engine coolant GMC JIMMY 1997 Owner's Manual

~~~~ Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
&
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW SIGNALS
e
TURN
RUNNING
.':o'o
DAYTIME LAMPS
..e
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are
used 011
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(@)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
YOLI may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER m
HORN k3
SPEAKER
b
FUEL I&
V

Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle. and information on starting.
shifting
and braking. Also explained are the instru~nsnt panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have LI problem.
2-2
2-6
2-9
2- 1 2
2-13
2-13
2- 15
2- 17
2-18
2-2 I
2-23
2-23
2-23
3-29
2-30
2-33
Keys
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
Endgate/Liftgate
The
t't
New Vehicle "Break-In"
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Ensine Coolant Heater- (Option)
Automatic Transmission Operation
Manual Transmission
Locking Rear Axle
All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
Parking Brake
Shifting
Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Trans~nission Models
Only)
Shifting Out of PARK (Pj
(Automatic Transmission) 2-33
3-34 -
2-33
2-.3S
2-36
- 7-38
3-45
2-41)
2-63
2-63
2-64
2-67 2-72
2-1

Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather. 0°F
(- 18°C) or colcfer. the
engine coolant heater
can help. Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
You'll get easier starting and better file1 economy during
engine wa1-tm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged
in a tnini~num of four hours prior to starting
your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Pl~lg it into a nol-r.nal, grounded 1 IO-volt AC outlet.
4. Before starting the engine. be s~11-e to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you clon't. it could
be da111~1ged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature. the
kind
of oil you have, and solne other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here. we ask that ~OLI contact
yoc~r
GM dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can gi\:e you the best advice for that
particular area.
2-17

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system. this light
will CC)IIIC
engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
011 when you start y0LIr
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
2-76

Air Conditioning
011 cool but sunny days, use BI-LEVEL A/C to deliver
~varm
air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
p"nel outlets.
When the air conditioner is on. you may sometimes
notice slight changes
in your 1:ehicle's engine speed and
power, This
is normal because the system is designed
to cycle the compressor
on and off to keep the
clesired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if yo11 keep plr windows closed
while using
it. On cold days. use HEATER With the
ten~perature knob turned clockwise.
BLEND is LISS~LI~ in
cool weather when you have fos or ice on the
winclshield
or side windows.
If ~OLI use the optional engine coolant heater befhre
starting yo~~r engine. your heatin2 system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment
in
cold weather. See "Engine Coolant Heater" in the Index.
3-3

When towing a trailer, the ~~rrows on your instrument
panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
itre 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 arc
still working.
Driving On Grades
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reducc your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission ovc.rheating.
If you have an automatic transmission. you should use
DRIVE
(D) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle
in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life
of your
trrmsmission. Or:
if you have ;1 manual transmission. it's
better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a I~MW gear). Whcn
towins at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If yo^^ turn
your engine off immediately after towing
at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your \:ellicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this. let the
engine
r~~n while parked (preferably on level grout1d)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (Pj (or the
1manuaI transmission out of
gear and the parking brake
applied) 1'01-
;I few minutes before turning the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning. see "Engine
Overheating"
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle. with a trailer
attached.
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
yo~~r vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
4-52

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle's instrument panel.
If Steam Is C . - g I; - ___I Your Engine
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. Just 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 your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire,
You or
others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-12

When you decide it's safe to lift the hood. here's what
you'll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
A CAUTION:
r
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood can start
up even
when the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from
any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't
do anything else until it cools down.
5-14

Heater and radiator hoses, and 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.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't
covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be 110 leak, start the engine again. See
if the t'an speed increases when idle speed is doubled by
pushing the accelerator pedal
down. If it doesn't. your
vehicle needs service. T~1l-11
off the engine.

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
ADD mark, add a SO/SO mixture of d~ctrz
,twtur (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL'@
(silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank.
(See "Engine Coolant" in the Index for more
information.
)
_s I
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix
will. Your vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn't get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL" coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.
5-16