1996 PONTIAC GRAND-AM checking oil

Check Oil Light
. CHECK
OIL
This light should come on
briefly while you
are
starting your engine. If the
light does not come on,
have
it repaired. If the light
comes on and stays
on after
starting your vehicle, the oil
level should be checked.
Prior to checking the
oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on the dipstick and
bring it
to the proper level. See “Engine
Oil” in the Index.
NOTE: A false CHECK OIL light may be generated
when parking
on steep grades. The
oil level monitoring system only checks
oil level
during the brief period between key
on and engine start.
It does not monitor engine
oil level when the engine
is running. Additionally, an oil level check is only
performed
if the engine has been turned off for a
considerable period
of time allowing the oil normally in
circulation
to drain back into the oil pan.
Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
This light comes on when
you need to shift to the next
higher gear. See
“Manual
Transaxle” in the Index,
2-64
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NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, b'e 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.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic
or rubber. You or others
could b'e burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill
things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Checking "'lings Under the Hood
r
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric
fan.
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
TO open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle.
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3.1L Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is yellow. The dipstick on
the 2.4L engine is located at the rear of the engine. The
dipstick on
the 3.1L engine is located on the front of the
engine, behind the fan.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
6-11
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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.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy ,city traffic where the outside, temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such zp found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
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 your 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.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C)
or higher.
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 parts, 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 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 krn) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C), you may have
to drive longer.
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Brake Adjustment
................................... 6-31
Fluid .................... '. .................. 6-28
Master
Cylinder ............................... 6-28
Pedal Travel
................................. 6-31
Replacing System Parts ........................ 6-31
System Warning Light .................... 2-56, 6-29
Trailer ...................................... 4-37
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check .. ............... 7-39
Wear ....................................... 6-30
Brakes, Anti-Lock ............................... 4-6
Braking ......................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies .......................... 4-10
Break-In. New Vehicle ........................... 2-1 1
Brightness Control .............................. 2-41
BTSI Check ................................... 7-39
Bulb Replacement ......................... 6-33. 6-59
Canadian Roadside Assistance ........................ 8-6
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-60
Carbon Monoxide ..................... 2-28.4-28. 4-37
Cassette Deck Service ........................... 7-37
Cassette Tape Player ............................ 3- 10
Cassette Tape Player Care ........................ 3-25
Cassette Tape Player Errors ....................... 3-1 1
Cassette Tape Player. Remote ...................... 3-19
CD Adapter Kits .......................... 3-13. 3-16
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3-2 1
Center Console Storage Area ...................... 2-46
Center Rear Passenger Position .................... 1-33
CertificatiorQTire Label ........................... 4-32
Parking ..................................... 2-24 Chains. Sagety
................................. 4-37 .
Chains. Tire ................................... 6-44
Changing a Flat Tire .............................. 5-21
Check Engine Light ............................. 2-60
Check Oil Light ................................ 2-64
Checking
Your Restraint Systems .................. 1-47
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-51
Child Restraints ................................ 1-36
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-37
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-39
Securing in the Passenger Seat Position ........... 1-41
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-41
Top
Strap ................................... 1-37
Wheretoput ................................ 1-36
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 2-47
Circuit Breakers and Fuses ........................ 6-55
Cleaner. Air ................................... 6-16
Cl. eaning ...................................... 6-45
Aluminum Wheels ............................ 6-50
Fabric ...................................... 6-46
Glass ....................................... 6-48
Inside of Yon Pontiac ......................... 6-45
Instrument Panel .............................. 6-48
Leather ..................................... 6-47
Outside of Your Pontiac ........................ 6-49
Spelcial Problems ............................. 6-46
Stains ...................................... 6-46
Tires ....................................... 6-50
Vinyl ....................................... 6-47
Wheels ..................................... 6-50
Windshield and Wiper Blades .................... 6-48
9-2 .
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Engine .................................... 6-8. 6.9
Coolant ..................................... 6-22
Coolant Heater ................................ 2-16
Codant Level Check ........................... 7-37
Exhaust ..................................... 2-28
Fuse Block .................................. 6-58
Identification ................................. 6-53
Oil Level Check .............................. 7-37
Overheating .................................. 5-12
Ruining While Parked ......................... 2-29
Specifications
................................ 6-61
Starting
..................................... 2-13
Engineoil
.................................... 6-10
Adding ..................................... 6-12
Additives ................................... 6-14
Checking .................................... 6-11
Used ....................................... 6-15
WhatToUse ................................. 6-13
When to Change
.............................. 6-15
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
........ : 2-59. 4-8
. Coolant Temperature Gage ..................... 2-59
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light ........ 2-58. 4-9
Ethanol ........................................ 6-3
Exhaust. Engine ................................. 2-28
'Fabric
Cleaning ............................... 6-46
Fifth Gear. Manual Transaxle ..................... 2-21
Filling Your Tank ................................. 6-4
Filter, Air ..................................... 6-16
FinishDamage
................................. 6- 51
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-20.
FinishC .. .................................... 6-49 First
Gear. Manual Transaxle ....................... 2-21
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-1
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-21
Fluids and Lubricants .......................... 7-42
Fog Lamp Bulb Replacement ..................... 6-35
FogLamps ..................................... 2-41
Foreign Countries. Fulel ........................... 6-3
Fourth Gear. Manual Transaxle .................... 2-21
FrenchLanguageManual
11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel .......................................... 6-2
FillingYourTank .............................. 6-4
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-3
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ....................... 6-55
.. ...........................
Gage ....................................... 2-65
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-59
Fuel ........................................ 2-65
Speedometer .................................. 2-53
Tachometer .................................. 2-54
Garment
Hook ................................. 2-48 .....
GAWR ....................................... 4-32 ~ . >T ..
Gear Positions, Aut'omatic Transaxle ................ 2- 1.8
Gear Positions, Manual Transaxle .................. 2-21
GloveBox
.................................... 2-46
Graphic Equalizer .............................. 3-14
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-32
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-32
Guide en Fraqais ................................. ii
GW ....................................... 4-32
9-4
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