brake fluid PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1996 Owners Manual

Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever there’s a
paddle with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid
on the windshield, push the paddle for less than a
second. The wipers
will clear the window and either
stop or return to your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push and hold the paddle. Remember, driving
without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad mud
splash can block your vision. You could hit another
vehicle or go
off the road. Check your washer fluid
level often.
Some models have a WASHER
FLUID warning, that
indicates
if the fluid level in the windshield washer
reservoir is low. See “Low Washer Fluid Warning Light”
in
the Index.
A CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control
on the accelerator. his can
really help
on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
ProCarManuals.com

Driver Information Center
3 (-1 INFORMATION (I , J,
DRIVER TRIP
CHECK OIL LEVEL
WASHER FLUID
LOW COOLANT
CHECK QAOES
VOOD DOOR
TRUNK AJAR I
I
MlLES
888888
LAMP
MONITOR
TURN SIQNAL
BACK UP TAIL
BRAKE LAMP
TRIP
8 B 8 8.8
If you have the Driver Information Center, it gives you
important safety and maintenanc,e facts. When you turn
the ignition on, the entire center lights
up for a few
seconds. Then it goes to work.
. ..
..
.. -*
FUNCTION MONITOR: This lets you know if
you are low on fluids or have a problem with a
vehicle function:
CHECK OIL LEVEL: This message could mean
your oil level is low.
If it comes on for more than
three seconds, see "Check Oil Level
Warning Light" . ..
in the Index. - I
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.
~. h I_ - I e:. ..
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. ;,. . . ,--. . ,(/,,:-I.. - : , , .. , .. . . . .! _.
ProCarManuals.com

~f you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here
are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep you vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels
and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle.
These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing
to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing
down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
If ‘you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’f work well. You would then
have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope. Coasting
downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have
pm braking or even none going down a hill.
1 You could crash. Always have your engine running
~ and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. Shift down to THIRD (3).
This will help cool your engine and transaxle, and
you can climb the
hill better.
roads in
hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across
the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
0 Stay in your own he when driving on two-lane
0 As you go over the top of a hill, be dert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
specid ‘problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
: I’ no-passing zones, a falling rwkx area or winding
,:\. .. roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
ProCarManuals.com

Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached,
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes
mil the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your pa;rking
brake, and then shift to PdRK (P).
PARK (P) yet.
’ 5. Release the regular brakes.
~ When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
.down while
you:
Start your engine;
e Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will & service more often when you’re
pmg a trde~ See the Mainte~nance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are .automatic
trande fluid (don’t overfill),
engine
oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is-covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you kd them quickly. If you’re tradering, it’s a good
idea to review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-38
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel Door Manual Release (‘Option)
L
If your vehicle has a fuel
door lock, the fuel door
can be opened manually
in case of an electrical
power
failure.
Y
Open the trunk, the release mechanism is on the driver’s
side
of the vehicle, at the top of the trunk compartment.
Pull the tab rearward
to release the fuel door.
NOTICE:
Prying on a locked fuel filler door can damage it.
Use the remote fuel door manual release located
in the trunk.
Checking T,hings Under the Hood
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important underhood
parts.
A CAUTION:
i
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.
A CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids,
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.
6-8
ProCarManuals.com

3800 Series I1 Engine (L36 - Code K)
When you open the bod, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Battery
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick G. Brake Master Cylinder
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap H. Air Cleaner
F. Automatic
Transaxle Fluid Dipstick I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6-10
ProCarManuals.com

3800 Supercharged Engine (L67 - Code 1) (Option)
When you open the hood, ~011'11 see:
A. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank D. Engine Oil Dipstick G. Brake Master Cylinder
B. Battery
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap H. Air Cleaner
C. Radiator Pressure Cap F. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6-11
ProCarManuals.com

Checking the Fluid Level
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
engine running.
in
PARK (P).
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each gear range, pausing
for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
I. The transhission
oil dipstick top is a
round, red loop' and
is next to the brake
master cylinder
behind the engine
dipstick and wipe it
with a clean rag
or
paper towel.
i block. Pull out the
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3.
4.
Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched area.
If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
6-21
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
0 Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage yoqr washer fluid
tank and
other parts
of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
0 Fill your washer fluid tank only 3/4 full
when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
0 Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There me only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have
6-28
ProCarManuals.com

your brake system fixed, since a leak means that sooner
or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t work
at
all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t gorrect a leak.
If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work
is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough.
You or others could be burned, and
your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on. the brake
hydraulic system.
When
your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive with this warning light on. See “Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index. What
to
Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid.
reservoir cap before removing it.
XLUTION:
-
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes
may not work well, or they
may not even work
at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
ProCarManuals.com