2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO warning light

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle uid to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough uid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transaxle
uid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transaxle uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluid,” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add only
DEX-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 or if you need to add coolant to
your radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-31.
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:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-28

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode” later in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates ring groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a signicant loss in power and engine
performance. The low coolant light may come on
and the temperature gage will indicate an overheat
condition exists. Driving extended miles (km) and/or
towing a trailer in the overheat protection mode should
be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-18.
5-33

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the uid level goes back up. The other reason is
that uid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system xed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-34.
5-45

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving, except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
5-47

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-71

Appearance Care
Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic.
Other cleaning products can burst into ames if a match
is struck near them or if they get on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if their fumes are inhaled
in an enclosed space. When anything from a container
is used to clean the vehicle, be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. Always open
the doors or windows of the vehicle when cleaning
the inside.
Never use these to clean the vehicle:
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous — some more than
others — and they can all damage the vehicle, too.Do not use any of these products unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will damage
the vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its best if
it is cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and
dirt can accumulate on your upholstery. Dirt can
damage carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove particles
from your upholstery. It is important to keep your
upholstery from becoming and remaining heavily soiled.
Soils should be removed as quickly as possible. Your
vehicle’s interior may experience extremes of heat
that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home furnishings may also
transfer color to your vehicle’s interior.
5-88

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-97
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-24
Air Conditioning..............................................3-22
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-32
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-46
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-52
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-55
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-52
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-53
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-51
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-49
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-92
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.....3-93
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-35
Appearance Care............................................5-88
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-93
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-91
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-94
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-92
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-88
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-92Appearance Care (cont.)
Finish Damage............................................5-94
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-91
Leather......................................................5-90
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-94
Tires..........................................................5-94
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-94
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-95
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-91
Weatherstrips..............................................5-91
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-93
Ashtrays........................................................3-21
Audio System(s).............................................3-54
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-89
Backglass Antenna......................................3-92
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-90
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-91
Care of Your CDs........................................3-91
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-93
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-55
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-76
Radio with CD............................................3-66
Setting the Time..........................................3-54
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-88
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-90
Vehicle Customization Settings......................3-93
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-93
1

Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-26
Operation...................................................2-20
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-92
Battery..........................................................5-48
Run-Down Protection...................................3-20
Battery Warning Message................................3-44
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Low Fluid Warning Message.........................3-49
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Brakes..........................................................5-45
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-57
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-54
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-55Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-56
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-103
Carbon Monoxide...................2-10, 2-26, 4-25, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-91
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-90
Your CD Player...........................................3-91
Your CDs ...................................................3-91
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-36
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Change Engine Oil Message............................3-46
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-37
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-94
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
2