PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1999 Owners Manual

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-15
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CAUTION:
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.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-16
CAUTION:
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.
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First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-17 How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
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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.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-18
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL

coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
(See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.)
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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.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-19
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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 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.
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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.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-20
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
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, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
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The equipment you'll need
is in the trunk. Pull the
carpeting from the floor of
the trunk. Turn the center
retainer bolt on the spare
tire cover counterclockwise
to remove it.
Lift and remove the cover. See ªCompact Spare Tireº in
the Index for more information about the compact spare.
Remove the spare tire from the trunk.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-22
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The box that stores the jack
and wheel wrench is located
on the passenger side
trunk wall.
Open the box and then
remove the wing bolt by
turning it counterclockwise.
Remove the jack and wheel wrench.
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The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench (B).

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-23 Removing Wheel Covers and Wheel
Nut Caps
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To remove the wheel or nut
cap covers for your
particular vehicle, if you
have steel wheels with full
plastic wheel covers, loosen
each nut cap using the
wheel wrench.
Please note that nut caps will not remove from the
cover completely.
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If you have aluminum
wheels with nut caps,
remove them.
If you have aluminum wheels and a center cover hides the
wheel nuts, remove the center cover by using the flat end
of the wrench to pry it off. Do not drop the cover or lay it
face down, as it could become scratched or damaged.
Do not use a hammer or mallet on this type of cover.

First Edition for Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-24 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
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1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but
don't remove them.
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2. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the jack
lift head until it fits under the vehicle.