engine overheat PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 User Guide

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign
of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@)
or DRIVE (D) for automatic transmissions. If you
no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two
or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then,
if you still have the
warning,
turn ofthe engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to
lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-16

If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling fans
are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans should be running.
If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD add a 50150 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ engine coolant
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for more information.)
a CAUTION:
-1
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture 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 mixture.
5-19

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
FULL COLD start your vehicle.
If the overheat
warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to
the radiator but be sure the cooling
system
is cool before you do it.
'
A CAUTION:
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.
F
A 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 radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap
to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
5-20

1
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3800 V6 Engine)
I NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until it first
stops. (Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
5-21

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(VS Engine Only)
NOTICE:
The LS1 Engine (Code G) has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure
to follow this procedure
could cause your engine
to overheat and be
severely damaged.
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly
to the left (counterclockwise)
until it fist stops. (Don't press down while turning
the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
5-24

Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together. If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck,
NOTICE: but you must use caution.
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
A CAUTION:
m
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could
be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts
of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the wheels
as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph
(55 kmh) as shown on the speedometer.
5-41

How to Check Limited-Slip Differential
The proper fluid should be added if the level is below
the
STEP mark on the reservoir. See the instructions on
the reservoir cap.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Standard Differential
Use SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lubricant (GM Part
No. 12378261) or equivalent meeting GM
Specification
9986 1 15.
To add lubricant when the level is low, use SAE 75W-90
Synthetic Gear Lubricant (GM Part No. 12378261) or
equivalent meeting
GM Specification 99861 15. To
completely refill after draining, add
4 ounces (1 18 ml)
of Limited-Slip Differential Lubricant Additive (GM
Part No. 1052358) or equivalent. Then fill to the bottom
of the filler plug hole with Synthetic Gear Lubricant.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL
8 engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 kmb 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” in the Index.
6-27

A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (1 29°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 water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
I A CAUTION:
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set
for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
6-28

NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater
core and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
I NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, check the dipstick on the cap
of the coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should
be at
COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level on the dipstick should be up to HOT, or
a little higher.
6-29

1
If this light comes on, it
means you’re
low on
5.7L Engine
Adding Coolant to the Recovery Tank
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but only
when your engine is cool. If the tank is very low or
empty,
also add coolant to the radiator. See “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index for information.
A CAUTION:
Thrning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the pressure cap
-- even a
little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.
L
Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be careful
not to spill it.
I /1 CAUTION:
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.
I