1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX radiator cap

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
3100 Engine
3800 and 3800 Supercharged Engine
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
5-18

’ 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 recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it
cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark
on the overflow hose
in the coolant recovery tank. To
check the coolant level, remove the cap on the coolant
recovery tank. Check to make sure that the coolant level
is up to the COLD fill level on the hose attached to
the cap.
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.
5-19

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 radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at
high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to
follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
5-22

1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it fist
stops. (Don't press
down while turning the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down
as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
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.
5-23

6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
FULL mark.
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
‘f
8.
9.
Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for
the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level
is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base
of the filler neck.
5-25

When you open the hood of the 3100 engine, you'll see:
n
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Battery
C. Radiator Fill Cap
D. Power Steering
Fluid Reservoir
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E Engine Oil Dipstick G.
Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
6-10

When you open the hood of the 3800 engine, you’ll see:
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
D. Power Steering G. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
B. Battery Fluid Reservoir
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
C.
Radiator Fill Cap E. Engine Oil Dipstick I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
E Engine Oil Fill
Cap J. Air Cleaner
6-11

When you open the hood of the 3800 Supercharged engine, you'll see:
D. Power Steering
Fluid Reservoir
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap
G. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Battery
C. Radiator Fill Cap
6-12