2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX check engine light

When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and ®lter. 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. A CHANGE OIL SOON light 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 ®lter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service
people who will perform this work using genuine GM
parts and reset the system. 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.
How to Reset the GM Oil Life System
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and ®lter based on vehicle use.
Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
CHANGE OIL SOON message appearing on the DIC,
reset the system.
To reset the GM Oil Life System, after the oil has been
changed, use the following procedure:
1. Press the options button on the DIC until ENGINE
OIL MONITOR appears on the DIC screen.
2. Press the set/reset button to reset the system.
The next screen indicates that the engine oil monitor
system has been reset.
If the vehicle is equipped with the trip computer DIC,
when the gage button is pressed and the OIL LIFE
REMAINING mode appears, it should read 100 percent
OIL LIFE REMAINING.
5-20

How to Check and Add Oil
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Check oil only when
the engine is cold. Allow the engine to cool two to
three hours after running.
{CAUTION:
If you remove the supercharger oil ®ll plug
while the engine is hot, pressure may cause
hot oil to blow out of the oil ®ll hole. You may
be burned. Do not remove the plug until the
engine cools.
1. Clean the area around the oil ®ll plug before
removing it.
2. Remove the oil ®ll plug.
3. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place.
Tighten to 88 lb-in (10Y).
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/®lter is located in the engine
compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
more information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/®lter every 15,000 miles
(25,000 km) and replace every 30,000 miles (50,000 km).
If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the
®lter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/®lter, remove the ®lter from
the vehicle and lightly shake the ®lter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the ®lter remains ªcakedº with dirt,
a new ®lter is required.
5-22

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOLžengine coolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·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-COOLž(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOLžis 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 ®rst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
žis not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOLžengine coolant which won't
damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
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 ®re and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
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.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
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.
5-27

{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap -- even a little -- when the engine and
radiator are hot.
{CAUTION:
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.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
see
Cooling System on page 5-32.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:Your radiator cap is a pressure-type cap
and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss
and possible engine damage from overheating.
Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the
over¯ow tube on the radiator ®ller neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located in the front of the
engine compartment on the passenger's side, near
the diagonal cross brace. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will ®nd a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light concerning an overheated engine condition on
the instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-39andEngine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on page 3-39.
5-29

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be repeated at the same interval
after 150,000 miles (240 000 km) for the life of this
vehicle.
See
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-10andPart C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections on
page 6-14.
Footnotes
²The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
the completion of the vehicle's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.
+A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection on page 6-15.
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and ®lter as indicated by the GM
Oil Life System (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs ®rst). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and ®lter. 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. A CHANGE OIL SOON light 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 ®lter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service
people who will perform this work using genuine GM
parts and reset the system.
6-5

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-64
Chains, Tires..................................................5-77
CHANGE OIL SOON.......................................3-66
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE........................3-67
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-40
Check Engine Light.........................................3-40
CHECK GAS CAP..........................................3-67
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE...............................3-68
Checking Coolant............................................5-28
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-16
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-56
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-96
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-41
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-45
Top Strap...................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-40
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-24
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-90
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-93
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-95
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-94
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-90
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-92
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-92
Cleaning Leather............................................5-92
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-92
Cleaning Tires................................................5-95
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-92
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-25
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-29
Compact Disc Messages..............3-99, 3-113, 3-128
Compact Spare Tire................................5-88, 5-89
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-38
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-39
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-39
Heater, Engine............................................2-20
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-17
3

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-99
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-99
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-99
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-99
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-99
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-11
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs.................................3-42
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-22
Battery.......................................................5-48
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-40
Coolant Heater............................................2-20
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-39
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-39
Coolant......................................................5-26
Cooling System Inspection............................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-31
Oil .............................................................5-16
Overheating................................................5-29
Starting......................................................2-19
Supercharger Oil.........................................5-21
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-10
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-44
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-19Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-10
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance..................... 6-5
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)......................4-11
Warning Light.............................................3-38
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Express-Down Window....................................2-13
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-28
Exterior Lamp Control Lever.............................3-12
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver..........................3-16
F
Fan ..............................................................3-25
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finding a PTY Station
(RDS and XMŸ).....................3-93, 3-104, 3-118
Finding a Station.........................3-91, 3-102, 3-116
Finish Care....................................................5-94
Finish Damage...............................................5-95
Flash-To-Pass Feature.....................................3-14
Flat Tire........................................................5-78
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-78
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-24
Power Steering...........................................5-42
Windshield Washer......................................5-43
FM Stereo....................................................3-130
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-44
5

Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-8
Following Distance..........................................4-41
Footnotes........................................................ 6-5
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-18
Front Seat Storage Net....................................2-37
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps.........5-62
Fuel
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-44
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-14
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-99
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-99
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-39
Fuel..........................................................3-44
Speedometer..............................................3-33
Tachometer.................................................3-33
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5Glove Box.....................................................2-36
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-4
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-56
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-99
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-59
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps.....5-62
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-59
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps................5-60
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED.............................3-70
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-19
Heated Seats................................................... 1-5
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-44
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-26
Hitches..........................................................4-40
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn............................................................... 3-5
HOT COOLANT..............................................3-70
HOT ENGINE OIL. REDUCE SPEED................3-71
6