Service ................ .................................. 198
Fuel
........................................................... 199
HoodRelease .................................................... 205
Engineoil
...................................................... 209
Aircleaner
...................................................... 214
Transaxle Fluid
.................................................. 216
Engine Coolant
.................................................. 221
Power Steering Fluid
.............................................. 224
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................... 224
Brakes
......................................................... 225
Battery
......................................................... 227
BulbReplacement
................................................ 228
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
................................. 230
Loading Your Vehicle
............................................. 230
Tires
.......................................................... 232
Appearancecare
................................................. 239
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................................. 247
Add-on Electrical Equipment
....................................... 248
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................................... 248
Capacities
& Specifications ......................................... 251
Fluids
& Lubricants ............................................... 253
Replacement Bulbs
............................................... 254
Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts ............................. 257
197
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3
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with detergent
additives will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system.
That helps keep your engine in tune and
your emission control system working
properly. It’s good for your vehicle, and
you’ll be doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with
materials called oxygenates. General
Motors recommends that you use
gasolines with these blending materials,
such as MTBE and ethanol. By doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially
in those parts of the country that have
high carbon monoxide levels. In
addition, some gasoline suppliers are
now producing reformulated gasolines.
These gasolines are specially designed
to reduce vehicle emissions. General
Motors recommends that you use
reformulated gasoline. By doing
so, you
can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the country that have high
ozone levels.
You should ask your service station
operators if their gasolines contain
detergents and oxygenates, and if they
have been reformulated to reduce
vehicle emissions.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If 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.
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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.O. Box 828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
Remote Fuel Filler Door Release
The remote fuel filler door release can
help keep your
fuel tank from being
siphoned. Always be sure the fuel door
is closed and latched after refueling.
To open the fuel door (on the right rear
quarter panel), pull the fuel access
handle on the floor by the driver’s seat.
Wing Your Tank
A Gasoline vapor is highly
and that can cause very bad
injuries. Don’t smoke
if you’re
near gasoline or refueling your
vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from
gasoline.
L flammable. It burns violently,
I
‘he cap is behind a hinged door on the
ight side
of your vehicle.
o take off the cap, turn it slowly to the
:ft (counterclockwise).
203
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Service & Appearance Care
Hood Release (CONT.)
~1 CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood 1
IhlUlll 0
A
Things that burn can get
hot engine parts and start a
can start up and injure you fire. These include liquids like
even when the engine is not gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid,
running. Keep hands, clothing and windshield washer and other
tools away from any underhood fluids, and plastic or rubber. You
or others could be burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a Rot engine,
I’
Before closing the hood, be sure all the
filler caps are on properly. Then lift the
hood to relieve pressure on the hood
prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood and return the prop to
its retainer. Then just let the hood down
and close
it firmly.
... 206
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