Page 57 of 338

If you drive too quickly through I
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. If you can
avoid deep puddles or standin
water, dr&e through them ve
Engine Block Heater (OPTION)
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. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded
three-prong
1 10-volt outlet. If the
cord won’t reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated
for at least 15 amps.
NOTICE
After you’ve used the block heater,
be sure to store the cord as it was
before, to keep it away from
moving engine parts.
If you dol
it could be damaged. .
.,.~~,~..~~~,~.= -~ -..= ~,,“~~,-~,~~=~~.-~,~-, F,I,,,i ,... ~~
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.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 187 of 338

Problems on the Road
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the 3. Turn off the ignition on both
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
Pentiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
CAUTION I
You could be injured if the
b vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in
P (Park) or a
manual transaxle in N (Neutral).
4. Open the hoods and locate the
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t batteries.
needed, and radios. This
will avoid
sparks and help save both b’atteries.
1, CAUTION
And it could save your radio!
II
If you leave your radio on, it could
be badly damaged. The repairs
wouldn’t be covered
bv your --
warranty.
I
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ij Find the positive (+) and negative (-)
terminals on each battery. Your Pontiac
has a remote positive
(+) jump starting
terminal. The terminal is on the same
side
of the engine compartment as your
battery.
You should always
use the remote
positive
(+) terminal instead of the
positive
(+) terminal on your battery.
To uncover the remote positive
(+)
terminal, lift the red plastic cap.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 194 of 338

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
gage or the warning light about
a hot
engine
on your Pontiac's instrument
panel.
You may also find a low coolant
warning light
on your Pontiac's
instrument panel.
r
If Steam is Coming from Your Engine:
L Steam from an overheated
- b 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
DP eoolant 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
1
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.
-
!
ProCarManuals.com
Page 195 of 338

Problems on the Road
Engine Overheafing ICONT.)
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign
of steam, try this for a minute or
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
SO:
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, 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
ENGINEANDGETEVERYONEOUT
OF THE IrEp3[1CLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get servioe
help right away.
a
An electric fan under the
L L hood 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. I
stop, and park your vehicle right away. I I
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 217 of 338
Service & Appearance Care
,
Filling Your Tank (CONI-.)
If you need a new cap, be
=== 216
Checking Things Under the
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants and important
parts underhood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle
inside the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 219 of 338
Service & Appearance Care
21%
W6118
3.IL V6 Engine (CODE T)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
2. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
5. Battery
6. Air Cleaner
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
10. Engine Coolant Reservoir
ProCarManuals.com
Page 220 of 338
d
Twin Dual Cam (DOHC) 3.4L V6
hgne (CODE x)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
2. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
3. Brake Fluid Reservoir
4. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap
9. Engine Oil Dipstick
IO. Radiator Pressure Cap
11. Engine Coolant Reservoir
(if equipped)
(if equipped)
ProCarManuals.com
Page 245 of 338
Service & Appearance Care
Driver Side
Headlight Replacement
(4-DOOR MODELS)
See the Index under Replacement
Bulbs to check the type of bulb to use.
To Replace a Bulb:
1. Open the hood. Open the protective
panel above the headlights.
2. Reach behind the headlights and turn
the socket counterclockwise until it
pops loose from the housing.
3. Pull the socket and bulb free.
4. Lift the locking tab on the electrical
connector and pull it from the socket.
5. Plug a new bulb and socket into the
electrical connector. Be sure the
locking tab snaps securely onto the
socket.
6. Replace the socket in the headlight
7. Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.
8. Close the protective panel.
housing.
Passenger Side
Front
light Bar Bulb
Replacement
DOOR MODELS)
See the Index under Replacement
Bulbs
to check the type of bulb to use.
To Replace a Bulb:
1. Open the hood and remove the seven
pins from the covers above the light
bar.
ProCarManuals.com