checking oil PONTIAC GRAND AM 1998 Owners Manual

CHECK
OIL
Check Oil Light (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped
with the
3 100 engine, this
light should come
on briefly
while you
are starting your
engine.
If the light does not
come on, have it repaired.
A
If the light comes on and stays on after starting your
vehicle, the oil level should be checked.
Prior to checking
the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut
off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on the dipstick and bring
it
to the proper level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
NOTE: A false CHECK OIL light may be generated
when parking on steep grades.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between key
on and engine start.
It does not monitor engine oil level when the engine
is
running. Additionally, an oil level check is only
performed if the engine
has been turned off for a
considerable period
of time allowing the oil normally in
circulation to drain back into the oil
pan.
Passlock Warning Light
THEFT
SYS
This light will come on
briefly when you
turn the
key toward
START. The
light will stay on until the
engine starts.
If the light flashes, the Passlock system has entered a
tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, see “Passlock”
in the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays
on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock,
and you should
see your dealer.
Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
This light comes on when
you need to shift to the
next
higher gear. See “Manual
Transaxle” in the Index.
I SHIFT I
2-66

7 Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. 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.
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-5
6-8
6-8
6-13
6-19
6-20
6-23 6-24
6-25
6-29
6-29 6-30
6-31
Service
Fuel
Fuels
in Foreign Countries
Filling
Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Manual Transaxle Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Engine Coolant
Thermostat Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
6-36
6-36
6-42 6-50
6-5
1
6-53
6-54
6-56
6-57
6-58
6-59
6-64
6-65
6-65
6-66 6-66
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Finish Damage
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Vehicle Dimensions
6-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
I A CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You
can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup
bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.
‘ 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.
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.

c
3100 Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is yellow. The dipstick on
the
2.4L engine is located at the rear of the engine. The
dipstick on the
3 100 engine is located on the front of the
engine, behind the fan.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
6-14

Blizzard ...................................... 4-28
Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-35
Fluid
....................................... 6-31
Mastercylinder
.............................. 6-31
Parking
..................................... 2-27
PedalTravel
................................. 6-35
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-35
System Wanzing Light
.................... 2-58, 6-32
Trailer
...................................... 4- 38
Transaxle
Shift Interlock Check .................. 7-32
Wear
....................................... 6-34
Brakes,Anti -Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4- 6
Braking
in Emergencies .......................... 4-10
Break-In. New Vehicle .......................... 2-14
Brightness Control .............................. 2-44
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-36
Back-up Lamps
.............................. 6-40
CHMSL
.................................... 6-39
Dome Lamp
................................. 6-41
Headlamps
.................................. 6-37
BTSICheck
................................... 7-32
Taillamps
................................. 6-40
CaIiperKnuckle Maintenance Inspection
........... 7-35
Canadian Roadside Assistance
...................... 8-8
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-65
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2- 11.2.31.2.32.4.29. 4.38
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-30
Cassette Tape Player
................... 3.9.3.12. 3.18
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-24
Cassette Tape Player
Errors .................. 3 . 10. 3. 15 CD Adapter
Kit ........................... 3.12. 3.15
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3-20
Center Console Cupholder
........................ 2-49
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-48
Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp Bulb Replacement
... 6-39
Center Rear Passenger Position .................... 1-33
CertificationLabel
.............................. 4-33
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-38
Chains.
Tire ................................... 6-49
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-23
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-62
Check
Oil Light ........................... 2.66. 6.13
Checking
Your Restraint Systems .................. 1-52
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-56
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-43
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-45
Securing
in the Passenger Seat Position ........... 1-47
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-47
Where to Put
................................ 1-42
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-49
Circuit Breakers
and Fuses ....................... 6-60
Cleaner,
Air ................................... 6-19
Cleaning
...................................... 6-50
AluminumWheels
............................ 6-55
Fabric
...................................... 6-51
Glass
....................................... 6-53
Inside
of Your Pontiac ......................... 6-51
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-53
Leather
..................................... 6-52
Outside
of Your Pontiac ........................ 6-54
Special Problems
............................. 6-52
ChildRestraints
................................ 1-38
TopStrap
................................... 1-43
Stains ...................................... 6-51
9-2

Easy Entry Seat ................................ 1-6
Electrical Equipment. Adding
...... 2.17. 2. 18.3.23. 6.59
Electrical System
............................... 6-59
Engine
.................................. 6.11. 6.12
Coolant ..................................... 6-25
Coolant Heater
............................... 2- 19
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-30
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-61
Exhaust
................. 2-1 1.2.31.2.32.4.29. 4.38
Fuse Block
.................................. 6-63
Identification
................................ 6-58
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-30
Overheating ................................. 5- 14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-32
Specifications
................................ 6-65
StartingYou ................................ 2-16
Engine Exhaust ............ 2.11.2.31.2.32.4.29. 4.38
EngineOil
.................................... 6-13
Adding
..................................... 6-15
Additives
................................... 6-18
Checking
................................... 6-14
Used
....................................... 6-18
WhatToUse
................................. 6-16
Whentochange
.............................. 6-18
Enhanced Traction System
......................... 4-9
Enhanced Traction System Active Light ......... 2.61. 4.9
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
....... 2.61. 4.9
Active Light
............................. 2.60. 4.9
Warning Light
........................... 2.60. 4.9
Exhaust. Engine
............ 2-1 1.2.31.2.32.4.29. 4.38
Exterior Lamps
................................. 2-42 Fabric
Cleaning
............................... 6-51
Fifth Gear.
Manual Transaxle ..................... 2-25
Filling a
Portable Fuel Container .................... 6-5
FillingYourTank ................................ 6-5
Filter. Air ..................................... 6-19
FinishC are .................................... 6-55
FinishDamage
................................. 6-56
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-24
First Gear. Manual Transaxle
...................... 2-25
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-23
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-36
FOgLmps
.................................... 2-44
Following Distance when Towing a Trailer
........... 4-39
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-5
Fourth Gear. Manual Transaxle .................... 2-25
French Language Manual
11
Front Map Lamps ............................... 2-45
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-10
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Filling a Portable Container
...................... 6-5
Filling Your Tank .............................. 6-5
In Foreign Countries ......................... 6-5
.. ...........................
Gage ....................................... 2-67
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........ .......... 6-60
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-61
Fuel ....................................... 2-67
GarmentHook ................................. 2-51
GAWR
....................................... 4-33
9-4