2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX brake fluid

The Driver Information Center (DIC) gives you important
safety and maintenance facts. When you turn the
ignition on, all of the DIC lights illuminate for a few
seconds. After this, the DIC will begin working.
Functions
__ (Door Ajar): If one of the doors is ajar, this light
will appear next to that door on the vehicle outline.
CHANGE OIL SOON: This light will appear when the
system indicates that it’s time for an oil change. The
system predicts remaining oil life using data from length
of drives, coolant temperature, engine rpm and
vehicle speed. It alerts you to change the oil on a
schedule consistent with the vehicle’s driving conditions.
After changing the oil, the system must be reset. See
How to Reset the GM
Oil Life SystemTM under
Engine
Oil on page 5- 18.
e LOW: This light will come on when the ignition is
on and the fluid in the washer fluid container is low.
AJAR: This light alerts you that the trunk is not
fully closed.
LOW TRAC (Low Traction): If your vehicle is equipped
with anti-lock brakes, this light will come on when the
enhanced traction system is limiting wheel spin. See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-
I I or
Low Traction Light on page 3-30.
TRAC OFF (Traction Off): If your vehicle is equipped
with anti-lock brakes, this light lets you know that
the enhanced traction system has been disabled and
will not limit wheel spin. See Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light
on page 3-30 or Low Traction Light on
page 3-30.
TRAC (Traction): If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes
and the enhanced traction system, you will have a
disable button on the far right side of the DIC.
The enhanced traction system is automatically activated
when you turn the ignition on. This button will
activate/deactivate the system. If you need to disable
the system, such
as when you are stuck and are rocking
the vehicle back and forth, push this button. See If
You Are Stuck: in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-32.
3-39

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs
of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts. Driving too fast through large
water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But
if you can’t, try to slow down before you
hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t
work as well in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control
of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen
if the road is wet enough and
you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
4-20

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads. Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have
to
do all the work of slowing down. They could
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
your engine running and your vehicle in gear
get
so hot
that they wouldn’t work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have
when you go downhill.
.. you don’t shi-- Aown, your -_ -._es co - ,et
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on
a steep
downhill slope.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to
a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could
be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an
accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or
winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate
action.
4-26

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
0 shift into a gear, and
0 release the parking brake. 2. Let
up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services on page
6-4 for more information. Things that
are especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill), engine oil, drive
belts, 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.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page
5-33.
4-43

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your
Owr? Service Work ......................... 5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
.............................................. 5-4
Fuel ................................................................ 5-5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5-5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5-5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
....................................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
............................... 5-7
Filling Your Tank
............................................ 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
....................... 5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood .................... 5-10
Hood Release
.............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-18
Supercharger Oil
.......................................... 5-24
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 5-27
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5-30
Radiator Pressure Cap
.................................. 5-33
Cooling System
........................................... -5-36
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5-46
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5-48
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-33 Brakes
........................................................ 5.49
Battery
........................................................ 5.52
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-53
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-60
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5-60
Headlamps
.................................................. 5-60
Front Turn Signal and Sidemarker Lamps
........ 5-62
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
......... 5-63
Taillamps, Sidemarker and Back-up Lamps
...... 5-64
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-66
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement .............. 5-67
Tires ............................................................. -5-68
Inflation
-- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-68
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-69
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-70
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.......................... 5-72
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-73
Headlamp Aiming ........................................... 5-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-73
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-75
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-76
Changing a Flat Tire
..................................... 5-76
Compact Spare Tire
...................................... 5-87
5- 1

Checking Things Under
the
Hood
Ar. Jectric fan unl,.' 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.
Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
Things that burn can get on ..__ -.. 3"'- 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.
1. Pull the handle located
inside the vehicle near
the parking brake.
5-1 0

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
B. Battery
C. Underhood Fuse Block
B. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
(low in engine compartment, below generator)
H. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap
J. Engine Oil Dipstick
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
L. Brake Fluid Reservoir
M. Engine Air CleanedFilter
5-1 3

A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Battery
C. Remote Positive
(+) Battery Terminal
D. Underhood Fuse Block
E. Radiator Fill Cap
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
(low in engine compartment, below generator)
H. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
I. Engine Oil Dipstick
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
1. Brake Fluid Reservoir
M. Engine Air CleanedFilter
5-1 5