1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Owners Manual

If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications,
but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test,
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for diagnosis
to determine the
cause of failure. In the event
it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that
are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octan'e-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use
of such gasolines, If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Pontiac dealer for service. To provide 'cleaner air, all gasolines in
the United States
are now required
to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system
to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to
add anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines
containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol,
and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don't use it. It
can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic
and rubber parts, That damage wouldn't
be covered lander your warranty.
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Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused
by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll
be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice, Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Fuel Door Lock (Option)
On a model equipped with the theft-deterrent system,
the fuel door is locked and unlocked together with the
driver’s power door lock. Therefore, to unlock the fuel
filler door, you may use the outside door key lock, the
inside power door lock button or the Remote Keyless
Entry key chain transmitter.
To unlock the fuel door,
unlock the driver’s door.
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Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the driver’s side of
your vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
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I
A CAUTION:
2
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
If you have the (L36) 3800 V6 engine, your fuel cap
will be tethered and you cannot hang it on the inside fuel
door while refueling.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). Be
careful not
to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of
Your Pontiac” in the Index.
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When you pur the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until
you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
Fuel Door Manual Release (Option)
you fully &stall the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into
the
atmosphere. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
type.
Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong
type, it may not fit properly. This may
If your vehicle has a fuel
door lock, the
fuel door
can be opened manually
in case of an electrical
power failure.
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See ‘(Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index. Open
the trunk. The release mechanism is on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle, at the top of the trunk
compartment. Pull the tab rearward to release the
fuel door.
Prying on
a locked fuel filler door can damage it.
Use the remote fuel door manual release located
in the trunk.
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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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Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the hood release handle
inside the vehicle. It is next
to
the parking brake pedal
near the flour.
Then go to the front of the vehicle and push up on the
secondary hood release.
Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it fiiy.
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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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