1993 PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX Owners Manual

Service & Appearance Care
i
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the
air filter
and the
PCV filter. See the Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
CAUTlON
A Operating the engine with
1 L the air cleaner off can cause
ywu or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned.
Don’t drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with
the air clearier off.
-
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage
i
Always have the air cleaner
place when you’re driv
To Check or Replace:
1. Remove the four screws and pull off
the cover.
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2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter
and replace the cover tightly.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level
is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do
it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE I
00 much or too little fluid
mage your transaxle.
Too
n mean that some of the flu
Id come out and fall on
ho
ine parts, starting a fi
I
225 . .
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Service & Appearance Care
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (CONT.)
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 la) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than
50°F ( 10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
weather.
To Check the Fluid Level:
Park
your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
parking brake applied.
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting Off the
Engine,
Follow These Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
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3.1 L V6: Checking Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Twin Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Checking
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
How to Add Transaxle Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See the
Index under Fluids G
Lubricants.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the fluid
level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick. It doesn't take much fluid,
generally less than a pint
(0.5L). Don't
overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRONQ-IIE, because
fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRONB-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the
fluid
level as described under How to Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push the dipstick back in all the
way.
3.1 L V6 Adding Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Twin Dual Cam 3.4L V6: Adding
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
U
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Service & Appearance Care
Manual Pransaxle Fluid
When to Check:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transaxle does not
require changing.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult,
you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be
sure
to follow all the instructions here,
or YQU could get a false reading on the
dipstick.
’. 22%
00 little fluid can
amage your transaxle.
Too much
an mean that some of the fluid
ould come out and fall on hot
ngine parts, starting a fire. Be
ure to get
an accurate reading if
ou check your transaxle fluid. The manual
transaxle dipstick is located
on the driver’s
side near the rear of the
transaxle case.
Check the fluid level
only when your
engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transaxle is cool
enough for
you to rest your fingers on
the transaxle case.
Then, Follow These Steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out
the dipstick and clean it with
a rag or
paper towel.
remove it.
2. Push it back in all the way and
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3. Check both sides of the dipstick and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be between the
ADD and
FULL marks. (Note: Fluid may
appear at the bottom
of the dipstick
even when the fluid level is several
pints low.)
4. If the fluid is where it should be, push
the dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid:
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of fluid
to use. See the Index
under Fluids G Lubricants.
1. Remove the dipstick by flipping the
handle
up and then pulling the
dipstick out.
2. Add fluid at the dipstick hole.
Add only enough fluid to bring the
fluid level
up to the FULL mark on
the dipstick
3. Push the dipstick back in all the way;
then flip the handle
down to lock the
dipstick in place.
Hydraulic Clutch Flujd
The hydraulic clutch in your vehicle is
self-adjusting.
When to Check and What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often you should check
the fluid level in your clutch master
cylinder reservoir and what
to add. See
the
Index under Owner Checks G
Services and Fluids G Lubricants.
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Service & Appearance Cam
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid (CONTJ
How to Check
The proper fluid should be added if the
level does not reach the bottom
of the
diaphragm when it’s in place in the
reservoir. See the instructions on the
reservoir cap.
230
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 or
if you need to add
coolant to your radiator, see the Index
under Engine Overheuling.
The proper coolant for your Pontia’c
will:
Give freezing protection do;wn to
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half dean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825-M,” which won’t darnage
-34°F (-3 7 “C) .
(12S°C).
temperature.
should.
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.
Adding only plain water
to
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
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 Droner antifreeze.
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I
NOTICE
If you use an improper coolant
mix, your engine could overheat
and be badly damaged. The repair
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,,~~~,~,,”;l,,I;i,.,t”. ~~,,,~,~,~~~~,~,~~.~~~,~
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
HOT or a little
higher.
If this light comes on, it means you’re
low on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant:
I€ you need more coolant, add the
proper mix at the coolant recovery
tank. n
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