heating PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2003 Owners Manual

Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your 1
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
dose the door.
ur ’
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide
(CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or
smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
CAUTION: (Continued) if you must drive with the trunk
lid aen or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk lid:
0 Make sure all other windows are shut.
0 Turn the fan on your heating or cooling system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See “Climate Controls”
in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Trunk Lock
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key into
the lock on the trunk and turn it clockwise. You can also
press the trunk symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter.
2-1 1

Notice: Adding some electrical equipment to your
vehicle can damage
it or keep other things from
working as they should. This wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty. Check with your dealer before
adding electricai
equipment, and never use anything
that exceeds the amperage
rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment.
Notices Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only. Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use
of the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.
Auxiliary Power Connection
(Power Drop)
The vehicle is equipped with an auxiliary power
connection. This feature provides power, ground and
accessing wires which can
be used to add aftermarket
electrical equipment to the vehicle. The connection
is located on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, below
the glove box on the right side of the console.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The center front ashtray is on the instrument panel.
To open it, pull at the bottom of the ashtray until it is fully
open.
To remove the ashtray cup, lift the tabs on the
sides and pull out.
Notice: Don’t put papers or other flammable
items into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes
or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging fire.
To use the lighter, located inside the center front
ashtray, push it in all the way and let go. When it’s
ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with you
hand while
it is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when
it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
3-1 9

Climate Controls
Dual Climate Control System
f;' (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
+2 (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel outlets, and then directs the
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle. remaining air
to the floor outlets. Some air may be
directed toward the windshield. Cooler air is directed to
the upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
(Floor): This mode directs most of the air to
the floor outlets with some air directed toward the
outboard outlets (for the side windows) and a little air
directed to the windshield.
The mode knob can also be used to select defog or
defrost mode. Information on defogging and defrosting,
see "Defogging and Defrosting" later in this section.
3f (Fan): Turn the knob located on the left of
the climate control panel clockwise or counterclockwise
Use the mode knob located on the right side of the to increase or decrease the fan speed.
climate control panel to select the following modes:
Driver or Passenger (Temperature Levers): Slide the
2 MAX (Maximum): This mode recirculates much of
the air inside your vehicle and sends it through the
instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this setting unless
the temperature is at or below freezing. lever(s)
up or down to increase or decrease the
temperature.
3-20

Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
TEMP
This light tells goti ihai
the engine coolant has
overheated or the
radiator cooling fan is
not working.
If you have been operating the vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
of the road, stop the
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on page
5-33.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States
19
Canada
Your vehicle has a gage that shows the engine coolant
temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the
shaded area, the engine is too hot.
That reading means the same thing as the warning
light. It means that the engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating the vehicle under normal
conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop the vehicle,
and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating
on page 5-33.
3-31

Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your CDs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust.
If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen
a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution
and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the side without writing when
handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer
edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
Care of Your CD Player
The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to
the risk
of contaminating the lens of the CD optics
with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.
Backglass Antenna
The AM-FM antenna is integrated with the rear window
defogger, located in the rear window. Be sure that
the inside surface of the rear window is not scratched
and that the lines on the glass are not damaged.
If the inside surface is damaged, it could interfere with
radio reception. Also, for proper radio reception,
the antenna connector at the top-center of the rear
window needs to be properly attached to the post on
the glass.
Notice; Do not try to clear frost or other material
from the inside of the rear window with a razor blade
or anything else that
is sharp. This may damage
the rear defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability
to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t
be covered by your warranty.
Because this antenna is built into your rear window,
there is a reduced risk of damage caused by car washes
and vandals.
If you choose
to add a cellular telephone to your
vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached
to the
glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for
the AM-FM antenna. There is enough space between
the lines
to attach a cellular telephone antenna
without interfering with radio reception
Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting to the back glass.
The metallic film in some tinting materials will interfere
with or distort the incoming radio reception. Care
must be taken when cleaning the rear window because
it breaks in the resistive material heating element
and will adversely affect radio and defogger
performance. See your dealer for details.
3-59

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know
if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you
if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you have overdrive, you may have to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Parking on Hills
1 -J really should not ,,rk yo^, wG,kle, 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.
4-42

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
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:
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 Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services on page
6-4 for more information. Things that
are especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill), engine oil, drive
belts, 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
5-33.
4-43

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your
Owr? Service Work ......................... 5-4
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 Your Tank
............................................ 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
....................... 5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood .................... 5-10
Hood Release
.............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-18
Supercharger Oil
.......................................... 5-24
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 5-27
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5-30
Radiator Pressure Cap
.................................. 5-33
Cooling System
........................................... -5-36
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5-46
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5-48
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-33 Brakes
........................................................ 5.49
Battery
........................................................ 5.52
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-53
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-60
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5-60
Headlamps
.................................................. 5-60
Front Turn Signal and Sidemarker Lamps
........ 5-62
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
......... 5-63
Taillamps, Sidemarker and Back-up Lamps
...... 5-64
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-66
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement .............. 5-67
Tires ............................................................. -5-68
Inflation
-- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-68
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-69
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-70
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.......................... 5-72
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-73
Headlamp Aiming ........................................... 5-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-73
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-75
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-76
Changing a Flat Tire
..................................... 5-76
Compact Spare Tire
...................................... 5-87
5- 1

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-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 DEX-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 or
if you need to add coolant to
your radiator, see Engine Overheating on page
5-33.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ engine 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@ engine coolant which won’t
damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
1 ---.-.g only p n water to your c 3 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
CAUTION: (Continued)
I
5-30

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. See Engine Overheating
on page 5-33.
Turning -.le radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank,
you will almost never have to add coolant at
the radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap
-- even a little -- when the engine and
radiator are hot. 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.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
see Cooling System
on page 5-36.
5-32