engine overheat CHEVROLET SPARK 2018 User Guide
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348464) -
2018 - crc - 9/19/17
Vehicle Care 221
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Outof View)
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0224.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature
. Protects against rust and
corrosion
. Will not damage aluminum parts
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222 Vehicle Care
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
It is normal to see coolant moving in
the upper coolant hose return line
when the engine is running.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. See Engine
Overheating 0224. The coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0214.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
If no problem is found, check to see
if coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is not at the
indicated level mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. Be
sure the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it.
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348464) -
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Vehicle Care 223
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
1. Remove the coolant surge tankpressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the
indicated level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
indicated level mark.
5. Reinstall the pressure cap tightly.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348464) -
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224 Vehicle Care
6. Verify coolant level after theengine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system
cools down again, see your
dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the
cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of the engine overheating. See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light 0111.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 304. If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine. Have the vehicle
serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
. Stops after high-speed driving
. Idles for long periods in traffic
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348464) -
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Vehicle Care 225
2. Turn the heater on to thehighest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) for an automatic
transmission or Neutral for a
manual transmission, and let
the engine idle.
If the overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0214 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
(Continued)
Page 330 of 338
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348464) -
2018 - crc - 9/19/17
Index 329
Driving (cont'd)Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
E
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Electrical System
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 237
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 214
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Engine (cont'd)
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Reduced Power Light . . . . . . . . . .113
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 186
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 312
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 127
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 128
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
F
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 130
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 218
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Front Fog Lamp
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . .112
Requirements, California . . . . . 204
Page 333 of 338
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332 Index
M
MaintenanceAir Conditioning RegularOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 286 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 105
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 188 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Media Avoiding Untrusted Devices . . 143
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119, 120
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Mirrors Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 43
Monitor System, Tire
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Multi-band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
N
Navigation OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 176
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 217
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 72
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 303
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
OnStar Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
OnStar Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
OnStar Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314 OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Operate Pedal Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Operation
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 137
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . . . 309
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Owner Manual Indicator . . . . . . . . 107
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 229
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 185
Ultrasonic Sensor Light . . . . . . . 109
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104