check engine PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997 Workshop Manual

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance
of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part
D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel
fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper
coolant mix if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in
the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
7-39
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Starter Switch Check Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock
(BTSI) Check
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly.
If it does, you or others could be
injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see “Parking
Brake” in the Index
if necessary) and the
regular brake.
NOTE: Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to turn off the engine immediately
if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK
(9) or NEUTRAL (N). If
the starter works in any other position, your vehicle
needs service.
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be
injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It
should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake (see “Parking Brake”
in the Index if necessary).
NOTE: Be ready to apply the regular brake
immediately if the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the RUN
position, but don’t start
the engine. Without applying
the regular brake,
try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out
of PARK (P), your vehicle’s BTSI
needs service.
7-41
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Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to LOCK only when the shift
The key should come out only in LOCK.
lever is in PARK (P).
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle PARK (P)
MecT nism I-- leck
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot
on the regular brake, set the
parking brake,
To check the p,arking brake's holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N),
slowly remove foot pressure fiom the regular brake
pedal.
D'o this until the vehicle is held by the parking
brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism's holding ability:
With
the engine running, shift to PARK (a). Then
release all brakes.
I
Underbody Flushing Service
When you are
d ng this check, your vehicle At least every spring, use plain water
to flush any
corrosive materials
from the underbody. Take care to could begin to move. You or others could be clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
injured and property could be damaged. Make can collect.
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in case
it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at
once should the vehicle begin to move.
7-42
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Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should
be performed at least twice a year (for instance, each
spring and fall). You should let your GM dealer’s
service department or other qualified service center do
these
jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found
in a GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body
near the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing
or out-of-position parts as well
as open seams,
holes, loose connections or other conditions which could
cause a heat build-up in
the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” in
the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high eEort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake,
etc. Check parking
brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes
inspected more often
if your driving habits or conditions
result in frequent braking.
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1997 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servking of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing if in with your check, money order,
or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1997 PONTIAC
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes,
electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL
SELL PRICE: $90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE
UNIT REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments and specifications for the
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL
PRICE: $40.00
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended
to lprovide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for
all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $10.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Service Publications are available for current and past
model GM vehicles.
To request an order form, please
specify year and model name
of the vehicle.
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Electrical Equipment. Adding .......... 2-17. 3.30. 6.66
Electrical System
............................... 6-66
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-53
Electronic
Climate Control ........................ 3-2
Engine
.............................. 6-9.6-10. 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-26
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-18
Coolant Level Check .......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-75
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-74
Exhaust
...................... 2-11.2-29.4-28. 4-35 Identification ................................ 6-6 1
Running While
Parked ......................... 2-29
Specifications
........................... 6-72. 6-73
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-13
StartingYour ................................ 2-16
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
..................................... 6-14
Additives
6- 18
Checking
................................... 6-14
Used ....................................... 6-19
Whentochange .............................. 6-18 r .
...................................
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4 ~
Exhaust, Engine ................. 2-11,2-29,4-28. 4-35
Exit Lighting
............................. 2-42, 2-45
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-56
Fan
Knob. Climate Control System .................. 3-2
Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Fan Button. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control ..... 3-6 Filter. Air
..................................... 6-19
Finishcare
.................................... 6-61
Finish Damage ................................. 6-62
First
Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-22
Fixed Mast Antenna
............................. 3-32
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire, Changing ............................. 5-24
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front Reading Lamps ............................ 2-43
Filling Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage ....................................... 2-77
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers ........ .......... 6-66
................................... Flash to Pass 2-33
FogLamps
.................................... 2-40
French Language Manual 11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
.................................... 6-3
.. ...........................
d-7
ages Engine Coolant Temperature ....... .......... 2-75
Fuel ....................................... 2-77
GAWR
....................................... 4-30
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle ................ 2-19
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........... .......... 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-30
GloveBox .................................... 2-54
Guide en Frangais 11 .. .................................
.....................................
GVWR 4-30
9-4
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Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-37
Hazard Warning Flashers 5-2
Headlamps
.................................... 2-38
- ..........................
Head Restraints ................................. 1-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-37
HigNLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-33
Wiring
...................................... 6-66
Head-Up Display
............................... 2-83
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-5
Heating
.................................... 3-4, 3-8
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-33
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn ....................................... 2-31
HUD ......................................... 2-83
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4- 19
Careof ..................................... 2-86
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 15
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check .................... 7-42
Inflation, Tire
.................................. 6-45
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror ................. 2-53
Brakesystem
................................ 7-43
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Boot .................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Seal ................... 7-43
Radiator and Heater
Hose ...................... 7-43
Inspections Steering
......
Suspension ....
Throttle Linkage
Instrument Panel
.
Cleaning ......
Cluster .......
Fuse Block ....
Lamps ........
Interior Lamps ... ............
...... 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 2-62
6-58
.............................. 2-62
............................ 6-67
....................... 2-40
.......................... 2-40
..............................
..
Jack. Tire ............. ..
Jump Starting .....................
......... 5-26
....... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
... .............. 7-40
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels ....................................... 4-30
Certification
................................. 4-30
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-65
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-29
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-65
Lamps ........................................ 2-38
Courtesy
.................................... 2-41
Interior
..................................... 2-40
Rear Assist Handle Reading
.................... 2-43
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-7
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running ....... 2-27
Lighter
....................................... 2-58
9-5
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Lights Lubrication Service. Body ........................ 7-40 Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-23. 2-65 Lumbar Seat .................................... 1-4
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-67. 4-7
Brake System Warning ......................... 2-66
Charging System
............................. 2-66 Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-73
Check Tire Pressure ........ 2-70 Maintenance Record 7-46
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-74 Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7-1 Interior ..................................... 2-40 Introtduction .................................. 7-2
Low Coolant Warning ......................... 2-75 Long TripMighway Definition ................... 7-6
LowFuel ................................... 2-77 Long TripMighway Intervals ..................... 7-6
Low Traction
................................ 2-69 Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................ 7-43
Low Washer Fluid ............................ 2-76
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 7-44
Oil Warning ................................. 2-73 Scheduled Maintenance Services .................. 7-3
Safety Belt Reminder ...................... 1-9. 2-64 Short TriplCity Definition ....................... 7-5
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-70 Short Trip/City Intervals .........................
Trac System Warning .......................... 2-68 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................ 7-2
Trunk
Ajar Warning ........................... 2-76 Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-63
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-29 Maintenance When Trailer Towing ................. 4-38
Automatic Door .......................... 2-6. 2-46 Manual Front Seat ............................... 1-2
Door ........................................ 2-4 Mirrors ....................................... 2-53
Ignition Transaxle Check ....................... 7-42 Convex Outside .............................. 2-54
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-40 Electrochromic Daymight Rearview .............. 2-53
Locks and Lighting Choices
...................... 2-44 Visor Vanity .................................. 2-59
Low Coolant Warning Light ...................... 2-75 ......................................... 6-4
LOW Fuel Light ................................ 2-77 Mode Buttons. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control .. 3-6 LOW Oil Level Light ............................ 2-74 Mode Knob. climate Control System ................ 3-2
LOW Traction Light ............................. 2-69 Mountain Roads ................................ 4-23 Low Washer muid Light ......................... 2-76 Multifunc$iQn Lever ............................. 2-32
............ ............................
LowOilLevel ............................... 2-74 Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7-39
7-5
......................................... ...................... Locks 2-4 Malfunction Indicator Lap 2-70
Cylinders 7-40 Methanol 6-4 ................................... ......................................
PowerDoor .................................. 2-5 Inside DayNight Rearview ..................... 2-53
Pawar Outside
2-54
Trunk ...................................... 2-12 ...............................
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-44
9-6
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Net. Convenience ........ ............... 2-57
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-20
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2- 15
Night Vision
................................... 4- 16
Odometer
....... ..... 2-63
Odometer. Trip
............................. 2-63
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 13
Oil Warning Light
.............................. 2-73
Overdrive, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-2 1
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-56
Overheating Engine ............................. 5- 13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications, Ordering
..................... 8- 12
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-12
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-63
Park
Automatic Transaxle .......................... 2- 19
Shifting Out of
. . ...................... 2-28
At Night ......... .................... 2-13
Brake
...................................... 2-24
Shifting Into ............................... 2-25
Parking
Lots
....................................... 2-13
Over Things That Burn ........................ 2-28
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Passenger Position .............................. 1-22
Passenger’s Temperature
Knob. Automatic and
Auxiliary Temp Control ......................... 3-5
Passing ............................ ...... 4-13
Performance Shifting
............................ 2-23
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Pontiac
Cares ................................... 8-2
Power Accessory Outlet
.............. ... 2-56. 2-59
Door Locks ......... ......... ......... 2-5
Option Fuses ................................ 6-67
Outside Mirror
............................... 2-54
Retained Accessory
........................... 2-42
Seat
......................................... 1-3
Steering ................ ................ 4-11
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-30
Windows ................................... 2-30
Pregnancy.
Use of Safety Belts .................... 1-21
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner
................... 8-12
Purse or Litter Bag Holder
.................... 2-60
Radiator
......... ....... .... 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap . . ................ 6-29
Radios
....................................... 3-10
Rear
Radio Reception ................................ 3-30
Rain, Driving In .......................... ~ .... 4-17
Outside Seat Position
........................ 1-30
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-33
Seat Passengers
.............................. 1-29
Window Defogger
............................. 3-9
Towing ..................................... 5-11
* 9-7
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Seats Heated
...................................... 1-5
ManualFront
................................. 1-2
Power Driver
................................. 1-3
Seat Controls
.................. ........ 1-2
Two-way Manual Front
......................... 1-2
Second Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................. 2-21
Service
........................................ 6-2
Bulletins. Ordering
............................ 8- 12
Manuals. Ordering
............................ 8- 12
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-65
Publications. Ordering
......................... 8- 12
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6-1
Service
and Owner Publications ................... 8- 12
Service Publications
............................. 8- 12
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac ........... 1-27
Sheet Metal Damage ............................ 6-62
ShiftLever
.................................... 2-26
Shift Lock Release
.............................. 2-22
Shifting
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2- 19
Into Park
(P) ................................. 2-25
OutofPark
.................................. 2-28
Performance
................................. 2-23
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1 - 16
Signaling
Turns ................................ 2-32
Skidding
...................................... 4-15
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-30
Spare Tire, Compact ............................. 5-34
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 . I
EngineSoonLight ............................ 2-70
Specifications
and Capacities ...................... 6-72
Specifications. Engine
...................... 6.72. 6.73
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-5
Speedometer ................................... 2-63
Stains, Cleaning
.............................. 6-57
Starter Switch Check
.......................... 7-41
SRS ......................................... l-22
Starting Your Engine ............................ 2-16
Steam
........................................ 5-13
Steering
...................................... 4-11
In Emergencies
............................... 4-12
Tips
........................................ 4-11
Variable Assist
............................... 4-11
Wheel, Tilt
.................................. 2-31
Storage Compartments
........................... 2-54
Storage, Vehicle
................................ 6-37
Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow .................. 5-35
Sun Visors .................................... 2-59
Sunroof ....................................... 2-60
Supplemental Restraint System .................... 1-22
Symbols, Vehicle
.................................. v
Tachometer .................................. 2-63
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 6-42
TapePlayerCare
............................... 3-31
Temperature
Knob, Climate Control System ........... 3-2
Theft
......................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Feature, CD Player
................ 3-26
Thermostat
.................................... 6-29
Third Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-21
THEFTLOCK
TM ................................ 3-26
9-9
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