axle PONTIAC GRAND AM 2003 Owner's Guide

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,
0 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, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
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 this information before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See
Engine Overheating on
page 5-26.
4-43

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle
...................................................... 5.4
Fuel ................................................................ 5.5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5.5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5.5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
....................................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
............................... 5-7
Filling
a Portable Fuel Container ..................... -5-9
Filling Your Tank
............................................ 5-7
Checking Things Under the Hood
.................................................... 5-10
Hood Release
.............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5.15
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-21
Manual Transaxle Fluid
.................................. 5-22
Hydraulic Clutch
........................................... 5-23
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5-23
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................................ 5-29
Power Steering Fiuia
~1-36
I~~ULWIII~LIW I 1ulIaUAlG I lulu J-LL An ntnmntie Trnnr.r-.vln Cln #;PI r on ..............................
- -- ....................................
Windshield Washer Fluid ................................ 5-37
Brakes
........................................................ 5.39
Battery
........................................................ 5.42
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-43
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5.49
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5.49
Headlamps
.................................................. 5.49
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
.............. 5-50
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
......... 5.50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps
............ 5.51
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5.51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5.52
Tires
.............................................................. 5.53
Inflation
.. Tire Pressure ................................ 5-54
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-55
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-56
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-56
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
......................... 5-57
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-59
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-59
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-60
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-61
Changing
a Flat Tire ..................................... 5-62
Compact Spare Tire
...................................... 5-71
5-
1

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle fluid level. A
transaxle fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss.
If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealership
service department and have it repaired as soon as
possible. You may also have your fluid level checked by
your dealer or service center when you have your oil
changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
service. If
you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
Notice: We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-Ill, because fluid with that label
is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-Ill is
not covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
Manual Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle fluid level. A
transaxle fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss.
If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealership
service department and have it repaired as soon as
possible. You may also have your fluid level checked by
your dealer or service center when you have your oil
changed. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 6-15 for the proper fluid to use.
5-22

Brake Wear
The GT Series has four-wheel disc brakes and the SE
Series has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal firmly).
A CAUTION:
-
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won’t work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to
GM torque specifications.
If you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have wear
indicators, but
if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation or
changing. When you have the front brake pads
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-14.
5-4 1

1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
Notice: If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system
with a negative ground, both vehicles can be
damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
Notice: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off the radio and all lamps that aren’t
needed. This will avoid sparks and help save
both batteries. And it could save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive (+) and negative
(-) terminal locations on
each vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page
5-12 for more information on location.
c
An electric fan 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.
5-44

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to
a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The
vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST
(1) or REVERSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move, you can put blocks at
the front and
rear
of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire on other side of the vehicle, at the The following steps
will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-62

Relays 16
17
18
19
20
21 22
Fuses 23-32
33
34
35
36
37
3e
39
40 Usage
Air Conditioning Compressor
Not Used
Fuel Pump
Automatic Headlamp System
Automatic Headlamp System
Horn
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Usage
Spare Fuse Holder
Rear Defog
Accessory Power Outlets,
Cigarette Lighter
Generator
Not Used
Air Conditioning Compressor, Body
Function Control Module
Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
At Itnmatir- TrQncQvlo , l,..."l, IULIV I I UI I"cIt\I"
Fuses
41
42
43
44
45 46
47
48 49 50
51 52
53
54
55 56
57 Usage
Ignition
System
Back-up Lamps, Brake Transaxle
Shift Interlock
Horn PCM Parking Lamps
Climate Control System,
Air Conditioning
Canister Vent Valve, Exhaust
Oxygen Sensors
Fuel Pump, injectors
Not Used
Right Headlamp
Left Headlamp
Cooling Fan
#2
HVAC Blower (Climate Control)
Crank
Coolina Fan #2 Ground
Fuse Puller for Mini Fuses
Not Used
5-85

Capacities and Specifications
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level or as recommended in
this manual.
Capacities
I Capacities
Application
0.6 kg 1.4
Ibs.
Metric
English
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a
Use Refrigerant Oil, R134a Systems
Automatic Transaxle
Complete Overhaul
9.0 L
9.5 quarts
Cooling System
2.2L
L4 t Engine
3400 V6 Engine 8.6 quarts
13.6 quarts 8.2
L
12.9 L
Engine Oil with Filter
2.2L L4
t Engine
3400 V6 Engine 5.0 quarts
4.5 quarts 4.8 L
4.3 L
Fuel Tank
53.4 L 14.1
gallons
5-86

Capacities (cont’d)
Manual Transaxle
Complete Overhaul 1.7 L
See Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-15.
Engine SDecifications -
42 inch (1.06 rnrn
5-87

Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule ...................................... 6.2
Introduction
................................................... 6.2
Your Vehicle and the Environment
.................... 6-2
Maintenance Requirements
.............................. 6-2
How This Section is Organized
......................... 6-3
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
........... 6-4
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
.................... 6-4
Scheduled Maintenance
................................... 6-5
Part
6: Owner Checks and Services ................. 6-9
At Each Fuel Fill ............................................ 6-9
At Least Once a Month
................................... 6-9
At Least Twice a Year
................................... 6-10 At
Least Once a Year
................................... 6.10
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections ......... 6.13
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection ............................ 6-13
Exhaust System Inspection
............................ 6.13
Fuel System Inspection
.................................. 6.13
Engine Cooling System Inspection
................... 6.14
Throttle System Inspection
............................. 6.14
Brake System Inspection
................................ 6.14
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .... 6-15
Part
E: Maintenance Record ........................... 6.16
6-1