2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX engine coolant

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.
I
3. If you have the 3800 V6 engine, remove the
3800 Series
II V6 engine cover shield to access the
bleed valve.
3.1. Clean the area around the engine oil
fill tube
and cap before removing. Twist the oil
fill
tube, with cap attached, counterclockwise
and remove it.
3.2.
If you have the supercharged engine,
remove the nut in the center
of the cover
shield.
5-42

3.3. Lift the engine cover shield at the front, slide
the catch tab out
of the engine bracket and
remove the cover shield.
3.4. Put the oil fill tube, with cap attached, in the
valve cover oil
fill hole until you’re ready to
replace the cover shield. 4.
After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve or valves.
Thermostat Bypass Tube
(3100 V6)
Thermostat Housing
(31 00 V6)
3100 V6 engine: There are two bleed valves. One is
located on the thermostat housing. The other is located
on the thermostat bypass tube.
5-43

3800 V6 engine: There is
one bleed valve. It is
located on the thermostat
housing.
Thermostat Housing
(3800 V6)
5. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler
neck. See Engine Coolant
on page 5-30 for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close
the valves after the radiator is filled.
6. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.
7.
If you have the 3800 V6 engine, replace the 3800
7.1. Remove the oil fill tube, with cap attached,
Series
II V6
engine cover shield.
from the valve cover.
7.2. Insert the catch tab on the cover shield
under the bracket
on the engine.
7.3. Place the hole in the cover shield over the
hole
in the valve cover. Install oil fill tube and
cap by twisting clockwise.
7.4. If you have the supercharged engine, install
the nut in the center
of the cover shield.
5-44

8. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to COLD mark.
9. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank,
but leave the pressure cap
off.
10. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
11. 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.
5-45

Power Steering Fluid
12. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure
the arrow on the pressure cap lines up like this.
13. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine
is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold. The power
steering fluid reservoir is located in the
engine compartment next to the engine coolant recovery
tank. In the 3800 V6 (Code
K) engine and the 3800 V6
Supercharged (Code
I) engine, the power steering
fluid reservoir sits low in the engine compartment. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page
5- 12.
5-46

Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-72 for reservoir location.
Adding Washer Fluid
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located n the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle near the diagonal cross brace.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the
tank is full.
Notice:
e
e
e
a
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding
water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank and other parts
of the washer system.
Also, water doesn’t
clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Don’t use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
5-48

82,500 Miles (137 500 km)
0 Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page
5-69 for proper rotation pattern and additional
information. (See footnote
+.)
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
0 Replace engine air cleaner filter. An Emission
Control Service.
0 For supercharged engines only: Check the
supercharger oil level and add the proper
supercharger oil as needed (or every 36 months,
whichever occurs first). See Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page
6-15. An Emission
Control Service. (See footnote
f.)
Ll Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-69 for proper rotation pattern and additional
information. (See footnote
+.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
U Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-69 for proper rotation pattern and additional
information. (See footnote
+.)
100,000 Miles (1 66 000 km)
0 Inspect spark plug wires. An Emission Control
0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission Control Service.
Service.
CI Change
automatic transaxle fluid and filter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of
these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90°F (32°C)
or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
0 If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven’t
changed your automatic transaxle fluid, change both
the fluid and filter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs first).
See Engine Coolant on page
5-30 for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap. An Emission Control Service.
0 Inspect engine accessory drive belt. An Emission
Control Service.
6-8

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals specified to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as
shown in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil bevel Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-18 for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
if necessary. See Engine Coolant
on page 5-30 for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper fluid
if necessary.
See Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-48 for
further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tries are inflated to the correct pressures.
Don’t forget to check your spare tire. See Tires
on
page 5-68 for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every
50 hours of tape play. See Audio System(s)
on page 3-44 for further details.
6-9