
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
_I
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running.
If the engine
is overheating and the key
is on, both fans should be
running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL
antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for more information.)
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 antifreeze.
I NOTICE:
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.
ProCarManuals.com

The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL TM engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
‘(240 000 h), whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A $OB0 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Pontiac will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129’ C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
I
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only IBEX-COOL TM silicate-free coolant.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature
engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant
will requipe change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
6-26
ProCarManuals.com

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL TM coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts.
If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
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 TM coolant.
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 to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
6-27
ProCarManuals.com

Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should
be performed at least twice a year (for instance, each
spring and fall). You should let your GM dealer’s
service department or other qualified service center do
these
jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found
in a GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body
near the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing
or out-of-position parts as well
as open seams,
holes, loose connections or other conditions which could
cause a heat build-up in
the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” in
the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high eEort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake,
etc. Check parking
brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes
inspected more often
if your driving habits or conditions
result in frequent braking.
ProCarManuals.com

Stains ...................................... 6-57
Tires ....................................... 6-62
Wheels
..................................... 6-61
Vinyl
....................................... 6-57
Windshield
and Wiper Blades ................... 6-59
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
Clock, Setting the
............................... 3- 10
Compact Disc Care ............................. 3-32
Compact Disc Player
....................... 3-19, 3-21
Compact Disc Player Errors
............. 3-20,3-23, 3-25
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-34
Content Theft-Deterrent
.................... 2- 13, 2-50
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 4-6
Convenience Net
............................... 2-57
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-54
Coolant
....................................... 6-26
Bleed Valves
................................. 5-21
Heater.
Engine ............................... 2-18
Cooling System ................................ 5-15
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-41
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-8
Cruise Control ................................. 2-35
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-5
Customer Assistance Information ................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................. 8-3
Comfort
Controls
...... ..................... 3-1
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Cupholders
.................................... 2-55
Damage. Finish
..................... .... 6-62
Damage. Sheet Metal ............................ 6-62
Daytime Running Lamps ......................... 2-39 Dead Battery
....... ..... 5-3
Defects. Reporting
Safety ... .............. 8-10
Defensive Driving ............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-9
Defogging ..................................... 3-4
Defrosting
..................................... 3-4
Delayed Illumination
....................... 2-41. 2-45
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-73
Dolby@ B Noise Reduction .................. 3-14. 3-17
Door Locks
..................................... 2-4
Driver Information Center
........................ 2-78
DriverPosition ................................. l-14
Driver’s Temperature Knob. Automatic and
Auxiliary Temp Control
............... ....... 3-5
Driving City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken ..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-27
...........
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
In the Rain .................................. 4-17
On Curves
.................................. 4-11
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-37
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-23
On Snow and Ice
............................. 4-26
Through Water
............................... 4-19
WetRoads .................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer ................................ 4-36
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Night
...................................... 4-16
DRL ......................................... 2-39
9-3
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical Equipment. Adding .......... 2-17. 3.30. 6.66
Electrical System
............................... 6-66
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-53
Electronic
Climate Control ........................ 3-2
Engine
.............................. 6-9.6-10. 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-26
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-18
Coolant Level Check .......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-75
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-74
Exhaust
...................... 2-11.2-29.4-28. 4-35 Identification ................................ 6-6 1
Running While
Parked ......................... 2-29
Specifications
........................... 6-72. 6-73
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-13
StartingYour ................................ 2-16
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
..................................... 6-14
Additives
6- 18
Checking
................................... 6-14
Used ....................................... 6-19
Whentochange .............................. 6-18 r .
...................................
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4 ~
Exhaust, Engine ................. 2-11,2-29,4-28. 4-35
Exit Lighting
............................. 2-42, 2-45
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-56
Fan
Knob. Climate Control System .................. 3-2
Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Fan Button. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control ..... 3-6 Filter. Air
..................................... 6-19
Finishcare
.................................... 6-61
Finish Damage ................................. 6-62
First
Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-22
Fixed Mast Antenna
............................. 3-32
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire, Changing ............................. 5-24
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front Reading Lamps ............................ 2-43
Filling Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage ....................................... 2-77
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers ........ .......... 6-66
................................... Flash to Pass 2-33
FogLamps
.................................... 2-40
French Language Manual 11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
.................................... 6-3
.. ...........................
d-7
ages Engine Coolant Temperature ....... .......... 2-75
Fuel ....................................... 2-77
GAWR
....................................... 4-30
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle ................ 2-19
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........... .......... 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-30
GloveBox .................................... 2-54
Guide en Frangais 11 .. .................................
.....................................
GVWR 4-30
9-4
ProCarManuals.com

Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-37
Hazard Warning Flashers 5-2
Headlamps
.................................... 2-38
- ..........................
Head Restraints ................................. 1-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-37
HigNLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-33
Wiring
...................................... 6-66
Head-Up Display
............................... 2-83
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-5
Heating
.................................... 3-4, 3-8
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-33
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn ....................................... 2-31
HUD ......................................... 2-83
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4- 19
Careof ..................................... 2-86
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 15
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check .................... 7-42
Inflation, Tire
.................................. 6-45
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror ................. 2-53
Brakesystem
................................ 7-43
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Boot .................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Seal ................... 7-43
Radiator and Heater
Hose ...................... 7-43
Inspections Steering
......
Suspension ....
Throttle Linkage
Instrument Panel
.
Cleaning ......
Cluster .......
Fuse Block ....
Lamps ........
Interior Lamps ... ............
...... 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 2-62
6-58
.............................. 2-62
............................ 6-67
....................... 2-40
.......................... 2-40
..............................
..
Jack. Tire ............. ..
Jump Starting .....................
......... 5-26
....... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
... .............. 7-40
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels ....................................... 4-30
Certification
................................. 4-30
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-65
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-29
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-65
Lamps ........................................ 2-38
Courtesy
.................................... 2-41
Interior
..................................... 2-40
Rear Assist Handle Reading
.................... 2-43
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-7
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running ....... 2-27
Lighter
....................................... 2-58
9-5
ProCarManuals.com