1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE coolant temperature

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
0 If you turn the system off by pressing the button
located on the center console, the warning light will
come on and stay on.
To turn the system back on,
press the button again. The warning light should go
off. (See “Traction Control System” in the Index for
more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light
will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning light will come
on until
your brakes cool down.
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system is affected by an
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light
1
This light tells you that your
engine coolant has
overheated
or your radiator 4
cooling fans are not
working.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn the engine
off as soon as possible.
In the section “Problems on the Road”, this manual
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.
Some clusters with gages
do not have a coolant
temperature warning light. In those clusters a
CHECK
GAGES warning light will alert you of a possible
coolant heating problem.
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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! The
CHECK GAGES light will
go on and a warning chime
will sound, if
you have this
option.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle lander normal driving
conditions, you should puli off the road, stop you
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In the section“Prob1ems on the Road”, this mud
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the
-. -. . 5 . Index. .~ c.
.L -,
Low Coolant Warning Light
L
LOW COOLANT
If you have this light and it
comes on, your system may
be low on coolant and the
engine
may overheat.
Check to
see if the level is low at the recovery tank, and
add coolant if necessary.
If the level is not low, have
your low coolant warning system serviced. See “Engine
Coolant” in the
Index.
The LOW COOLANT warning light will also come on
when you turn on the ignition, but your engine is not
running, as
a check to show you it is working. If it
doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed right away.
After the
bulb check, the light will go out for 20 seconds.
If the light comes back on after 20 se’conds, the system
may be low on coolant. See “Engine Coolant”
in the
Index.
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Check Oil Level Warning Light (Option)
1
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
1 This light indicates when
the engine oil level is
1 to
1 1/2 quarts (0.95 L to
1.4 L) low. It will go on for
one to three seconds when
the ignition is turned to the
RUN position, as a bulb
check to show
you that the
system is working.
If the light doesn’t come on, have your oil level warning
system serviced.
Even if
you have a low oil level, the light will go off for
15 to 20 seconds. Then, if the oil level is low, and it has
been at least eight minutes since your engine was last
running, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will come on
for 20 to
40 seconds. The eight-minute delay allows the
majority of the
oil to drain back into the oil pan and
prevent
a false low condition. If the
CHECK OIL LEVEL
warning comes on, the oil
level should be checked at the oil dipstick. If the level is
low, the engine oil should be brought up
to the proper
level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. After restoring the
proper level and
waiting for the eight-minute drainback,
the key can be turned to the
RUN position and the
CHECK OIL LEVEL warning light should only come
on
as a bulb check.
Head-Up Display (Option)
If you have the optional Head-Up Display (HUD), you
can see some of the driver information also available on
your instrument panel cluster. The information may be
displayed in English or metric units and appears as
a
reflection on the windshield. The HUD shows:
Speedometer reading
0 Turn signal indicators
e High beam indicator symbol
CHECK GAGES message (for low oil pressure, high
coolant temperature, low oil level and
low fuel)
Low fuel warning symbol.
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Low Washer Fluid Warning Light (Option)
E
WASHER FLUID
This light will come on
when your windshield
washers
are working and the
fluid container is less than
one-third full.
Check Gages Warning Light (Option)
11 This light will come on
brieflywhen you are
starting the engine.
CHECK QAQES
Remember, driving without washer fluid can be
dangerous.
A bad mud splash cm block your vision.
You could collide with another vehicle. Check your
washer fluid often, and add only the proper fluid. See
“Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check
your gages for fuel, coolant temperature, oil
pressure or voltage. This light will stay on if your engine
is not running.
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FUNCTION MONITOR: This lets you know if you
are low on fluids or have a problem with a vehicle
function:
0
0
0
0
CHECK OIL LEVEL: This message could mean
you oil level is low. If it comes on for more than
three seconds, see “Check Oil Level Warning Light”
in the Index.
WASHER FLUID: This message means your
washer fluid tank is less than about
30% full. The
windshield portion of the vehicle outline will also
glow.
If these come on, see “Windshield Washer
Fluid” in the Index.
LOW COOLANT This message means your
coolant level has fallen
to about half full. If it comes
on, see “Engine Coolant”
in the Index.
CHECK GAGES: If this light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages for fuel,
coolant temperature,
oil pressure or battery voltage.
SECURITY: You’ll get a DOOR AJAR message if a
door
is not fully closed. The vehicle outline will show
you which door it is.
You will also get a HOOD AJAR
or TRUNK AJAR message if the hood or the trunk isn’t
fully closed. The vehicle outline will also show you
these are ajar.
LAMP MONITOR: Whenever you try to use one of
the following lamps the LAMP MONITOR will tell you
if
a bulb is out.
Head Lamp (Low and High Beam)
Turn SignaWarWStop
Park Lamp/Side Marker
Brake Lamp and Center
High Mounted Stop Lamp
Back-up Lamp
Tail Lamp/Turn/Side MarkerLicense
If
a bulb is out, you will see a message, such as PARK
LAMP, and you will also see where the problem is on
the vehicle outline. The message stays on until the
problem is fixed. See “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index
for bulb details.
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Electronic Climate Control (Option)
With this system, you can control the ventilation,
heating and
air conditioning in your vehicle, or you can
use the automatic setting. When
you leave your vehicle
the system control setting
is remembered the next time
you start your
car.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION: When the system is set
for
AUTO, sensors will control the air delivery mode.
Air will come from the floor, middle and windshield
outlets. The fan speed will
vary as the system maintains
the selected temperature setting.
To find your comfort
zone, start with 75" temperature
setting, allow about
20 minutes for the system to
regulate. Press the
TEMP button up or down to adjust
the temperature setting
if necessary, If you choose the
temperature
setting of 60°F (1 5 O C), the system will
remain at that maximum cooling setting and will not
regulate the fan speed.
If you choose the temperature setting
of 90°F (33"C), the system
will remain at that
maximum heating setting and will
not regulate the fan
speed. Choosing either maximum setting
will not cause
the system to heat or cool any faster.
Pressing the
AUTO button will display the requested
temperature, fan speed and air delivery mode for
5
seconds, then change to display the outside air
temperature. Be careful not to put anything over the
sensor located in the middle
of the instrument panel near
the windshield, or over the sensor in the
grille above the
radio. These sensors are used by the automatic system to
regulate temperature.
The exterior temperature display sensor is in front of the
car, near the radiator,
This displayed temperature is most
accurate when the vehicle is moving. During stops,
or
while idling, the display shows the previous driving
temperature for best system control.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the
fan until warm air is available.
The length
of delay depeds on outside air temperature,
engine coolant temperature, and time since the engine
was last started. Pushing the
fan button will override this
delay and change the fan
to a selected single speed.
If you leave your vehicle, the control setting is
remembered the next time you start your engine.
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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 “Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Coolant
Temperature Warning Light”
in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
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.
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As shown in the chart, SAE 1OW-30 is best for your
vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it’s
going to be colder than
60” F ( 16” C) before your
next oil change. When it’s very cold,
you should use
SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil container show
its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils, such as
SAE 20W-50.
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
“Starburst” symbol. Failure to use the proper
oil
can result in engine damage not covered by your
warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil)
meets all the requirements for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Pontiac dealer is
ready to advise
if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop and go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
@ You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
If any one of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every
3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever comes first.
(See “Change Oil Indicator” in
the Index.)
If none of them is true, change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
comes first. your vehicle.
Engine Coolant Heater
An
engine coolant heater can be a big help if you have
to park outside in very cold
weather, 0°F (- 18°C) or
colder. If your vehicle has this option, see “Engine
Coolant Heater” in the Index.
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