2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX radiator

If the light comes on and stays on for an extended
period of time when the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light indicates that
the engine coolant
has overheated or the
radiator cooling fan is
not working.
If the vehicle has been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the vehicle, and turn off
the engine as soon as possible.
SeeCooling System on page 5-30for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
The vehicle has a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the shaded area, the
engine is too hot. That reading means the engine
coolant has overheated. If you have been operating the
vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should
pull off the road, stop the vehicle, and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
SeeCooling System on page 5-30for more information.
3-43

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....................................5-5
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...................................................5-14
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-27
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-30
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-39
Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-50
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-50
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps.................5-51
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps......5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-54
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-55
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-57
Tires..............................................................5-58
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-59
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-61
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-65
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-39.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
C. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 5-43.
D. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-105.
E. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-30.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-27.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (low in engine
compartment). SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-38.
H. Supercharger Oil Fill Location (If Equipped).
SeeSupercharger Oil on page 5-19.I. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-30.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-14.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-14.
L. Engine Coolant Bleed Valve. See “How to Add
Coolant to the Radiator” underCooling System on
page 5-30.
M. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-22.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-40.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
5-13

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 crosshatched 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 automatic transaxle uid labeled
other than DEXRON
®-III, Approved for the
H-Specication, may damage your vehicle, and
the damages may not be covered by your warranty.
Always use automatic transaxle uid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, Approved for the H-Specication.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check,” 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 the vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant is added.
The following explains the cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If there is a problem
with engine overheating or if coolant needs to be added
to the radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-27.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine 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.
5-24

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®engine coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture is
used, nothing else needs to be added.
{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 coolant needs to be added more than four times a
year, have your dealer check the 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.
5-25

Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank is located in the engine
compartment toward the rear of the engine on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be
at the COLD mark or a
little higher.
When the engine is warm, the level should be up to the
HOT mark or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
This symbol, along with
the LOW COOLANT
LEVEL warning message
comes on in the Driver
Information Center
(DIC) when coolant needs
to be added to the
coolant recovery tank.
SeeDIC Controls and Displays (Base Level DIC) on
page 3-49orDIC Controls and Displays (Uplevel
DIC with Trip Computer) on page 3-57for more
information.
If more coolant is needed, add the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-27.
5-26

{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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
seeCooling System on page 5-30.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:The radiator cap on your vehicle 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 overow tube on the radiator ller neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located in the front of the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle, near the diagonal cross brace. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature gage and a warning light
on the instrument panel that indicate an overheated
engine condition. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-43andEngine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 3-43.
5-27

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan(s)
C. Radiator Pressure Cap{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The
vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the FULL COLD mark on the coolant
recovery tank. If it is not, there may be a leak at the
pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere else in the cooling
system. 3800 V6 Supercharged engine shown,
3800 V6 engine similar
5-30