Engine PONTIAC GRAND AM 2003 Repair Manual

Engine Air Cleanedfilter
2.2L L4 ECOTEC Engine shown, 3400 V6 Engine
similar
The engine air cleanedfilter is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
more information on location.
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To check or replace the engine air cleanedfilter, do the
following:
1. Remove the screws that hold the cover on.
3. Check or replace the engine air cleanedfilter.
4. Put the cover back on tightly.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when
to replace the air filter.
See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 6-4.
Operating the engine with the air cleanerifilter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it stops
flame if the engine backfires. If
it isn’t there
and the engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working
on the engine with the air cleanedfilter
off.
ivsrrce: ~i the air cieaneritiiter is oii, a backiire can
cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleanerifilter in place when
you’re driving.
2. Lift off the cover.
5-2 1

Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir is
filled with hydraulic clutch fluid.
It is not necessary
to regularly check clutch fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system. Adding
fluid won’t correct a leak.
A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule
to determine
how often you should
check the fluid level in your
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper
fluid. See
Part B: Owner
Checks and Services
on page
6-9 and Part 19:
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on
page
6- 15.
How to Check and Add Fluid
You do not need to check the fluid level unless you
suspect a clutch problem. To check the fluid level, take
the cap
off. If the fluid level reaches the top of the
reservoir, the fluid level is correct. It isn’t a good idea to
top
off your clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct a
leak. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem
Have the system inspected and repaired.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
QEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only QEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-26.
5-23

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL
is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which won’t damage
aluminum
parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, 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
50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
Notice: If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
5-24

If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
have your dealer check your cooling system. compartment
on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
Notice: If you use the proper coolant, you don’t
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
Checking Coolant
1
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn
the surge tank pressure
cap
- even a little - when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL
COLD mark, or a little higher.
2.2L L4 ECOTEC Engine shown,
3400 V6 Engine similar
5-25

L
LOW
COOLANT
If the LOW COOLANT light r-
-
comes on and stays on, it
means you’re low on
engine coolant.
See
Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-30.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
If the surge tank is empty, a special fill
procedure is necessary. See Engine Overheating
on page
5-26 and “How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank under
Cooling System on page 5-29
for instructions. You can
be burned
if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it
will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
1
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a low
coolant warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel.
See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-30
and Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-30.
5-26

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 you open 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.
Nofice: 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.
5-27

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can indicate a serious problem. See
Low Coolant Warning
Light on page
3-30.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when you:
Climb 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. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
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 three minutes while you’re parked. If you still
have the warning,
turn off 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.
5-28

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
. .. ...
2.2L L4 Engine shown, 3400 V6 Engine similar
CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling 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.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
5-29

Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine
if there is a leak. If you
run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive
the
vehicle.
The coolant level should
be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it isn't, you may have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling
system.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see
if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running.
If they aren't, your vehicle needs service.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant
isn't covered by your warranty.
5-30

Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL
is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
- at 30,000 miles
(50 888 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Nofice: This vehicle has a specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level isn’t at or above the
FULL
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water
and DEX-COOL@ coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool before
you
do it. See Engine Coolant on page 5-23 for more
information.
5-31