radiator cap PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Problems on the Road
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly darhaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear
no steam, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine can gel
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer. If you
get the overheat warning with
no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
off.
highest
fan speed and
open the
window as necessary.
3. Try to keep your engine under load
(in a drive gear where the engine runs
slower).
If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about
ten minutes. If the
warning doesn’t come back
on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop,
and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam,
you can
idle the engine for two or three minutes
while you’re parked, to see if the warning
stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE
AND GET EVERYONE OUT
OF THE
VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to
get service help right away.
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood,
here’s what you’ll see on the V6 engine:
1. Coolant recovery tank
2. Radiator pressure cap
3. Electric engine fan
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On the V8 engine you’ll see this:
1. Coolant recovery tank
2. Radiator pressure cap
3. Electric engine fans
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, don’t do anything else
until it cools down.
When it
is cool, remove the coolant
recovery tank cap and look at the dipstick.
The coolant level should be at
or above
“FULL
COLD.” If it isn’t, you may have
a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see
if the electric engine fan is running. If the
engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs
service.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
:3.4L L32 (Code S) Engine)
I. 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 to
the left until it first stops. (Don't pres:
down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stor
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but
now push down as you tum it.
Remove the pressure cap.
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Problems on the Road
3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck. 4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
“FULL COLD.”
5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap
off.
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6.
7.
Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fan(s).
By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper
mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base of the
filler neck. 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 likl
this.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(5.7L LT1 (Code P) Engine)
NOTICE:
The LTl engine (Code P) has a
specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat
and be severely damaged.
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Problems on the Road
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 to
the left until it first stops. (Don? pres5
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 keeb turning the pressure cap,
but now push down
as you turn it.
Remove the pressure cap.
5. After the engine cools, open the air
bleed valves on the heater return hose
and water pump inlet.
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Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder
reservoir is filled with hydraulic clutch
fluid.
It isn’t a good idea to “top
off’ your
clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct a
leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected and
repaired.
When to Check and What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often you should check
the fluid level in your clutch master
cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid.
See “Owner Checks and Services” and
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
How to Check:
The proper fluid should be added if the
level
is below the “STEP’ mark on the
reservoir. See the instructions on the
reservoir cap.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often to check the
lubricant and when to change
it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant:
If the level is below the bottom of the
filler plug hole, you’ll need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise
the level to the bottom of the filler plug
hole.
What to Use
Standard Differential
Use Axle Lubricant (GM Part No.
1052271) or SAE 80W-90 GL-5 gear
lubricant.
Limited-Slip Differential
To add lubricant when the.leve1 is
low, use Axle Lubricant (GM Part
No.
105227 1) or SAE 8OW-90 GL-5 gear
lubricant. To completely refill after
draining, add
4 ounces ( 1 18 ml) of
Limited-Slip Differential Lubricant
Additive (GM
Part No. 1052358). Then
fill to the bottom of the filler plug hole
with Axle Lubricant (GM
Part No.
12345977) or SAE 8OW-90 GL-5 gear
lubricant.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add
coolant to your radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
I
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Service and Appearanc’e Care
The proper coolant for your Pontiac will:
0
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
(128°C)
.
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights work as
they
should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification 1825M
with a complete coolant flush and refill. If
you use this mixture, you don’t need to
add anything else.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty. Too much water in the mix can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts.
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant: When your engine is
cold, check the dipstick on the cap of the
coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should be “COLD,” or a little higher.
When your engine is warm, the level on
the dipstick should be up to
“HOT,” or a
little higher.
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Service and Appearance Care
Radiator Pressure Cap (All Engines)
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 18 psi (124 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly
installed to prevent coolant loss and
possible engine damage from over-
heating. Be sure the arrows on the
cap line up with the overflow tube
on the radiator filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure
cap,
an AC@ cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
3.4L L32 (Code S)
Power Sfeering Fiuid
How to Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
0
0
5.7L LT1 (Code P)
When the engine compartment is hot,
the level should be at the
“H” or
“HOT” mark.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level should be at the
“C”
or “FULL COLD” mark.
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i w
R€
de
“€4
thc
1
hat to Add:
:fer to the Maintenance Schedule to
termine what kind
of fluid to use. See
!ecommended Fluids and Lubricants” ir
: Index.
NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid or
making a complete fluid change,
always use the proper fluid. Failure
to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
To Add:
Open the cap labeled “WASHER FLUID
ONLY.” Add washer fluid until the bottle
is full.
NOTICE:
0
0
0
0
When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid; Water
can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid
tank and other parts of the washer
system. Also, water doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
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.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your washer system and
paint.
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