radiator cap PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1998 Owners Manual

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
: CA
L
A CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling 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.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fans
5-17

A CAUTION: I
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at
high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
5-21

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
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 counterclockwise 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.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as
you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
5-22

3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base
of the filler neck.
(See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.)
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.
5-23

6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling 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 DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
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.
5-24

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle.\
This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it
shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-6
6-9
6-9
6-13
6- 17
6-20
6-23
6-26
6-26
6-27
6-28
6-32
6-32
6-40
Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your
Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine
Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Radiator Pressure Cap
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6-4 1
6-49
6-49
6-5
1
6-52
6-54
6-54
6-56
6-57
6-58
6-64
6-65
6-65 6-66
6-66
6-66
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
(If Equipped)
Sheet Metal Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Engine Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts
Vehicle Dimensions
6-1

3800 Series I1 Engine (L36 - Code K)
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Engine Coolant
Recovery Tank
B. Battery
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E Automatic Transaxle
Fluid Dipstick
G. Brake Master Cylinder
H. Air Cleaner
I. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
6-11

3800 Supercharged Engine (L67 - Code 1) (If Equipped)
When you open the hood, 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
E Automatic Transaxle I. Windshield Washer
Fluid Dipstick Fluid Reservoir

Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
FULL COLD mark or a little higher. When your
engine is
warm, the level should be up to the FULL
HOT mark or a little higher.
LOW
COOLANT
- If this light comes on, it
means you’re
low on
engine coolant.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture ut the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
~~~ ~~
lbrning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
6-25

Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a
hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
ICE:
~~~
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 Wa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is located on the rear
passenger side
of the engine compartment.
6-26