cooling PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Owners Manual

Trunk Trunk Lock
4 CAUTION: ..
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide
(CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk’ lid:
Make sure all windows are shut.
0 lbrn the fan on your h’eating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT. That will force outside air into
your vehicle.
See “Comfort Controls’’ in the
Index.
instrument panel,
open them all the way.
If you have ai: outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert one of the
keys to the vehicle and turn the trunk
lock cylinder.
Remote Trunk Release
The remote trunk release handle is located on the floor
near the left side of the driver’s seat in front of the fuel
door release. Pull upward on the remote release handle
to release the
trunk lid. Make sure the override feature is
not activated.
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Fan Knob
‘The left controlknob sets the fin speed. To select thle
force
of air you want, turn the knob. The fan is always
runhing unless the mode control is moved to OFF.
Temperature Knob
The center control knob regulates the temperature of the
air coming through the system. ,
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of your
system.
2 VENT Use when outside temperatures are mild,
and little heating or cooling is needed, Airflow is
through the instrument panel outlets. Set the center
control
hob to the temperature desired.
9 BI-LEVEL: Use on cool, but sunny days.
This setting
brings in the outside air, but directs it in
two
ways. Cooler air is directed to the upper portion of
your body through the instrument panel outlets; slightly
wanner
air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times, this‘temperature difference
may be more apparent than others,
d HEATER: This setting brings heated air through
the he’ater ducts and some through the windshield
defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater)
and use it during cold weather, 0°F
(- 18 O C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly
provide heat be’cause the engine coolant is already
warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in
the Index.
9 BLEND: This setting divides airflow equally
between the heater ducts
and the windshield defroster ’
vents.
DEFROST
This setting directs air though the
windshield gefroster vents located on top of the
instrument panel,
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Climate Control System with Air Conditioning (Option)
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Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of your
system.
MAX: Use for maximum cooling. This setting
recirculates much
of the air inside your vehicle. It
maximizes your air conditioner’s performance and your
vehicle’s fuel economy.
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside air and directs it through the instrument
panel outlets.
BI-LEVEL: Use on cool, but sunny days.
This setting brings in the outside air, but directs it in
two ways. Cooler air
is directed to the upper portion of
Fan Knob your body through the instrument panel outlets, but
slightly warmer air is directed through the heater ducts
The left control
knob sets the fan speed. To select the and defroster vents. At times, this temperature
force of air
you want, turn the knob. The fan is always difference may be more apparent than others.
running unless the mode control is moved to
OFF.
Temperature Knob
The center control knob regulates the temperature of the
air coming through the system.
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rF/ VENT Use when outside temperatures are mild,
and little heating or cooling is needed. Airflow is
through the instrument panel outlets. Set the center
control
knob to the temperature desired.
‘!! HEATER: This setting brings heated air through
the heater ducts, aid some through the windshield
defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater) and use it during cold weather,
0°F
(- 1 8 O C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly
provide heat because
the engine coolant is already
warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater”
in the Index.
9 BLEND: This setting divides aeflow equally
between the heater ducts and the windshield defroster
vents.
DEFROST This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents located on top of the
instrument panel.
Air Conditioning (Option)
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for
your vehicle to cool down, which should help fuel
economy.
For quick cool-down on very hot days,
use MAX with
the temperature
knob all the way in the blue area. If the
setting is used for long periods
of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use A/C with the
temperature
kndb in the blue area. The system will bring
in outside air and cool it.
On cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use BI-LEVEL with the temperature knob in
the middle. The system will bring in outside air and
direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air
to your lower body. You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than at
others.
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Hc-4ing
‘lix---lg the right control knob to HEATER and the
center control
knob clockwise sends some heated air
through the heater ducts toward your feet and some
through the defroster vents.
Veri, 3ys1
Use when outside temperatures are mild, and little
heating or cooling is needed. Turn the right knob to
VENT. Airflow is directed through the instrument panel
outlets. Set the center knob to the temperature desired.
VENT and HEATER are economical positions because Your Pontiac’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
the air conditioner compressor doesn’t run in these two outs\
ide air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
settings. This reduces engine load, resulting in improved
air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air
fuel economy.
If either setting fails to keep you conditioning fan is running.
comfortable, or causes your windows to fog up, turn
the right control
knob to one of the air conditioning Adjust the direction of
positions, or to DEFROST. airflow by moving the
If
you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater) and use it during cold weather, 0 OF ,
(- 18 O C) or lower, your heating system will more
quickly provide heat because the engine coolant is
already
warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater”
the Index. louvered vents.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning t’o visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
!Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check dl fluid
levels
and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle.
These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know Bow to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking
or even none going ddwn a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let jour
engine assist
your brakes on a steep. downhill
.. slope.
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or dvith the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
haxe
poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle
in gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest gear
possible.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
0 You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing
zones, a falling rocks Area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold,the pedal down
while
you:
0 Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
I. Release 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.
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 ovel-fill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
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 these sections before you start
<* ~ I ,,; ;-':'. .a t , ,--: .. ;::l.$.:$ 5
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
your trip. ! . .i . :$ ,,- .,,. . . f ~
_I.,
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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 '!
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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.
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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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