brake fluid PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997 Owners Manual

Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come on
briefly when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is
not running. The light will
go out when the engine
is stated.
If it stays on when your engine is running, or comes on
while you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is
on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem or the brake fluid level could be low. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
2-60

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how 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.
~ A CAUTION:
I
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 down
a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on
a steep
downhill slope.
A CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with 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 have 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.
0
0
0
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.
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.
4-25

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
PARK
(P) yet, or into a gear for a manual transaxle.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer 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), or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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
0 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 overfill),
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
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-41

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-3
6-4
6-5
6-8
6- 12
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6- 19
6-2 1
6-23
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6-28
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6-30
6-34 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Manual Transaxle Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Thermostat
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery Bulb
Replacement
Halogen Bulbs
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
Aluminum Wheels
(If Equipped)
Cleaning Tires
Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Dimensions
6-35
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6-49
6-50
6-54 6-55
6-55
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6-57
6-5
8
6-5 8
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6-64
6-65
6-65
6-65
6-1

Checking Things Under the Hood
I
' A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
A CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts underhood.
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle.
6-8

2.4L (CODE T) Engine
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick
(If Equipped) E.
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
E Brake Fluid Reservoir
G. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
H. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
Reservoir
(If Equipped)
I. Air Cleaner
J. Battery
6-10

3100 (CODE M) Engine
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transaxle
F. Brake Fluid Reservoir Fluid Dipstick G.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir
H. Air Cleaner
I. Battery
6-11

Checking the Fluid Level 'hen, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
' 0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing
for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
The automatic transaxle dipstick handle is red.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
then pull it back out again.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
6-20

NOTICE:
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.
three-quarters full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank
if it is
completely full.
0 Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer.
It can damage your
0 Fill your washer fluid tank only
~ washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
6-30

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to
an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings
are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner
or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at
all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off” your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak.
If you add fluid
when your linings
are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings.
You should add
(or remove) brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough.
You or others could be burned, and. your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
I
BRAKE
U.S. Canada
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
6-31