
How to Use this Manual
Vehicle Symbols (CONT.:)
These symbols are on some of your
controls:
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilating Fan
Power Window
These symbols are used on warning and
Here are some other symbols you may
indicator lights: see:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
Battery Charging
System
Fuel
Engine Oil Pressure
Brake
Anti-Lock Brakes Fuse
(0)
Speaker
(@I
Hood Release
... 6
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your engine is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as
the warning light. It means that your
engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions, you
should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon
as possible.
HOT
COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In Problems on the Road, this manual
shows what to do. See the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
Low Coolant Warning light
If this light comes on, your system is
low on coolant and the engine may
overheat. See the
Index under Engine
Overheating
and have your vehicle
serviced as
soon as you can.
Oil Warning Llght
If you have a problem with your oil, this
light may stay on after you
start your
engine, or come
on when you are
driving. This indicates that
oil is not
going through your engine quickly
enough to keep it lubricated. The engine
could be low on oil, or could have some
other
oil problem. Have it fixed right
away.
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Oil Pressure Gage (omrorv)
The oil pressure gage shows the engine
oil pressure in psi (pounds per square
inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in
kPa. Oil pressure may vary with engine
speed, outside temperature and
oil
viscosity, but readings above the red warning zone indicate the normal
operating range.
A reading in the red zone may be caused
by a dangerously low oil level
or other
problem causing low oil pressure. Have
your vehicle serviced immediately.
A
Don’t keep driving if the oil
pressure is low.
If you do,
your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Charging System Light
The charging system light will come on
briefly when you
turn on the ignition,
but the engine is not running, as a check
to show you it is working. Then it
should go out.
If it stays on when your
engine is running, or comes on while
you are driving, you may have a
problem with the electrical charging
system. It could indicate that
you have a
loose generator drive belt or another
electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light is on
could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with
the light on, be certain to
turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
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Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
The proper coolant for your Pontiac
will:
Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
-34°F (-37°C).
(128°C).
temperature.
Let the warning
should. lights work as they
What to Use:
Use
a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825-M,” which won’t damage
aluminum parts. You can
also use a
recycled coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825-M with a complete
coolant flush and refill. If you use this
mixture, you don’t need to add anything
else.
CAUTION I
A Adding only plain water ta
L pur cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
bebe the proper coolant mix will.
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.
Your v&hicle’s coolant warning
221 .
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ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5 Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection*-
Inspect the belt. for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace
as needed.
6 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. Clean the outside of the
surge
tank and air conditioning condenser.
To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a
pressure test
of both the cooling system and the
surge
tank pressure cap.
doesn’t require changing.
7 Transaxle Service-For a manual transaxle, fluid
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
For an automatic transaxle, change both the fluid
and filter every
15,000 miles (25 OOO krn) if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F
(32OC) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing. With some
models, you shouldn’t even tow a trailer. See the
Index under Towing a Trailer.
Uses such as found in taxi, police car or delivery
service.
8
9
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change both the fluid and filter
every 100,000 miles
(160 000 km).
Spark Plug Replacement *-Replace spark plugs
with the proper type. See the
Index under
Replacement Parts.
Spark Plug Wire Inspection (3300 V6 Code N
engine)**-Inspect for burns, cracks or other
damage. Check the boot fit at the coils and at the
spark plugs, Replace wires as needed.
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Proper Mixture to Use ......... 221
Safety Warnings. About
........ .179. 181. 182. 183
Temperature Gage
............. 93
Temperature Warning Light ...... 92
Thermostat
.................. 223
Corrosion Protection
............ 246
Cruise Control
.................. 70
Cup Holders
................... 83
Curves. Driving
on .............. 136
Customer Assistance Information
. . 279
Daytime Running Lights
......... 75
Defects. Safety. Reporting Dead Battery: What to Do
........ 171
Defensive Driving
.............. 126
(see
Safety Defects)
Defogger. Rear Window .......... 105
Defogging Your Windows
.... .103. 105
Door Locks
.................... 45
Door. Remote Fuel Filler
......... 203
Downshifting
.............. .62. 152
Driver Position
.................. 18
Driving
....................... 121
AtNight
.............. ... 142 City
........................ 147
Controlling a Skid
............. 141
Defensively
.................. 126
Drunken
.................... 127
Freeway
.................... 148
Highway Hypnosis
............ 151
Hill and Mountain
............ 152
In a Foreign Country
.......... 202
In Fog, Mist and Haze ......... 146
In the Rain
.................. 144
Long Distance ................ 150
Loss of Control
............... 140
On Curves ................... 136
Passing
..................... 138
Skidding
.................... 141
Through Deep Standing Water
.... 55
Winter Driving
............... 156
With a Trailer
................ 164
Driving on
Snow or Ice .......... 156
Drunken Driving
............... 127
Easy-Entry Seat
................ 11
Electrical Equipment, Adding
............. .55, 107, 248
Emergencies, Braking
........... 135 Emergencies
on the
Road ......... 169
Emergencies. Steering in
......... 137
Emergency Starting
.............. 171
Emergency Towing
.............. 175
Engine Block Heater
......... .56, 213
Engine Coolant (see
CooZant)
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Engine Identification
........ .52. 247
Engine Oil
.................... 209
Additives
.................... 213
Checking
& Adding ........... 209
Disposing of Used Oil
.......... 214
Energy Conserving
............ 212
Filter
.................. .213. 257
Kind of Oil to Use ............. 210
Pressure Gage
................. 95
Warning Light
................ 93
When to Change .............. 213
Engine Overheating
............. 179
Engine Specifications
............ 256
Engine. Starting
................. 52
Automatic Transaxle
........... 53
Manual Transaxle
.............. 53
2.3L Quad 4 Engine
............ 53
3300
V6 Engine ............... 54
295
Light (see Coolant)
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Ethanol in Gasoline ............. 201
Exhaust
Dangerous Gas in
.......... .66. 67
parlang with the Engine Running . .64. 67
Expectant Mothers. Use of Safety Belts
................... 22
Expressway Driving
.............. 148
Extender. Safety Belt
.............. 38
Exterior Appearance
(see Appearance Care)
Fabric cleaning
(see Appearance Care)
Fan Warnings ....... .172. 173. 181. 206
Filter. Oil
................. .2l3. 257
Finish Damage
................. 246
Filling the Fuel Tank
.... .203.252.
304
Flash-to-hs
.................... 76
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......... 170
Hat
Tire ...................... 185
Flooded Engine .................. 54
Flow-Through Ventilation System
.... 106
Fluid Brake
.................. .225. 253
Capacities
................... 251 Hydraulic Clutch
......... .220. 253
Power Steering
....... .224. 252. 253
Transaxle
Automatic
......... .216. 251. 253
Manual
........... .218. 251. 253
Windshield Washer
........ .80. 224
Fluids
& Lubricants ......... .253. 276
Fog. Driving
in ................. 146
Fog Lights
................. .77. 229
Freeway Driving
................ 148
Fuel
.......................... 199
Alcohol
in Fuel ............... 201
Capacity
.................... 201
Exhaust Warnings
.......... .66. 67
Fuels with Alcohol ............. 201
Gage
........................ 92
In Foreign Countries ........... 202
Remote Fuel Filler Door
........ 203
Requirements
................. 199
Fuse Usage Chart
............... 249
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers .......... 248
French Language Manual
........... 2
Filling Your Tank
..... .203. 252. 304 Gages
Coolant Temperature
............ 93
Fuel
........................ 92
oil Pressure .................... 95
Tachometer
................... 91
Voltmeter ..................... 96
Garment Hook
.................. 84
Gas Station Information
......... 304
Gasoline
...................... 199
Gasoline Tank, Fdlmg Your
. .203,252, 304
Gear Positions
Gearshift Lever
Glove Box
...................... 50
Graphic Equalizer (see Audio Systems)
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) . . 230
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
................... 230
(see Sh$mg the Transaxle)
(see ShiJlting the Pamade)
Halogen Bulbs ........... .22 7. 254
Hazard Warning Flashers
......... 170
Head Restraint
.................. 11
Headlight
& Taillight. Removing and
Replacing
.......... .228. 229. 254
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Time. Setting the ............... 107
Tires
......................... 232
Buying New
................. 234
Chains.
................ .193. 238
Flat. Changing
............... 186
Inflation .................... 232
Inspection
& Rotation .......... 233
Loading
.................... 230
Quality Grading
.............. 235
Spare. Compact
......... .192. 304
Wear Indicators
.............. 234
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
................... 237
Wheel Replacement
........... 237
When to Replace Wheels
....... 237
Winter Driving and Tires
....... 156
Top Strap
...................... 31
Torque Lock .............. .l55, 252
Towing a Trailer
................ 159
Towing Your Pontiac
............. 175
Traffic Lights
.................. 124
Trailer Towing ................. 159
Driving with a Trailer
.......... 164
Maintenance
................. 166
Parking on Hills
.............. 165
Pressure
.................... 232
Trailer
Brakes
.................. 163
Transaxle. Automatic (see
Automatic Transaxle)
Transaxle. Manual (see
Manual Transaxle)
Transmission. Automatic (see
Automatic Transaxle)
Transmission. Manual
(see
Manual Transaxle)
Trip Odometer ................. -90
Trunk ......................... 49
Trunk Light
.................... 78
Trunk Release, Remote ........... 49
Turn Signal Indicator
............. 69
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever . . 69
Cruise Control ................ 70
Headlight High/Low Beam
....... 76
Turn Signal
& Lane Change
Indicator
................... 69
Underbody Maintenance ........ 246
Unleaded Gasoline
.............. 199
Upshift Indicator Light
....... .62. 98
Upholstery Care ................ 240
Urban Driving
................. 147 Variable
Effort Steering
......... 136
Vehicle “Break-In” Period
......... 50
Vehicle. Control of a ............ 129
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
...................... 247
Vehicle Loading
................ 230
Vehicle Storage
................. 227
Ventilation (see
Comfort Controls)
VIN ......................... 247
Visors. Sun
.................... 82
Visor Vanity Mirror
.............. 83
Voltmeter
...................... 96
warning Flashers. Hazard ....... 170
Warning Lights
............. .91. 170
ABS
........................ 97
Battery
...................... 96
Brake ....................... 96
Charging System .............. 95
Check Gauges
................ 99
Coolant Temperature ........... 92
Fasten Belts
................... 17
Low Coolant
................. 93
Oil
......................... 93
Safety Belt
................... 17
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