1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC check engine

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.
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Doing Your Own Service Work
What Kind of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank
Checking
Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine Oil
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid
Important Brake Information
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
How and When to Check Tire Inflation 6-50
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6-73 When
it is Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of the Safety Belts and Built-in
Child Restraint
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recommended Appearance
Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
Normal Replacement Parts
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Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your Pontiac dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left
of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number” in the Index.)
If you have the 3800 engine (VIN Code K), use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher. If you’re
using fuel rated at the recommended octane or higher
and you still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs
service. But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging
noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a hill.
That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher
octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant
knock that means you have
a problem.
If you have the 3800 Supercharged engine (VIN Code
l), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher. With
the 3800 Supercharged engine, in an
emergency, you may be able
to use a lower octane -- as
low as 87
-- if heavy knocking does not occur. If you
are using 91 or higher octane unleaded gasoline and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
At
a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D48
14 in the United States an’d
CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could
provide improved driveability
and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91 (at
least 89 for middle grade and
87 for regular). If the
octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when you drive.
If it’s bad enough, it can damage
your engine.
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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 octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadlenyl 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 ernissicrn
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
€or service.
To provide cleaner ais, 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
reforrnulate'd 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 under
your warranty.
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6-4
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When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear at least three clicks. Make
sure you fully install the cap.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be 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.
Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAUTION:
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.
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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Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and
close
it firmly.
3800 Supercharged Engine
(If Equipped)
Your Pontiac 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 at 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.
All
of these controls, working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency in the
3800 Supercharged engine.
Engine Oil
LOW OIL
LEVEL
If the LOW 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
“Low Oil Level Light” in
the Index. You should
check your engine
oil
level regularly; this is an
added reminder.
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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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.
3100 Engine
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the lower mark, then you’ll need
to add some oil. But you must use the right kind. This
part explains what kind of oil to use, For crankcase
capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications” in
the Index.
I NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that
shows the proper
operating
range, your engine could be damaged.
3100 Engine
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What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don't let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing
or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer's warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be
a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don't ever dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing
of your used oil,
ask your dealer,
a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Air Cleaner
To check or replace the air filter:
1.
2.
3.
Loosen the wing nut on the air duct.
Lift up on the two clips located on top of the
filter cover.
Disconnect duct and reposition while removing
the side cover. Pull out the filter.
Be sure to install
the air filter and install the cover tightly when you
are finished.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
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See “Sche 1 M ltenance Services” in the In’dex, ..
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Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause
you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only
cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you
could be burned. Don’t drive with
it
off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backflre can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into
your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically qualified and have the proper
tools,
you should let your dealer or a qualified service
center
perform this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
What Kind of Oil to Use
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index
and use only the recommende’d oil.
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