PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Owners Manual

Attach T-hook chains on
both sides in the slotted
holes
in the underbody just
ahead
of the wheels.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or rear
bumper valance will be damaged.
Use wheel-lift
or car carrier equipment (additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment). Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
NOTICE:
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment.
To
help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and
raise the vehicle until adequate clearance is
obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift
equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when,using caq carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
I
Attachra separate safety
chain
to each side of the
axle inboard of the spring.
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Engine Overheating .
You will find a coolant temperature g.age and a low
coolant warning light on your Pontiac’s instrument
panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and
“Low Coolant Warning Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming
~ from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there
is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the
hood,
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire, You or
others could
be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
1 NOTICE:
~ ~~
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-12
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If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not b'e too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Cbb a long hill on a hot day.
' Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
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 off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
for automatic transaxles. ;+, 1; , !, -.,.r., . .-I? ,*:, I,3 : 1 I' ' . . :4?,+ . .I .
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 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 ojf 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.
5-13
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c
a
2.4L Engine 3.1L Engine
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A, Coolant surge tank with pressure cap
B. Electric engine fan
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5-14
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' A CAUTION:
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.
1
If tkie coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don't
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above FULL COLD. If
it isn't, you my have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
"I '!
_.
-. .
, :.' I' I1
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6!!l CAUTION:
~~~ ~
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be. burned.
Donst run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could
lose all coolant. That coulld
cause an engine
fire, and you could be burned.
Get
any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, 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.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
or above FULL COLD, add a 50150 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL
antifreeze at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap,
is COO^ before you do it, (See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for more infomati .) - --
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 coolant
surge tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and coolant
surge tank pressure.
cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure
cap.
5-16
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Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. 'Plain water, or
some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant
mix' will. Your vehicle's coolant warning
system is set
for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water
or the wroug 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 50150 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM antifreeze.
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NOTICE:
In cold weather,-water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. So
use the recommended coolant.
You can
be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine p,arts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and
it will burn if the engine parts are .hot I)
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
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If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
I
5-18
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove
it.
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mix,
up to FULL COLD, or just above the small cylinder
at the base
of the opening.
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4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine fan,
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches FULL COLD, or just above
the small cylinder at the base of the opening.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is tight.
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