check engine light PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997 User Guide

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If
your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you
will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you
begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on or
flash. See “Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
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Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
Once you
are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow
a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according
to your speedometer, not
to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may t’end to think you are
going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not
fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear Comfortable clothing and shoes you
can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to
go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a
trip:
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0
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0
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Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free
trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Furecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher andlor extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer. The green 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 green
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 kd) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you have Overdrive, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3), instead of DRIVE (D),
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Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas
to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock,
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative
(-), or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep
your hands away from moving parts
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Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and
close
it firmly.
3800 Supercharged Engine
(If Equipped)
Your Pontiac may have a 3800 Supercharged engine.
The supercharger is a device which is designed to pump
more air into the engine than it would normally
use.
This air mixed with fuel, creates increased engine
power. Since the supercharger is a pump and is driven
from an engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure
is available at all driving conditions.
The powertrain control module (PCM) works with a
vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this
increased pressure or
boost is not desired, such as during
idling
and light throttle cruising, the excess air that the
supercharger is pumping is routed through
a bypass.
All
of these controls, working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency in the
3800 Supercharged engine.
Engine Oil
LOW OIL
LEVEL
If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument
panel comes
on, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see
“Low Oil Level Light” in
the Index. You should
check your engine
oil
level regularly; this is an
added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel, In order to get an accurate reading, the
oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
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Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the COLD mark or a little higher. To check coolant
level, remove the cap on the coolant recovery bottle and
verify that
the coolant level is up to the COLD fill level
on the hose attached to the cap.
LOW
COOLANT
If this light comes on, it
means
you’re low on
engine coolant.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL”
coolant mixture at the mulant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant
to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the
Index.)
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Electrical Equipment. Adding .......... 2-17. 3.30. 6.66
Electrical System
............................... 6-66
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-53
Electronic
Climate Control ........................ 3-2
Engine
.............................. 6-9.6-10. 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-26
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-18
Coolant Level Check .......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-75
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-74
Exhaust
...................... 2-11.2-29.4-28. 4-35 Identification ................................ 6-6 1
Running While
Parked ......................... 2-29
Specifications
........................... 6-72. 6-73
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-13
StartingYour ................................ 2-16
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
..................................... 6-14
Additives
6- 18
Checking
................................... 6-14
Used ....................................... 6-19
Whentochange .............................. 6-18 r .
...................................
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4 ~
Exhaust, Engine ................. 2-11,2-29,4-28. 4-35
Exit Lighting
............................. 2-42, 2-45
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-56
Fan
Knob. Climate Control System .................. 3-2
Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Fan Button. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control ..... 3-6 Filter. Air
..................................... 6-19
Finishcare
.................................... 6-61
Finish Damage ................................. 6-62
First
Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-22
Fixed Mast Antenna
............................. 3-32
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire, Changing ............................. 5-24
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front Reading Lamps ............................ 2-43
Filling Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage ....................................... 2-77
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers ........ .......... 6-66
................................... Flash to Pass 2-33
FogLamps
.................................... 2-40
French Language Manual 11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
.................................... 6-3
.. ...........................
d-7
ages Engine Coolant Temperature ....... .......... 2-75
Fuel ....................................... 2-77
GAWR
....................................... 4-30
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle ................ 2-19
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........... .......... 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-30
GloveBox .................................... 2-54
Guide en Frangais 11 .. .................................
.....................................
GVWR 4-30
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Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-37
Hazard Warning Flashers 5-2
Headlamps
.................................... 2-38
- ..........................
Head Restraints ................................. 1-7
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-37
HigNLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-33
Wiring
...................................... 6-66
Head-Up Display
............................... 2-83
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-5
Heating
.................................... 3-4, 3-8
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-33
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn ....................................... 2-31
HUD ......................................... 2-83
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4- 19
Careof ..................................... 2-86
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 15
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check .................... 7-42
Inflation, Tire
.................................. 6-45
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror ................. 2-53
Brakesystem
................................ 7-43
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Boot .................. 7-43
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Seal ................... 7-43
Radiator and Heater
Hose ...................... 7-43
Inspections Steering
......
Suspension ....
Throttle Linkage
Instrument Panel
.
Cleaning ......
Cluster .......
Fuse Block ....
Lamps ........
Interior Lamps ... ............
...... 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 7-43
.............................. 2-62
6-58
.............................. 2-62
............................ 6-67
....................... 2-40
.......................... 2-40
..............................
..
Jack. Tire ............. ..
Jump Starting .....................
......... 5-26
....... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
... .............. 7-40
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels ....................................... 4-30
Certification
................................. 4-30
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-65
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-29
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-65
Lamps ........................................ 2-38
Courtesy
.................................... 2-41
Interior
..................................... 2-40
Rear Assist Handle Reading
.................... 2-43
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-7
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running ....... 2-27
Lighter
....................................... 2-58
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Lights Lubrication Service. Body ........................ 7-40 Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-23. 2-65 Lumbar Seat .................................... 1-4
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-67. 4-7
Brake System Warning ......................... 2-66
Charging System
............................. 2-66 Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-73
Check Tire Pressure ........ 2-70 Maintenance Record 7-46
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-74 Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7-1 Interior ..................................... 2-40 Introtduction .................................. 7-2
Low Coolant Warning ......................... 2-75 Long TripMighway Definition ................... 7-6
LowFuel ................................... 2-77 Long TripMighway Intervals ..................... 7-6
Low Traction
................................ 2-69 Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................ 7-43
Low Washer Fluid ............................ 2-76
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 7-44
Oil Warning ................................. 2-73 Scheduled Maintenance Services .................. 7-3
Safety Belt Reminder ...................... 1-9. 2-64 Short TriplCity Definition ....................... 7-5
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-70 Short Trip/City Intervals .........................
Trac System Warning .......................... 2-68 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................ 7-2
Trunk
Ajar Warning ........................... 2-76 Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-63
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-29 Maintenance When Trailer Towing ................. 4-38
Automatic Door .......................... 2-6. 2-46 Manual Front Seat ............................... 1-2
Door ........................................ 2-4 Mirrors ....................................... 2-53
Ignition Transaxle Check ....................... 7-42 Convex Outside .............................. 2-54
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-40 Electrochromic Daymight Rearview .............. 2-53
Locks and Lighting Choices
...................... 2-44 Visor Vanity .................................. 2-59
Low Coolant Warning Light ...................... 2-75 ......................................... 6-4
LOW Fuel Light ................................ 2-77 Mode Buttons. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control .. 3-6 LOW Oil Level Light ............................ 2-74 Mode Knob. climate Control System ................ 3-2
LOW Traction Light ............................. 2-69 Mountain Roads ................................ 4-23 Low Washer muid Light ......................... 2-76 Multifunc$iQn Lever ............................. 2-32
............ ............................
LowOilLevel ............................... 2-74 Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7-39
7-5
......................................... ...................... Locks 2-4 Malfunction Indicator Lap 2-70
Cylinders 7-40 Methanol 6-4 ................................... ......................................
PowerDoor .................................. 2-5 Inside DayNight Rearview ..................... 2-53
Pawar Outside
2-54
Trunk ...................................... 2-12 ...............................
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-44
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Net. Convenience ........ ............... 2-57
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-20
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2- 15
Night Vision
................................... 4- 16
Odometer
....... ..... 2-63
Odometer. Trip
............................. 2-63
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 13
Oil Warning Light
.............................. 2-73
Overdrive, Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-2 1
Overhead Console
.............................. 2-56
Overheating Engine ............................. 5- 13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications, Ordering
..................... 8- 12
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-12
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-63
Park
Automatic Transaxle .......................... 2- 19
Shifting Out of
. . ...................... 2-28
At Night ......... .................... 2-13
Brake
...................................... 2-24
Shifting Into ............................... 2-25
Parking
Lots
....................................... 2-13
Over Things That Burn ........................ 2-28
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Passenger Position .............................. 1-22
Passenger’s Temperature
Knob. Automatic and
Auxiliary Temp Control ......................... 3-5
Passing ............................ ...... 4-13
Performance Shifting
............................ 2-23
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Pontiac
Cares ................................... 8-2
Power Accessory Outlet
.............. ... 2-56. 2-59
Door Locks ......... ......... ......... 2-5
Option Fuses ................................ 6-67
Outside Mirror
............................... 2-54
Retained Accessory
........................... 2-42
Seat
......................................... 1-3
Steering ................ ................ 4-11
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-30
Windows ................................... 2-30
Pregnancy.
Use of Safety Belts .................... 1-21
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner
................... 8-12
Purse or Litter Bag Holder
.................... 2-60
Radiator
......... ....... .... 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap . . ................ 6-29
Radios
....................................... 3-10
Rear
Radio Reception ................................ 3-30
Rain, Driving In .......................... ~ .... 4-17
Outside Seat Position
........................ 1-30
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-33
Seat Passengers
.............................. 1-29
Window Defogger
............................. 3-9
Towing ..................................... 5-11
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