cooling PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 Owners Manual

Trunk
To release the trunk lid from the outside, use the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter, if the
vehicle has one. If your vehicle does not have an
RKE transmitter, see “Remote Trunk Release”
following.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk
lid open because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle. You
cannot see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you must drive with the trunk lid open
or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or
cooling system to its highest speed
and select the control setting that will
force outside air into your vehicle. See
Climate Control System.
If you have air outlets on or under
the instrument panel, open them all
the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 91.
68

Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have an ashtray and cigarette
lighter. To use the lighter, located on the
instrument panel below the radio, push it in all the
way and let go. When it is ready, it will pop
back out by itself.
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it
is heating will not allow the lighter to back
away from the heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating may occur to the
lighter or heating element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette lighter in
while it is heating.
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other
ammable items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes
or other smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage your vehicle. Never
put ammable items in the ashtray.
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating and
ventilation of your vehicle. You may also be
able to control the cooling of your vehicle, if your
vehicle has air conditioning. The in-between
mode will be a combination of the two modes that
the control is selected between.
Climate Control System with Air Conditioning
shown, Climate Control System without Air
Conditioning similar
122

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let your engine assist
your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
218

Service........................................................ 235
Accessories and Modications................... 235
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 236
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 236
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 237
Fuel............................................................. 237
Gasoline Octane........................................ 237
Gasoline Specications.............................. 237
California Fuel........................................... 238
Additives................................................... 238
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 239
Filling the Tank......................................... 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 242
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 242
Hood Release........................................... 243
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 244
Engine Oil................................................. 247
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 252
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 254
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 256
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 256
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 256
Engine Coolant.......................................... 257Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 260
Engine Overheating................................... 260
Cooling System......................................... 262
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 268
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 269
Brakes...................................................... 270
Battery...................................................... 273
Jump Starting............................................ 274
Rear Axle.................................................... 279
Bulb Replacement....................................... 280
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 280
Headlamps................................................ 280
Front Turn Signal, Parking and
Fog Lamps............................................ 281
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 281
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 282
License Plate Lamp................................... 282
Replacement Bulbs................................... 283
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 283
Tires............................................................ 284
Winter Tires.............................................. 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 286
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 289
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
233

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 269.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System on page 262.
C. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 270andHydraulic
Clutch on page 256.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 247.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 254.F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 247.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 268.
H. Remote Negative (−) Ground (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 274.
I. Battery (Out of View). SeeBattery on page 273.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 274.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 329.
245

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 269.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System on page 262.
C. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 270andHydraulic
Clutch on page 256.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 247.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 254.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 247.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 268.
H. Remote Negative (−) Ground (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 274.
I. Battery (Out of View). SeeBattery on page 273.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 274.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 329.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 244
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down
and check the level.
247

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, 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, seeEngine
Overheating on page 260.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
257

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not 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.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed
in this manual for the cooling system. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 353for more information.
258

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the 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.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
2.4L L4 Engine
262

A. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling 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 surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
2.0L L4 Engine
263