2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not ®t properly.
This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp
to light and may damage your fuel tank and
emissions system. See ªMalfunction Indicator
Lampº in the Index.Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ®ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
·Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
·Do not ®ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
·Bring the ®ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ®ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the ®lling is complete.
·Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
5-9

Checking Things Under
the Hood
{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.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a ®re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake ¯uid, windshield washer and
other ¯uids, 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.
Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
inside the vehicle near
the parking brake
pedal.
5-10

2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ®ller caps
are on properly. Then pull the hood down and close
it ®rmly.
5-11

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3400 V6 (Code E) engine, you'll see the following:
5-12

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-43.
B. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-47.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-48.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See ªUpperhood
Fuse Block (Upper)º under
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See ªUnderhood
Fuse Block (Lower)º under
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap. See
Radiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-29.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See
Cooling System
on page 5-32.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-42.I. Electric Cooling Fan. See
Cooling System on
page 5-32.
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See ªChecking Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
K. Engine Oil Dipstick. See ªChecking Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
L. Bleed Valves (underneath engine shield). See ªHow
to Add Coolant to the Radiatorº under
Cooling
System on page 5-32.
M. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid on page 5-24.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See
Brakes on
page 5-44.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
5-13

When you open the hood on the 3800 V6 (Code K) engine, you'll see the following:
5-14

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-43.
B. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-47.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-48.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See ªUpperhood
Fuse Block (Upper)º under
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See ªUnderhood
Fuse Block (Lower)º under
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap. See
Radiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-29.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See
Cooling System
on page 5-32
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (low in engine
compartment). SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-42.I. Electric Cooling Fan. See
Cooling System on
page 5-32.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See ªChecking Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See ªChecking Engine Oilº
under
Engine Oil on page 5-16.
L. Bleed Valves (underneath engine shield). See ªHow
to Add Coolant to the Radiatorº under
Cooling
System on page 5-32.
M. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid on page 5-24.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See
Brakes on
page 5-44.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-22.
5-15

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop located
near the front of the engine. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.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.
3400 (Code E)
V6 Engine
3800 (Code K) Engine
3400 (Code E) V6 Engine
3800 (Code K) V6 Engine
5-16