overheating PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2003 Owners Manual

The optional Traction Control System is active and
is limiting wheel spin. You may feel the system
working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions
may exist,
so adjust your driving accordingly.
If the LOW TRAC light comes on, slippery road
conditions may exist,
so you should consider slowing
down and adjusting your driving accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
To prevent engine overheating, the air conditioning
compressor will turn
off automatically just prior to the
gage pointer entering the shaded area. As the
engine cools down, the air conditioning compressor will
automatically turn back on. On vehicles equipped
with the DIC, the message ENGINE HOT
... NC
DISABLED will appear in the DiC display and a warning
chime will sound.
If the gage pointer moves into the shaded area, your
engine is too hot.
On vehicles equipped with the
systems monitor, the CHECK GAGES light will come
on
and a warning chime will sound.
On vehicles with a
DIC, a CHECK GAGES
TEMPERATURE message will be displayed and a
warning cnime wili sound.
See DIC bVamiisgs and
Messages on page 3-60 for more information.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-29, for information
on what to do
if your engine overheats.
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
3-45

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.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to
THIRD (3) and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph
(70 km/h) to
reduce the possibility
of the engine and transaxle
overheating.
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
PARK (P) yet.
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When YQU 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
0 reiease 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.
4-41

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, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
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 this information before you
start your trip.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See
Engine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-42

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ........................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your
Vehicle
...................................................... 5.4
Fuel ................................................................ 5.5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5.5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5.6
California Fuel
............................................... 5.6
Additives
....................................................... 5.6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
............................ 5.7
Filling Your Tank
........................... .......... 5.8
Filling
a Portable Fuel Container ..... .... 5.11
the Hood ............................. .... 5.12
Hood Release
.............................. ........ 5.13
Engine Compartment Overview ...................... -5-1 4
Checking Things Under
Engine Oil ................................................... 5.15
Supercharger Oil .......................................... 5.21
Engine Air Cleaner/t-llter
................................ 5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid .............................. 5.23
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5.26
Radiator Pressure Cap
.................................. 5.29
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5.29
Cooling System
............................................ 5.32
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5.40
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5.40
Brakes
........................................................ 5.42
Battery
........................................................ 5-44
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-46
Headlamp Aiming .......................... ...... 5.52
Bulb Replacement .................................. -5-56
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5.56
Headlamps
.................................................. 5.56
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
.............. 5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps
......................................... 5-59
fiepiacement
Euibs 3.w - ^^ .......................................
5- I

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See Part D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-24.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid
to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole
to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfill.
Notice: We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-Ill, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-Ill
is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check,” earlier in this
section.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-29.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
5-26

1 -J can __ burned if you spill coolant -.I 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.
~~ ~ ~~
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
see
Cooling System on page 5-32.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice: Your radiator cap is a 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.
See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for
more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage or a DIC
warning message about a hot engine on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-45
and DIC Warnings and Messages
on page
3-60.
5-29

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD
mark when the engine is cold. The coolant level
should be at the FULL HOT mark under normal
operating conditions.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak at
the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling
syster
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see
if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running.
If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant
isn’t covered by your warranty.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than
DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
1
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine radiator corrosion may result.
-In addition, the engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you coolant will require change sooner - at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
do, you can be burned.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
Don’t run the engine if there
is a leak. If you than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicie
run the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That warranty.
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the
vehicle.
5-33

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your
P tiac Warranty booklet for details.
Poorly maintained and improperly used
Overloading your tires can cause
tires are dangerous.
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See ”Loading Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
Overinflated tires are more likely be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden impact
- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
If your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them. See
”Inflation
- Tire Pressure” in this section
for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
speed driving.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the rear
edge of the driver’s door, shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they’re cold.
“Cold” means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
If you’ll be driving at high speeds (e.g., speeds
of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher), where it is legal,
set the cold inflation pressure to the maximum
inflation pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or
to
35 psi (244 kPa), whichever is lower.
5-62

Electrical System Add-on Equipment
...................................... 5-91
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-92
Headlamp Wiring
......................................... 5-91
Power Windows and Other Power Options
...... 5-91
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
.................. 5-95
Windshield Wiper Fuses
............................... 5-91
Electronic Compass
......................................... 3-68
Programs
................................................... 3-48
Air Cleaner/Filter
......................................... 5-22
Battery
....................................................... 5-44
Check and Service Engine Soon Light
............ 3-46
Coolant
...................................................... 5-26
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-27
Coolant Temperature Gage
........................... 3-45
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-23
Engine Compartment Overview
...................... 5-1 4
Overheating
................................................ 5-29
Starting
...................................................... 2-26
Supercharger Oil
......................................... 5-21
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
.................. 4-42
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
..................... 2-18
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Engine
Exhaust
..................................................... 2-36
Oil ............................................................. 5-15
Engine Compartment Fuse Block ...................... 5-92
Engine Coolant Level Check
............................. 6-18 Engine
Oil Additives
......, .......................... 5-19
Entry Lighting
................................................. 3-17
Erasing HomeLink@ Buttons
.............................. 2-45
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-13
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
............... ... 3-16
Engine
Oil Level Check
..... ...................... 6-18
Express-Down Window
.................................... 2-20
Extender, Safety Belt
....................................... 1-26
F
FabridCarpet .........................
Filter
............. ... 5-82
Engine Air Cleaner
...................................... 5-22
Finding a
PTY Station (RDS and XMTM) ..... 3-75, 3-85
Finding a Station
.................................... 3-73, 3-83
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-86
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-87
Flash-To-Pass
.................................................. 3-8
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-72
Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-73
!=!zid
Automatic Transaxle ..................................... 5-23
Power Steering
........................................... 5-40
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-40
FM Stereo
..................................................... 3-99
Fog Lamps
.................................................... 3-15
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-40
Footnotes ................................................ 6-7, 6-13
5