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Features & Controls
Engine Block Heater (oPnoN)
In very cold weather, 0" F (-18" C) or
colder, the engine block heater can help.
You'll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
To Use the Block Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
electrical
cord.
110-volt outlet. Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured.
1
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt
outlet.
If the cord won't reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amps.
I NOTICE
After you've used the block heater, , ;
be sure to store the cord as it was., ,(
moving engine parts. If you don't,
.. before, to keep it away from ,~
it could be damaged, ~".',:; ,"::,:;s ':,:';:::':;
How long should you keep the block
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact a Pontiac dealer in the area
where you'll be parking your vehicle.
The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
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Jump Starting (CONTJ
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other.
If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to
start your
Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
I; vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake
firmly on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle in
P (Park)
or a manual transaxle in
N (Neutral). I I
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios.
This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
. 8. r ~
I If you leave your radio on, it could
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up
e engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive (+) and negative
(-) terminals on each battery,
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage
or the warning light about
a hot engine
on your Pontiac’s instrument panel. See
the
Index under Coolant Temperature
Gage
and Coolant Temperature Warning
Light.
You will also find a low coolant warning
light on your Pontiac’s instrument panel.
If Steam is Coming from Your Engine:
/1 Steam from an overheated
L L engine can burn you badly,
even
if you just open the hood. Stay
away from the engine if you see or
hear steam coming from
it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle
until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of steam
or coolant before opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine
is overheated, the liquids in
it can catch fire. You or others could
be badly burned. Stop your engine
if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
179
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Problems on the Road
Engine Overheating (CONT)
If No Steam is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not
be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
180
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1 . If you have an air conditioner, turn it
off.
2. Turn your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the window as necessary.
3. Try to keep your engine under load
(in a drive gear where the engine
runs slower).
If you no longer have the overheat
warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes.
If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop,
and park your vehicle right away. If there’s
still no sign of steam, you can
idle the engine for two or three minutes
while you’re parked, to
see if the
warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning,
TURN
OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
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Service & Appearance Care
Filling Your Tank CON^)
While refueling, hang the cap inside the
fuel door.
A If you get gasoline on you and
- then something ignites it, you
could be badly burned. Gasoline
can spray out on you if you open
the fuel filler cap too quickly, This I
spray can happen if your tank is
nearly full, and is more likely in I
hot weather. Open the he1 filler
cap slowly and wait for any “hiss”
noise to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to
the right until you hear a clicking noise.
204 ...
I’y ‘I ICIC
If you need a new cap, be sure to
get
the right type. Your dealer can , ,
get one for you. If you get the
wrong type, it may not fit or have
proper venting, and your fuel
tank
and emissions system might be
damaged. I
Checking Things Under
the Hood
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants and important
parts underhood.
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N61b ~
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the HOOD
release handle inside the vehicle.
I
1
Then go to the front of the vehicle and
release the secondary hood release. Lift the hood, release the hood prop rod
from its retainer and put the hood prop into the slot in the
hood.
205
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2.3L Quad OHC and Quad 4
Engines (CODES 3, D AND A)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
1 . Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
2. Brake Fluid Reservoir
3. Air Cleaner
4. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap, Engine Oil
9. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
(if equipped)
(if equipped)
Dipstick
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Service & Appearance Care
208
3300 V6 Engine (CODE N)
When you open your hood, you’ll see:
1. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
2. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Air Cleaner
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
(if equipped)
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