2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX octane

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

Gasoline Specifications
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identifies your
engine. You will find the ViN at the top left of the
instrument panel. See Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) on page
5-96.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 31 00 V6 engine (VIN Code J) or
3800 V6 engine (VIN Code
K), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or higher.
If the
octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when you drive. If
it is bad enough, it can damage
your engine. A little pinging noise when you accelerate or
drive uphill is considered normal. This does not indicate
a
problem exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary.
If your vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6 engine
(VIN Code I), use only premium unleaded gasoline with
a
posted octane of 91 or higher. In an emergency, you may
be able
to use a lower octane - as low a 87 - if heavy
knocking does not occur. Refill your tank with premium
fuel
as soon as possible. If you are using 91 octane or
higher-octane fuel and you hear knocking, your engine
needs service. 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.
5-5

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
Filling Your Tank
Fuel \-$or is highly flammable. .. mrns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near fuel or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from fuel.
Turn the vehicle off before refueling.
The fuel cap is located
behind a hinged door on
the driver’s side
of
your vehicle.
5-7

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
This part contains engine oil scheduled maintenance
which explains the engine oil life system and how
it indicates when to change the engine oil and filter.
Also, listed are scheduled maintenance services which
are to be performed at the mileage intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. But we don’t know exactly how
you’ll drive it. You may drive short distances only a few
times a week. Or you may drive long distances all
the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your
vehicle
in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to
work, to do errands or in many other ways.
Because of the different ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs may vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the
following and note how you drive.
If you have
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer. This part tells
you the maintenance services you
should have done and when you should schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See Loading
Your
Vehicle on page 4-35.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
driving limits.
on page 5-5.
6-4

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Engine Programs
................................................... 3-34
Air Cleaner/Filter
......................................... 5-25
Battery
....................................................... 5-52
Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-32
Coolant
...................................................... 5-30
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage
........................... 3-31
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
................ 3-31
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-1 3
Engine Compartment Overview
...................... 5-1 2
Exhaust ..................................................... 2-31
Oil
............................................................. 5-18
Starting
...................................................... 2-20
Supercharger Oil
......................................... 5-24
Engine Coolant Level Check
.............................. 6-9
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
.................. 4-43
Engine Oil Additives
........................................ 5-22
Engine Oil Level Check
..................................... 6-9
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
..................... 6-5
Warning Light
............................................. 3-30
Entering Programming Mode
......................... 2-44
Entry Lighting
........................ ...... 3-13
Exiting Programming Mode
.......... ...... 2-53
Extender, Safety Belt
.. ...................... 1-28
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-1 0
Overheating ................................................ 5-33
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
...................... 4-1 1
Express-Down Window
................................. 2-1 4
F
, ........... FabridCarpet ........... ........... 5-88
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner ............................... :~~=:=~ 5-25
Finding a Station ............................ 3-45, 3-49, 3-52
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-92
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-93
Flash-to-Pass
................................................... 3-6
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-76
Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-76
Fluid Automatic Transaxle
..................................... 5-27
Power Steering
........................................... 5-46
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-48
Fog Lamps
................................. , ........... 3-12
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-41
Footnotes
........................................................ 6-5
Front Reading Lamps
...................................... 3-14
Fuel
............................................................... 5-5
Additives ...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel
.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank
........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries
.............................. 5-7
Gage
......................................................... 3-37
Gasoline Octane
........................................ 5-5
FM ............................................................... 3-57
5

Fuel (cont.)
Gasoline Specifications
................
Low Warning Light ........ , ....
System Inspection .............
Functions ......................................
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....
Windshield Wiper ..............
.........
..........
..........
...........
........
...... 5-5
..... 3-37
..... 6-13
..... 3-39
..... 5-97
..... 5-97
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature
......................... 3-31
Fuel
.......................................................... 3-37
Speedometer
.............................................. 3-25
Tachometer
................................................. 3-25
Garage Door Opener Compartment
................... 2-40
Gasoline Octane
........................................................ 5-5
Specifications ............................................... 5-5
Glass Surfaces
............................................... 5-90
Glove Box ..................................................... 2-40
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities
................................... .. 7-5
Hazard Warning Flashers
................................... 3-3
Head Restraints
............................................... 1-6 Headlamp
Aiming
....................................................... 5-59
Headlamp Wiring
............................................ 5-97
Headlamps
.................................................... 5-60
Bulb Replacement
....................................... 5-60
Front Turn Signal and Sidemarker Lamps
....... 5-62
Halogen Bulbs
............................................ 5-60
Head-Up Display (HUD)
................................... 3-15
Heated Seats
................................................... 1-4
Highway Hypnosis
........................................... 4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads
.................................. 4-25
Hitches
.......................................................... 4-40
Hood Checking Things Under
................................ 5-10
Release
..................................................... 5-10
Horn
............................................................... 3-4
How to Add Coolant
to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
............................................ 5-38
How to Add Coolant
to the Radiator .................. 5-41
How to Add Fluid
............................................ 5-29
How to Check
........................................ 5-27, 5-69
How to Check and Add Oil
............................... 5-25
How to Check Power Steering Fluid .................. 5-47
How to Use This Manual ...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-12
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
.................... 3-6
Hydroplaning
.................................................. 4-20
6