PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1995 Owners Manual

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage or the warning
light about a hot
engine on your Pontiac’s instrument
panel. See “Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Coolant
Temperature Warning Light”
in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam,
the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when
you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
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If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try
this for a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving --
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or DRIVE (D).
If y’ou no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back
on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still
no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
Coolant recovery tank
0 Radiator pressure cap
0 Electric engine fans
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If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak with the engine an, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t,
your vehicle needs service.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the coolant \
recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index for
more information about the proper coolant mix.)
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use
the recommended coolant.
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When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
FULL COLD, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
7'
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly to the left until it first stops.
(Don't press down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down
as you turn
it. Remove the pressure
cap.
3. Fill the radiator with the proper
mix, up to the
base
of the filler neck.
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I'
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL
COLD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fans.
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may
be lower. If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the
pressure cap.
At any time during this procedure
if coolant begins to
flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.
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If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
ston well aut of the traffic lane. .,
If a tire goes flat, the next p,ar$ shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Air Inflator System
Some vehicles have an air inflator for use in maintaining
proper air pressure
for the tires. The air inflator is
located in the
trunk. The ON switch will work even with
the ignition
off.
The air inflator comes with a kit that includes a 20-foot
hose and an air pressure gage, as well as instructions and
special adapters for inflating things like an air mattress
or
a basketball.
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