2005 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE checking oil

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (3.8L V6 Engine).......5-22
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (4.6L V8 Engine).......5-23
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (3.8L V6 Engine).....5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (4.6L V8 Engine).....5-28
Engine Coolant (3.8L V6 Engine)....................5-31
Engine Coolant (4.6L V8 Engine)....................5-34
Radiator Pressure Cap (3.8L V6 Engine)..........5-36
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
(4.6L V8 Engine).......................................5-36Engine Overheating (3.8L V6 Engine)...............5-36
Engine Overheating (4.6L V8 Engine)...............5-38
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode (4.6L V8 Engine)..............................5-40
Cooling System (3.8L V6 Engine)....................5-40
Cooling System (4.6L V8 Engine)....................5-47
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-52
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-53
Brakes........................................................5-54
Battery........................................................5-57
Jump Starting (3.8L V6 Engine)......................5-59
Jump Starting (4.6L V8 Engine)......................5-63
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-67
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-67
Headlamps..................................................5-68
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-69
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-71
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-72
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-73
Tires..............................................................5-74
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-75
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-77
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-80
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-83
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-85
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under 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.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, 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.
5-10

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block (3.8L V6 Engine) on
page 5-112orEngine Compartment Fuse Block
(4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-114.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-53.
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underEngine Coolant (3.8L V6 Engine)
on page 5-31orEngine Coolant (4.6L V8 Engine)
on page 5-34.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
(3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-36.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-52.F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-25orAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid (4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-28.
I. Brake Master Cylinder. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-54.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter (3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-22or
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (4.6L V8 Engine) on
page 5-23.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-53.
B. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block (3.8L V6 Engine) on
page 5-112orEngine Compartment Fuse Block
(4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-114.
C. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
(4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-36andCooling System
(3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-40orCooling System
(4.6L V8 Engine) on page 5-47.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-52.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
G. Brake Master Cylinder. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-54.
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Cap and Dipstick.
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid (3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-25or
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (4.6L V8 Engine) on
page 5-28.
I. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter (3.8L V6 Engine) on page 5-22or
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter (4.6L V8 Engine) on
page 5-23.
5-15

Engine Oil
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL
light appears on the
instrument cluster, or the
OIL LEVEL LOW message
appears on the DIC,
it means you need to
check your engine oil level
right away.
For more information, seeCheck Oil Level Light on
page 3-53orDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-62.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
3.8L V6 Engine
5-16

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not 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 would not 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
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not 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 do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant
recovery tank is located in
the engine compartment
on the passenger’s
side of the vehicle, near
the windshield. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to the FULL HOT mark
or a little higher.
5-32

G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..........................3-54
Engine Coolant Temperature.................3-45, 3-46
Fuel..................................................3-56, 3-57
Oil Pressure.......................................3-51, 3-52
Speedometer..............................................3-37
Tachometer.................................................3-38
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-40
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-40
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-44
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamp Wiring...........................................5-111
Headlamps....................................................5-68
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-67
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-15
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-69
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-67
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8Headlamps (cont.)
On Reminder..............................................3-15
Wiper Activated...........................................3-14
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-21
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...................................................3-25, 3-28
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-54
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-22
HomeLink
®Transmitter....................................2-40
HomeLink®Transmitter, Programming................2-41
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-12
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-24
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-21
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-30
Ination -- Tire Pressure..................................5-80
Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-24
Engine Cooling System................................6-23
Exhaust System..........................................6-23
6