heating PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2003 User Guide

Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice: Your radiator cap is a pressure-type cap
and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss
and possible engine damage from overheating.
Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the
overflow tube
on the radiator filler neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located in the front of the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side, near
the diagonal cross brace. See Engine Compartment
Overview on page
5-12 for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light concerning an overheated engine condition on
the instrument panel cluster. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
on page 3-31 and Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light
on page 3-31.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven tu
a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a significant
loss in power and engine
performance. The engine coolant temperature gage will
indicate an overheat condition exists. Driving extended
miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
Nofice: After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system. See “Engine Oil”
ir
the Index.
5-33

He !r : I r8 r hoses, ar 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.
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. See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode’’
in the Index for information on driving to a
safe place
in an emergency.
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.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL@ engine coolant at
the coolant recovery tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-30 for more information.
5-38

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your Pontiac Warranty booklet for details.
. -orly mai __ and impropel used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread
is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
Notice: Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation
or overinflation
is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can get
the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
5-68

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Engine Programs
................................................... 3-34
Air Cleaner/Filter
......................................... 5-25
Battery
....................................................... 5-52
Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-32
Coolant
...................................................... 5-30
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage
........................... 3-31
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
................ 3-31
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-1 3
Engine Compartment Overview
...................... 5-1 2
Exhaust ..................................................... 2-31
Oil
............................................................. 5-18
Starting
...................................................... 2-20
Supercharger Oil
......................................... 5-24
Engine Coolant Level Check
.............................. 6-9
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
.................. 4-43
Engine Oil Additives
........................................ 5-22
Engine Oil Level Check
..................................... 6-9
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
..................... 6-5
Warning Light
............................................. 3-30
Entering Programming Mode
......................... 2-44
Entry Lighting
........................ ...... 3-13
Exiting Programming Mode
.......... ...... 2-53
Extender, Safety Belt
.. ...................... 1-28
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-1 0
Overheating ................................................ 5-33
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
...................... 4-1 1
Express-Down Window
................................. 2-1 4
F
, ........... FabridCarpet ........... ........... 5-88
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner ............................... :~~=:=~ 5-25
Finding a Station ............................ 3-45, 3-49, 3-52
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-92
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-93
Flash-to-Pass
................................................... 3-6
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-76
Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-76
Fluid Automatic Transaxle
..................................... 5-27
Power Steering
........................................... 5-46
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-48
Fog Lamps
................................. , ........... 3-12
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-41
Footnotes
........................................................ 6-5
Front Reading Lamps
...................................... 3-14
Fuel
............................................................... 5-5
Additives ...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel
.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank
........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries
.............................. 5-7
Gage
......................................................... 3-37
Gasoline Octane
........................................ 5-5
FM ............................................................... 3-57
5