engine GMC ACADIA 2009 Manual Online

How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood 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.
{CAUTION
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the
surge tank pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high
speed. Never turn the cap when
the cooling system, including the
surge tank pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
surge tank pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
mixture directly to the radiator,
but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done.1. Detach fasteners and lift off
the panel that covers the
radiator cap,
2. Remove the radiator pressure
cap when the cooling system,
including the upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full
turn. If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left
in the system.
Service and Appearance Care 5-19

3. Keep turning the pressure cap
slowly and remove it.
4. Fill the radiator to the base of the
ller neck with the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture.
5. When coolant begins to ow out
of the ller neck, reinstall the
pressure cap. Be sure to secure
it tightly.6. Fill the coolant recovery tank to
the FULL COLD mark.
7. Reinstall the cap on the coolant
recovery tank but leave the
radiator pressure cap off.8. Start the engine and let it run
until the upper radiator hose
feels warm. Any time during this
procedure, watch out for the
engine cooling fan(s).
5-20 Service and Appearance Care

9. If the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck is low, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
coolant mixture through the
ller neck until the level is back
up to the base of the ller
neck. Replace the pressure cap.
Be sure to secure it tightly.
Notice:If the pressure cap is
not tightly installed, coolant loss
and possible engine damage
may occur. Be sure the cap is
properly and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gage on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-40.The vehicle may also display
an ENGINE OVERHEATED
IDLE ENGINE and ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-56.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6.
If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are
not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle
serviced.Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
while driving with no coolant, the
vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-23for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Service and Appearance Care 5-21

If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
{CAUTION
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. 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 the
vehicles engine is overheated, the
liquids in it can catch re. You or
others could be badly burned.
Stop the engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 5-23for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
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.
Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. If in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral), otherwise, shift
to the highest gear while
driving—D(Drive) or L (Low).If the temperature overheat gage is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays,
the vehicle can be driven. Continue
to drive the vehicle slow for about
10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle
distance from the car in front of you.
If the warning does not come back
on, continue to drive normally.
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. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
next in this section.
5-22 Service and Appearance Care

Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets
the vehicle be driven to a safe place
in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists,
an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is a signicant loss in
power and engine performance.
The temperature gage indicates an
overheat condition exists. Driving
extended distances and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Notice: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.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-11.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering uid reservoir
is located toward the front of the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for reservoir location.
When to Check Power
Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering uid unless
you suspect there is a leak in
the system or you hear an unusual
noise. A uid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering uid:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Remove engine oil ll cap.
3. Slide engine cover rearward and
lift to remove.
4. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
5. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.
6. Replace the cap and completely
tighten it.
7. Remove the cap again and look
at the uid level on the dipstick.
The uid level should be somewhere
between MAX and MIN line on the
dipstick in room temperature. If the
uid is on or below MIN line, you
should add uid close to MAX Line.
Service and Appearance Care 5-23

What to Use
To determine what kind of uid to
use, seeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12. Always
use the proper uid.
Notice:Use of the incorrect uid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle’s warranty. Always
use the correct uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer
uid, be sure to read the
manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If the vehicle will be operating
in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a
uid that has sufficient protection
against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
When the windshield washer uid
reservoir is low, a WASHER FLUID
LOW ADD FLUID message will be
displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-56for more
information.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer uid
until the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for reservoir location.Notice:When using concentrated
washer uid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer uid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer uid.
Fill the washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for uid
expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank
if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your windshield
washer. It can damage the
vehicle’s windshield washer
system and paint.
5-24 Service and Appearance Care

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-3 brake uid.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the reservoir.There are only two reasons why the
brake uid level in the reservoir
might go down:
The brake uid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the uid level goes
back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic
system can also cause a low uid
level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means
that sooner or later the brakes will
not work well.
Do not top off the brake uid.
Adding uid does not correct a leak.
If uid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much uid
when new brake linings are installed.
Add or remove brake uid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION
If too much brake uid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn, if
the engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and the
vehicle could be damaged. Add
brake uid only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-38.
Service and Appearance Care 5-25

What to Add
Use only new DOT-3 brake uid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Always clean the brake uid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering
the reservoir.
{CAUTION
With the wrong kind of uid in
the brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can
badly damage brake hydraulic
system parts. For example, just
a few drops of mineral-based
oil, such as engine oil, in the
brake hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic system
parts so badly that they will
have to be replaced. Do not let
someone put in the wrong kind
of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the
vehicle’s painted surfaces, the
paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake
uid on the vehicle. If you do,
wash it off immediately. See
Washing Your Vehicle on
page 5-84.
Brake Wear
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are
needed. The sound can come
and go or be heard all the time the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
an accident. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could
result in costly brake repair.
5-26 Service and Appearance Care

4. Open the hoods and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on the other
vehicle. Your vehicle has a
remote positive (+) and a
remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for more information
on the terminal locations.
{CAUTION
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 ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have
enough water. You do not need
to add water to the ACDelco
®
battery (or batteries) installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ller caps, be sure the right
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
amount of uid is there. If it is
low, add water to take care of that
rst. If you do not, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, ush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{CAUTION
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.5. Check that the jumper cables
do not 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 (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one. Negative (−) will go to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine
part or to a remote negative (−)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get a short
that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And
do not connect the negative (−)
cable to the negative (−) terminal
on the dead battery because this
can cause sparks.
5-30 Service and Appearance Care

6. Connect the red positive (+)
cable to the positive (+) terminal
of the dead battery.
Use a remote positive (+)
terminal if the vehicle has one.7. Do not let the other end
touch metal. Connect it to the
positive (+) terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote positive (+)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the
good battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch
anything until the next step.
The other end of the negative (−)
cable does not go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part, or to
a remote negative (−) terminal on
the vehicle with the dead battery.9. Connect the other end of the
negative (−) cable at least
18 inches (45 cm) away from
the dead battery, but not near
engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just
as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
Your vehicle has a remote
negative (−) terminal for this
purpose.
Service and Appearance Care 5-31