engine oil PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1997 Owners Manual

L
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:'
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to
do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
(
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT
a
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
-4
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER a
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
V
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4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Pontiac dealer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular
area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever
located on the console between the seats or
on the
steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position
to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
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Oil Pressure Gage
0
h
120
The oil pressure gage shows
the engine oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square inch)
when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles
indicate pressure in
kPa (kiloPascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the red
warning zone indicate
the normal operating range.
A reading in the red zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low
oil pressure. The
CHECK GAGES light will go on and a
warning chime will sound, if you have this option.
Driving your vehicle with low oil pressure can cause
extensive engine damage.
A CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You
or others could be burned.
Check your oil as
soon ass possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
~~~ ~~ ~~
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
1
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Check Oil Level Warning Light Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
CHECK OIL
LEVEL
The CHECK OIL LEVEL
light
turns on for three
seconds as
a bulb check
each time the ignition key is
turned to the
RUN position.
If the light doesn’t turn on,
have your vehicle serviced.
If the engine oil is more than one quart (0.95 L) low and
the engine has been shut off for at least eight minutes,
the
CHECK OIL LEVEL light will turn on for about
one minute and will then remain
0: il the next time
you start the vehicle.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light turns on, the engine oil
level should be checked at the dipstick then brought up
to the proper level, if necessary. See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
WASHER FLUID
This light will come on
when
your windshield
washers
are working and the
fluid container is less than
one-third full.
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Check Gages Warning Light (Option)
1
This light will come on
briefly when you are
starting the engine.
CHECK GAGES
Fuel Gage
UNLEADED
FUEL
ONLY
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your gages
for fuel, coolant temperature, oil
pressure or voltage. This light will stay on if your engine
is not running.
Cluster with Gages Cluster with Compass
and Gages
When
the ignition is on, your fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have
left. When the gage reads in
the yellow band, a warning chime will sound and the
CHECK
GAGES warning light will go on, if you have
this option.
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Driver Information Centerloption
CHECK OIL LEVEL
WASHER FLUID
Law COOLANT
CHECK PAOEB
HOOD DOOR
TRUNK AJAR
I
MONITOR
LAMP I HI BEAM HEAD
PARK LAMP
TURN SIQNAL
BACK UP TAIL
BRAKE LAMP
TRIP
8 8 8 8.8
3
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.
FUNCTION MONITOR: This lets you know if
you are low on fluids or have a problem with a
vehicle function:
a
a
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.
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 closled. 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 lclosed. The vehicle outline will also show you
these are ajar.
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The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip?
If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go.
If it needs
service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing
to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down
a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well,
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
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;
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 need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle 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 find them quickly. If you’re trailering, 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.
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Cooling System
you’ll see:
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fans
1
’ A CAUTION:
r
An electric 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,
don’t do anything
else until it cools down.
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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 the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@
(silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See
“Engine Coolant” in the Index for more information.)
With plain water or the wrong mix, your engine
could get too hot but
you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire
and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/58
mix of clean water and DEX-COOL@ coolant.
r--- Adding only plain water to your cooling system 1 c NOTICE:
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some o’ther
liquid like alcohol,
can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix,
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other
parts.
Use
the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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