coolant level PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1995 Owners Manual

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your
engine
is too hot! The
CHECK GAGES light will
go on and a warning chime
will sound, if
you have this
option.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle lander normal driving
conditions, you should puli off the road, stop you
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In the section“Prob1ems on the Road”, this mud
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the
-. -. . 5 . Index. .~ c.
.L -,
Low Coolant Warning Light
L
LOW COOLANT
If you have this light and it
comes on, your system may
be low on coolant and the
engine
may overheat.
Check to
see if the level is low at the recovery tank, and
add coolant if necessary.
If the level is not low, have
your low coolant warning system serviced. See “Engine
Coolant” in the
Index.
The LOW COOLANT warning light will also come on
when you turn on the ignition, but your engine is not
running, as
a check to show you it is working. If it
doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed right away.
After the
bulb check, the light will go out for 20 seconds.
If the light comes back on after 20 se’conds, the system
may be low on coolant. See “Engine Coolant”
in the
Index.
2-56
ProCarManuals.com

Check Oil Level Warning Light (Option)
1
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
1 This light indicates when
the engine oil level is
1 to
1 1/2 quarts (0.95 L to
1.4 L) low. It will go on for
one to three seconds when
the ignition is turned to the
RUN position, as a bulb
check to show
you that the
system is working.
If the light doesn’t come on, have your oil level warning
system serviced.
Even if
you have a low oil level, the light will go off for
15 to 20 seconds. Then, if the oil level is low, and it has
been at least eight minutes since your engine was last
running, the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will come on
for 20 to
40 seconds. The eight-minute delay allows the
majority of the
oil to drain back into the oil pan and
prevent
a false low condition. If the
CHECK OIL LEVEL
warning comes on, the oil
level should be checked at the oil dipstick. If the level is
low, the engine oil should be brought up
to the proper
level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. After restoring the
proper level and
waiting for the eight-minute drainback,
the key can be turned to the
RUN position and the
CHECK OIL LEVEL warning light should only come
on
as a bulb check.
Head-Up Display (Option)
If you have the optional Head-Up Display (HUD), you
can see some of the driver information also available on
your instrument panel cluster. The information may be
displayed in English or metric units and appears as
a
reflection on the windshield. The HUD shows:
Speedometer reading
0 Turn signal indicators
e High beam indicator symbol
CHECK GAGES message (for low oil pressure, high
coolant temperature, low oil level and
low fuel)
Low fuel warning symbol.
2-60
ProCarManuals.com

Boost Gage (Option)
Vehicles equipped with the supercharged engine have
this boost gage that indicates vacuum during light to
moderate throttle and boost under heavier throttle. The
gage displays the air pressure level in psi going into the
engine’s combustion chamber.
The gage is automatically centered at zero psi every
time the engine is started. Actual vacuum or
boost is
displayed from this zero point. Changes in ambient
pressure, such
as driving in mountains and changing
weather, will slightly change the zero reading.
Driver Information Center
) (-) INFORMATION
DRIVER
CHECK OIL LEVEL
WASHER
FLUID
LOW COOLANT
CHECK QAQES
HOOD DOOR
TRUNK AJAR
MILES
888888

I /w
7
LAMP
MONITOR
HI EEAM HEAD
PARK LAMP
TURN SIQNAL
BACK
UP TAIL
BRAKE LAMP
If you have the Driver Information Center, it gives you
important safety and maintenance facts. When you turn
the ignition on, the entire center lights
up for a few
seconds. Then it goes to work.
2-66
ProCarManuals.com

FUNCTION MONITOR: This lets you know if you
are low on fluids or have a problem with a vehicle
function:
0
0
0
0
CHECK OIL LEVEL: This message could mean
you oil level is low. If it comes on for more than
three seconds, see “Check Oil Level Warning Light”
in the Index.
WASHER FLUID: This message means your
washer fluid tank is less than about
30% full. The
windshield portion of the vehicle outline will also
glow.
If these come on, see “Windshield Washer
Fluid” in the Index.
LOW COOLANT This message means your
coolant level has fallen
to about half full. If it comes
on, see “Engine Coolant”
in the Index.
CHECK GAGES: If this light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages for fuel,
coolant temperature,
oil pressure or battery voltage.
SECURITY: You’ll get a DOOR AJAR message if a
door
is not fully closed. The vehicle outline will show
you which door it is.
You will also get a HOOD AJAR
or TRUNK AJAR message if the hood or the trunk isn’t
fully closed. The vehicle outline will also show you
these are ajar.
LAMP MONITOR: Whenever you try to use one of
the following lamps the LAMP MONITOR will tell you
if
a bulb is out.
Head Lamp (Low and High Beam)
Turn SignaWarWStop
Park Lamp/Side Marker
Brake Lamp and Center
High Mounted Stop Lamp
Back-up Lamp
Tail Lamp/Turn/Side MarkerLicense
If
a bulb is out, you will see a message, such as PARK
LAMP, and you will also see where the problem is on
the vehicle outline. The message stays on until the
problem is fixed. See “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index
for bulb details.
2-67
ProCarManuals.com

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.
5-14
ProCarManuals.com

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.
ProCarManuals.com

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.
5-19
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Accessory Belt coolant pump and air conditioning compressor. Each
belt has its own tensioner and idler pulley.
1. Front Belt C. Crank
2. Back Belt D. Supercharger
A. Alternator
E. Coolant Pump
B. Power Steering E Air Conditioning
The Supercharged
38800 engine uses two accessory drive
belts. One belt drives the generator and the power
steering pump. The second belt drives the supercharger, See
“Maintenance Schedule” in
the Index for when to
check the accessory drive belts and Supercharger oil
level. Have your dealer check the oil level in the
Supercharger.
Engine Oil
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
If the CHECK QIL LEVEL light on the instrument
panel comes
on, it means you need to check your engine
oil level
right away. for more information, see “Check
Oil Level Light” in
the Index. You should check your
engine
oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
6-12
ProCarManuals.com

Adding Coolant To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to FULL HOT or a little
higher.
If this light comes on, it means you’re low on engine
coolant.
6-23
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule I
30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the suspension and steering
linkage, transaxle shift linkage, parking
brake cable guides and underbody contact
points and linkage (or every
6 months.
whichever occurs first).
0 Inspect engine accessory drive belt (or
every 24 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or
every
24 months, whichever occurs first).
See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index for what
to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator,
condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure
test the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission Control
0 Inspect spark plug wires. An Emission
0 Replace air cleaner filter. Replace filter
Service.
Control Service.
-f
more often under dusty conditions.
An Emission Control Service.
0 Inspect fuel tank, cap and lines for damage
or leaks. Inspect fuel cap gasket for any
damage. Replace parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service. 4
[7 For Supercharged engines only: Check the
supercharger oil level and add oil as needed
(or every
36 months, whichever occurs
first). See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in this section.
An Emission
Control Service.
(Continued)
7-11
ProCarManuals.com