1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM engine coolant

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a low
cooIant warning light
on your vehicle’s instrument
panel. See “Engine Coolant Temperature Gage”
and
“Low Coolant Warning Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
A CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it
cools down. Wait until
there
is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the
hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine
if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
I NOTICE: I
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving
with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
5-14

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you
’11 see:
2.4L Engine
3100 Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
5-16

A CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling 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 surge tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
I
The coolant level should be at or above FULL COLD.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
5-17

LA CAUTION: I
-1 -
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
the
engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine
fire, and you could be burned.
Get
any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling fan is running. If the
engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If it
isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@
coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it. (See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information.)
’ /$ CAUTION:
-
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system
can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge
tank pressure cap -- even a little -- they
can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge
tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and coolant surge
tank pressure
cap to cool if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
5-18

b. - A CAUTION:
I -
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system
is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
5-19

I NOTICE: I
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater
core and other parts. So
use the recommended coolant.
/d CAUTION:
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. -1
1
1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly about
one-quarter
turn to the left and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
5-20

4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling
fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches
FULL COLD, or just above
the small cylinder
at the base of the opening.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is tight.
Check the level in the surge
tank when the cooling
system has cooled down.
If the coolant isn’t at the
proper level, repeat Steps
1 to 3 and reinstall the
pressure cap or see your dealer.
5-22

7 Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. 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
6-5
6-8
6-8
6-13
6-19
6-20
6-23 6-24
6-25
6-29
6-29 6-30
6-31
Service
Fuel
Fuels
in Foreign Countries
Filling
Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Manual Transaxle Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant
Thermostat Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
6-36
6-36
6-42 6-50
6-5
1
6-53
6-54
6-56
6-57
6-58
6-59
6-64
6-65
6-65
6-66 6-66
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Vehicle Dimensions
6-1