1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE engine

ken, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle fluid
dipstick top
is a round,
red loop and is next
to the brake master cylinder behind the
engine block. Pull
out the dipstick and
wipe it with a clean rag
or paper towel.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be
in the cross-hatched area.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the
way.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If
the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid ,. @e
dipstick hole to bring it to’ the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overjU.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label i,s
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL6 extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have ;e problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the
Index.
A 50J50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 2685 “F (129 O C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Llet the warning lights and gages work as
8
they should.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty. 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 DEX-COOL@ coolant.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum
parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
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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.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have t’o
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful,
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to FULL HOT or a
little higher.
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If this light comes on,
it means you’re low on
LOW
COOLANT
engine coolant.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill
it.
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will almost
never have to add coolant
at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot. You
can be
burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
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Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak
in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the FULL COLD mark. If
necessary, add only
enough fluid to bring the level up to
the
mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Flui’ds and Lubricants” in the Index.
Always use
the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks
and damage hoses and seals.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There
are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes
back up. The other reason is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system.
If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed,
since a leak means that sooner
or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t work
at all,
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when
you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when w’ork is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill
on the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and
your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system,
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come
on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive with this warning light on. See “Brake
System
Wming Light” in the Index.
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What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only
DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme ll@ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the
cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
- - - -
A CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause
a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just
a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine
oil, in
your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
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