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Cooling System
you’ll see:
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fans
1
’ A CAUTION:
r
An electric fan under the 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.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything
else until it cools down.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t
at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@
(silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See
“Engine Coolant” in the Index for more information.)
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 50/58
mix of clean water and DEX-COOL@ coolant.
r--- Adding only plain water to your cooling system 1 c NOTICE:
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some o’ther
liquid like alcohol,
can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix,
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other
parts.
Use
the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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v Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a
part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-6
6-9
6-13
6-18
6-2 1
6-24
6-27
6-28
6-29
6-30
6-33
6-34
6-42
6-42
6-50 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Radiator Pressure Cap
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance
Care
6-5 1
6-53
6-53
6-54
6-55
6-56
6-56
6-56
6-57 6-58
6-58
6-59
6-65
6-66
6-66
6-67
6-67
6-67 Cleaning the Inside
of
Your Pontiac
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning Glass Surfaces Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
Cleaning Aluminum
or Chrome Wheels
Cleaning Tires Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Engine Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Vehicle Dimensions
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Checking Things Under the Hood
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important underhood parts.
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.
A CAUTION:
F-
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 be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto
a hot engine.
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3800 Series I1 Engine (L36 - Code K)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Battery
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick G. Brake Master Cylinder
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap H. Air Cleaner
E Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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3800 Supercharged Engine (L67 - Code 1) (Option)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank D. Engine Oil Dipstick G. Brake Master Cylinder
B. Battery
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap H. Air Cleaner
C. Radiator Pressure Cap E Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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Supercharged Engine (Option)
Your Bonneville may have a 3800 Supercharged engine.
The supercharger is a device which is designed to pump
more air into the engine than
it would normally use.
This air mixed with fuel, creates increased engine
power. Since the supercharger is a pump and is driven
from an engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure
is available in all driving conditions.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) works with
a vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this
increased pressure or boost
is not desired, such as during
idling and light throttle cruising, the excess air that the
supercharger is pumping is routed through a bypass.
AI1 of these controls working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency in the
3800 V6 Supercharged engine.
Engine Oil
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument panel
comes on, it means you need
to check your engine
oil
level right away. For more
information, see “Check
Oil
Level Light’’ in the Index.
You should check your
engine
oil level regularly;
this is
an added rerninder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get
fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
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The engine oil dipstick is
lo'cated behind the engine
fans and in front
of the
engine
oil fill cap. The top
of the dipstick is-a round,-
yellow loop.
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 again9
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
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