1994 PONTIAC GRAND-AM checking oil

Service & Appearance Care
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 “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index.
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:
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transaxle.
Too much
can mean that some of the fluid
could come out and fall on hot
engine parts or exhaust system,
starting a fire. Be sure
to get an
accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking
the transaxle fluid level
if you have been
driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above
90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot
weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
,e at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
Set the vehicle warmed up by driving
ibout 15 miles
(24 km) when outside
iemperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it’s colder than 50°F
(IOOC), you may
have to drive longer.
To Check the Fluid Level
1. Keep the engine running. Park your
vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place
the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal,
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
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Index
Adding
Brake Fluid ................. 192
Electrical Equipment
..... 107. 2 11
Engine Coolant
.......... 159. 189
Engine Oil
.................. 18 1
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid ........ 187
Power Steering Fluid
..... 190. 216
Transaxle Fluid
Automatic ........... 185. 215
Manual
.............. 187. 215
Windshield Washer Fluid
...... 191
Air Bag Readiness Light .......... 22
Air Bag (Supplemental Restraint
System - SRS) ................. 21
Air Cleaner .................... 183
Air Conditioner
................ 103
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence of .................. 120
Alcohol
in Gasoline ......... 17 1. 172
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning ...... 208
Antenna. Fixed
Mast ............ 118
Antifreeze
..................... 188
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
... 123
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light ................. 99
Appearance Care and Materials
.... 204
Ashtray and Lighter
.............. 86
Audio Systems
................. 106
AM/FM Stereo Radio ......... 108
AM/FM Stereo Radio
with
Cassette Player ............. 109
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Cassette Player and Graphic
Equalizer
.................. 11 1
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player ........ 11 3
Care of Audio Systems
........ 11 7
Delco LOC II@
.............. 115
Radio Reception. For the Best
. . 117
Setting the Clock
............. 107
Automatic Door Locks ............ 48
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
(see “Safety Belts”)
Automatic Transaxle
Adding Fluid ............ 185. 215
Checking Fluid
.............. 184
Shifting
..................... 59
Starting Your Engine
........... 56
Battery .................. 148. 194
Jump Starting
........... 148. 194
Rundown Protection
........... 80
Voltmeter
.................... 97
BBB Auto Line
................ 245
Blizzard. If You’re Caught In a
.... 137
Block Heater. Engine
......... 58. 182
Blowout. Tire
.................. 16 1
Brakes
....................... 123
Adjustment ................. 193
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
. 123
Brake Pedal Travel
........... 193
Fluid
...................... 191
Master Cylinder ............. 191
Parking
..................... 66
Rear Drums
................. 192
Replacement
................ 193
Warning Light
................ 98
Wear Indicators
.............. 192
Brakes. Anti-Lock .............. 123
Brake System Warning Light
....... 98
Anti-Lock Brake System
....... 99
Standard Brakes
.............. 99
Brakenramaxle Shift Interlock
..... 69
Warning Light
................ 99
Braking
....................... 123
Braking in Emergencies
.......... 125
,‘Break-in", New Vehicle
Braking Technique .............. 123
Normal Driving ............... 54
When Towing a Trailer ........ 141
Buckling Up (see “Safety Belts”)
Bulb Replacement
Fog Lights .............. 196. 217
Headlight
............... 195. 217
Taillight
................ 196. 217
Capacities & Specifications ...... 215
Carbon Monoxide
in Exhaust . . 70. 138
Cassette Tape Player (see “Audio
Center Passenger Position ......... 27
Chains. Safety
................. 143
Chains. Tire
................... 203
Systems”) C
263 ...
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Index
Changing a Flat Tire ............. 162
“Check Gauges” Light
........... 100
Check Oil Light ................. 96
Engine Coolant .............. 188
Engine Oil Level
............. 179
Hydraulic Clutch
............. 187
Power Steering Fluid
......... 190
Safety Belt Systems
........... 42
Automatic ............... 184
Manual
.................. 186
Checking Things Under the Hood
. . 175
Checks
& Services. Owner ....... 232
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......... 209
Child Restraints
................. 33
Children and Safety Belts
......... 32
Circuit Breakers & Fuses ......... 2 12
Charging System Warning Light .... 97
Checking
Brake Fluid ................. 191
Transaxle Fluid
Cigarette Lighter ................ 86
City Driving
................... 132
Cleaner. Air
................... 183
Aluminum Wheels ........... 208
Antenna
.................... 1 18
Cassette Player and Tapes ...... 117
Compact Discs
.............. 11 8
Finish Damage .............. 209
Foreign Material
............. 209
Cleaning
Fabric ..................... 205
Glass ...................... 207
Inside of Your Pontiac ........ 204
Leather and Vinyl
............. 206
Outside of Your Pontiac
....... 208
Safety Belts
................. 207
Sheet Metal Damage
.......... 209
Special Problems
............ 206
Top of the Instrument Panel
.... 206
Underbody Maintenance
....... 209
Using Solvent Type Cleaner
.... 205
Warnings
........... 204.205. 207
Weatherstrips
............... 209
White Sidewall Tires
.......... 208
Windshield and Wiper Blades
... 207
Climate Control System .......... 102
Clock. Setting the
............... 107
Adding Fluid ................ 187
Checking Fluid
.............. 187
Coin Holder
.................... 86
Comfort Controls
............... 101
Air Conditioning System
...... 103
Climate Control System
....... 102
Defrosting
.................. 104
Heater
..................... 102
Ventilation
.................. 103
Clutch. Hydraulic
Compact Disc Player (see “Audio
Systems”)
Compact Spare Tire ............. 167
Control of a Vehicle
............. 122
Controlled-Cycle Windshield
Wipers ....................... 81
Convex Outside Mirror
........... 83
Coolant ....................... 188
Low Coolant Warning Light
..... 94
Safety Warnings. About
... 188. 189
Temperature Warning Light
..... 94
Thermostat ................. 190
Corrosion Protection
............ 209
Cruise Control
.................. 74
Cup Holders
.................... 85
Curves. Driving on
.............. 125
Checking & Adding .......... 188
Proper Mixture to Use
........ 188
Temperature Gage
............. 94
Customer Assistance Information . . 243
Daytime Running Lights ......... 77
Dead Battery: What to Do ........ 148
Defects. Safety. Reporting (see
“Safety Defects”)
Defensive Driving .............. 120
Defogger. Rear Window
......... 105
Defogging Your Windows
........ 102
Door Locks
..................... 47
Door. Remote Fuel Filler
......... 174
Downshifting
................ 62. 66
Driver Position .................. 17
Driving
At Night ................... 129
City
....................... 132
Controlling a Skid
............ 128
Defensive
.................. 120
Drunken
................... 120
Freeway
..................... 132
. 264
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Highway Hypnosis ........... 134
.Hill and Mountain ............ 134
In a Foreign Country
.......... 172
In the Rain
.................. 13C
Logg Distance ............... 132
Loss of Control
.............. 128
On Curves
.................. 125
Passing
.................... 127
Skidding
................... 128
Through Deep Standing Water
... 58
Winter Driving .............. 136
With a Trailer
............... 144
Driving.on Snow or Ice .......... 136
Drunken Driving
............... 120
Easy-Entry Seat ................ 11
Electrical Equipment. Adding
. 107. 2 1 1
Emergencies. Braking .. .. ........ 125
Emergencies on the Road
......... 147
Emergencies. Steering
in ......... 126
Emergency Starting
.. i .......... 148
Emergency Towing
............. 152
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block Heater)
....... : ..... 58. 182
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light ................. 94
Engine Identification
............ 2 11
Engine Oil
.................... 179
Additives ................... 182
Checking
& Adding .......... 179
Disposing of Used Oil
........ 182
Engine Coolant (see “Coolant”) .... 188
Energy Conserving ........... 18 I
Filter .................. 182. 22C
Kind of Oil to Use
............ 18C
Pressure- Gage ................ 9f
Warning Light
................ 95
When to Change ............. 182
Engine Overheating ............. 156
Engine Specifications
............ 2 19
Engine. Starting
................. 56
Automatic Transaxle ........... 56
Manual Transaxle ............. 56
2.3L Quad 4 Engine
........... 56
3.lL V6 Engine ............... 57
Ethanol in Gasoline ......... 17 1. 172
Exhaust
Dangerous Gas in
......... 70. 138
Pirking with the Engine
Running ................ 67. 69
Expectant Mothers. Use of Safety
Belts ......................... 26
Expressway Driving
............. 132
Extender. Safety Belt
............. 42
Exterior Appearance (see “Appearance
Care”) ....................... 204
Fabric Cleaning (see “Appearance
Care”) ...................... 204
Filling the Fuel Tank
........ 174. 2 16
Filter. Oil
................ 182. 220
Finish Damage
................. 209
Flashers. Hazard Warning
........ 148
Flat Tire
...................... 161
Flooded Engine ................. 57
Flow-Through Ventilation System . . 105
Fluid
‘Brake ...................... 192
Capacities
.................. 215
Hydraulic Clutch
............. 187
Power Steering
.......... 190. 216
Transaxle
Automatic ........... 184. 215
Manual
.............. 186. 215
Windshield Washer
........... 191
Fluids
& Lubricants ............. 238
Fog Lights
................. 79. 196
Freeway Driving
............... 132
French Language Manual
.......... 2
Fuel
......................... 171
Alcohol
in Fuel .......... 17 1. 172
Capacity
................... 216
Exhaust Warnings
......... ..70. 138
Filling Your Tank
......... 1 .. 174
Fuels
with Alcohol ....... !7 1. 172
Gage
........................ 93
In Foreign Countries .......... 173
Remote Fuel Filler Door
........ 53
Requirements
............... 171
Fuse Usage Chart ............... 213
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ......... 212
Gages
Coolant Temperature .......... 94
Fuel ........................ 93
Oil Pressure .................. 96
265
E
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Lights on Reminder .............. 77
Loading Your Vehicle
........... 197
Locks. Door
.................... 47
Automatic Door Lock .......... 48
Rear Door Security Locks
...... 49
Low Battery
................... 149
Low Oil Pressure Warning
...... 95. 96
Lubricants and Fluids
............ 238
Lumbar Support
.................. 9
Maintenance Record ........... 240
Maintenance Schedule
........... 223
Maintenance Services. Scheduled
. . 225
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...... 100
Manual 4-Way Adjustable Seat ...... 8
Manual Front Seat ................ 8
Manual Lumbar Support
........... 9
Manual Transaxle
Adding Fluid ............ 187. 215
Checking Fluid
.............. 186
Parking
..................... 69
Shifting
..................... 64
Starting Your Engine
........... 56
Upshift Indicator Light
......... 67
Master Cylinder. Brake .......... 191
Methanol in Gasoline ........ 171. 172
Mileage Indicator (see “Odometer
Mirrors
& Speedometer”)
Convex Outside .............. 83
Inside Manual Daymight
....... 82
Manual Remote Control
........ 83
I
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Power Remote Control ......... 84
Mountain Driving
............... 134
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Requirements .................. 54
Night Driving
.................. 129
Night Vision
................... 129
Octane Requirements (see “Fuel
Requirements”) ............... 17 1
Odometer
& Speedometer ......... 92
Off Road Recovery
............. 127
Oil. Engine
.................... 179
Pressure Gage ................ 96
Quality
.................... 180
Thickness .................. 180
Used Oil
................... 182
When to Change
.............. 182
Operation of Lights .............. 77
Outside Rearview Mirrors
......... 83
Overheated Engine
.............. 156
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning
Light ......................... 94
Owner Checks
& Services ........ 232
Oil Warning Light ............... 95
Parking
On Hills .................... 145
With the Engine Running
.... 68. 70
Parking Brake
................... 66
Over Things That Burn ......... 69
Park . Shifting Into ............ 60. 67
Passenger Belts (see “Safety Belts”)
Passenger Side Cup
Holder/Storage Area ............ 85
Passing
....................... 127
Polishing and Waxing (see
Power Door Locks ............... 48
Power Mirrors
.................. 84
Power Seat Controls
............... 9
Power Steering Fluid ............ 190
Power Window Lock-Out Switch ... 72
Power Windows
................. 72
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
During ....................... 26
Problems on the Road
........... 147
Publications (see “Service
Publications”) ................ 250
Radiator Overheating
(see “Overheated Engine”) ....... 156
Radio (see “Audio Systems”)
..... 106
Reading Lights
.................. 79
Rear Door Security Locks
......... 49
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
... 30
Rear Seat. Split Fold-Down ........ 11
Rear Window Defogger
.......... 105
Rearview Mirrors ................ 82
Reclining Seatbacks
............... 9
Recommended Fluids
& Lubricants 238
Remote Fuel Filler Door
......... 174
Remote Trunk Release
............ 53
Replacement Brakes
............. 193
“Appearance Care”)
267 . .
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