2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM engine coolant

Checking Things Under
the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
under the instrument
panel on the drivier's side
of the vehicle.
L% 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 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.
I
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A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Dipstick
C. Engine
Oil Fill Cap
D. Brake Fluid Reservoir
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir F. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
H. Battery
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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When you open the hood on the 3400 V6 engine, you’ll see the following:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir F. Engine Air CleanedFilter
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap G. Battery
D. Engine Oil Dipstick H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir is
filled with hydraulic clutch fluid.
It is not necessary
to regularly check clutch fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system. Adding
fluid won’t correct a leak.
A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule
to determine
how often you should
check the fluid level in your
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper
fluid. See
Part B: Owner
Checks and Services
on page
6-9 and Part 19:
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on
page
6- 15.
How to Check and Add Fluid
You do not need to check the fluid level unless you
suspect a clutch problem. To check the fluid level, take
the cap
off. If the fluid level reaches the top of the
reservoir, the fluid level is correct. It isn’t a good idea to
top
off your clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct a
leak. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem
Have the system inspected and repaired.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
QEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only QEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-26.
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A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL
is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which won’t damage
aluminum
parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
Notice: If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
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If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
have your dealer check your cooling system. compartment
on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
Notice: If you use the proper coolant, you don’t
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
Checking Coolant
1
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn
the surge tank pressure
cap
- even a little - when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL
COLD mark, or a little higher.
2.2L L4 ECOTEC Engine shown,
3400 V6 Engine similar
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L
LOW
COOLANT
If the LOW COOLANT light r-
-
comes on and stays on, it
means you’re low on
engine coolant.
See
Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-30.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
If the surge tank is empty, a special fill
procedure is necessary. See Engine Overheating
on page
5-26 and “How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank under
Cooling System on page 5-29
for instructions. 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
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a low
coolant warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel.
See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-30
and Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-30.
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If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
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.
Nofice: 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.
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