2003 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE check engine

Will you have to make any holes in the body of
your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If
you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle. See
Engine Exhaust on
page 2-36. Dirt and water can also enter the
vehicle.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to
the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching
safety chains and do not attach them to the bumper.
Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn
with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. Because you have
anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap
into your vehicles brake system.
If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Trailer Wiring Harness
All of the electrical circuits required for your trailer
lighting system can be accessed at the driver’s side rear
lamp connector. This connector is located under the
carpet on the rear corner of your trunk compartment.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror aajustment.
ii tne rraiier nas
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
Oiiriiig your trip, check occasicfially tc be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
4-39

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information before you
start your trip.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See
Engine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-42

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ........................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your
Vehicle
...................................................... 5.4
Fuel ................................................................ 5.5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5.5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5.6
California Fuel
............................................... 5.6
Additives
....................................................... 5.6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
............................ 5.7
Filling Your Tank
........................... .......... 5.8
Filling
a Portable Fuel Container ..... .... 5.11
the Hood ............................. .... 5.12
Hood Release
.............................. ........ 5.13
Engine Compartment Overview ...................... -5-1 4
Checking Things Under
Engine Oil ................................................... 5.15
Supercharger Oil .......................................... 5.21
Engine Air Cleaner/t-llter
................................ 5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid .............................. 5.23
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5.26
Radiator Pressure Cap
.................................. 5.29
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5.29
Cooling System
............................................ 5.32
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5.40
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5.40
Brakes
........................................................ 5.42
Battery
........................................................ 5-44
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-46
Headlamp Aiming .......................... ...... 5.52
Bulb Replacement .................................. -5-56
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5.56
Headlamps
.................................................. 5.56
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
.............. 5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps
......................................... 5-59
fiepiacement
Euibs 3.w - ^^ .......................................
5- I

Gasoline Specifications
It is recommended that gasoline meet specifications
which were developed by the American Automobile
Manufacturers Association and endorsed by the
Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association for better
vehicle performance and engine protection. Gasoline
meeting these specifications could provide improved
driveability and emission control system performance
compared to other gasoline.
Canada Only
In Canada, look for the
“Auto Makers’ Choice”
label on the pump.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If this fuel is 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 may
turn on (see
Malfunction lndicator Lamp on page 3-46 )
and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this
occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition is caused
by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to contribute to clean air.
General Motors recommends that you use these
gasolines, particularly if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
5-6

Checking Things Under
the Hood
I
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
b n can get on hot engine parts
and start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,
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.
5-1 2

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
D. Radiator Pressure Cap
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
F. Engine Oil Dipstick
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
I. Brake Master Cylinder
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Oil
WCHECK
OIL LEVEL
If the OIL LEVEL LOW
message appears
on the
DIC, or the CHECK
OIL LEVEL light appears
on the instrument cluster, it
means
YOU need to
check your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, see
Check Oil Level Light on
page
3-50 or DIG Warnings and Messages on
page 3-60.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
5-1 5

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. 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.
The engine oil dipstick is located behind the engine
cooling fans and in front of the engine
oil fill cap. The top
of the dipstick is a round yellow loop. See
Engine
Comparfment Overview on page 5-74 for more
information on location.
I I
5-1 6

When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
Without the
GM Oil Life SystemTM)
If any one of these is true for you, use the short trip/city
maintenance schedule:
e
e
e
e
Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier
on top
of your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, tax1
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil
to
break down sooner. If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months - whichever
occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/highway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (1 2 500 km) or 12 months - whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions will cause engine oil
to
break down slower.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
With the
GM Oil Life SystemrM)
If so equipped, your vehicle has a computer system that
lets you know when to change the engine oil and
filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil change will be
indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to
work properly, you must reset the system every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. An ENGINE
OIL CHANGE SOON message
will come on. Change your oil as soon as possible
within the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible
that,
if you are driving under the best conditions, the
oil life system may not indicate that an oil change
is necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil
and filter must be changed at least once a year and
at this time the system must be reset. It is also
important to check your oil regularly and keep it at the
proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
5-20