radiator BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on.
Driving with the brake warning light on can
lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after
you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
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This light tells you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling
fan is not working.
If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road,
stop your vehicle and
turn
the engine off as soon as
possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN
BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road:’ this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage (Option)
‘1 If you have the Gage
Cluster, you have a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! That reading means the same thing as the warning
light. It means that your engine coolant has
overheated. If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your-
vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Also, the temperature symbol on the gage will come on
when your engine is too hot.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road:’ this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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2.2L L4 Cooling System
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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) Electric engine fan
It!, CAUTION:
An 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.
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The coolant level should be at or above the “FULL
HOT” mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
1 [ CAUTION:
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.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine
f8n is running. If the engine is overheating, the f8n
should be running. If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service. \
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery lhnk
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above
“ADD:’ add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information about the proper coolant
mix.)
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3300 V6 Cooling System
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) Electric engine fan
I A CAUTION:
An electrlc fan under the hood can start up
even when the englne Is not running and can
injure
YOU. Ksep hands, clothing and twls
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.
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The coolant should be at or slightly above the “FULL
HOT” mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
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 __ 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.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine
fan is running. If the engine is overheating, the fhn
should
be running. If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tl[)ank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t above
“ADD:’ add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and the proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more information about the proper coolant mix.)
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When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above
the “FULL HOT” mark, start your vehicle. If the
overheat
warning continues, there’s one more thing you
can try. You can add the proper coolant mix directly to
the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is cool before
you do it.
I
/i 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
pllessure cap--even a little-they can -me
out at hlgh speed. NeAler turn the cap when
the cwllng qstern, Including the radiator
pressure
cap, is hot. Wait tor the cooling
system and radiator pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
F
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 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. I
I
! 1 I
A
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down as you turn
it. Remove the pressure
cap.
I’d 3. Fill the radiator with the
proper
mix, up to the
base
of the filler neck.
4. Then ffl the coolant
recovery
tank to the
“FULL HOT” mark.
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5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
k
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator filler
neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of
the proper mix through the filler neck until the level
reaches the base
of the filler neck.
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Adding Coolant
..
The coolant recovery tank is located on the passenger’s
side
of the engine compartment.
To Check Coolant: When your engine is cold, the
coolant level should be at “ADD:’
or a little higher.
When your engine
is warm, the level should be up to
“FULL HOT:’ or a little higher.
To Add Coolant: If you need more coolant, add the
proper
mix at the coolant recovery tank.
/i CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have
to add coolant at the
radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap-even
a little-when the engine and
radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill 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.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
ur radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace
your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat is
recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
mp ”-- How to Check Power
Steering Fluid:
I Unscrew the cap and wipe
the dipstick with a clean f rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then
remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the
dipstick. .1,. ,,
When me engine compartment is hot, the level should
When the engine compartment is cool, the level should
be at the “H” (Hot) mark.
be at the “C” (Cold) mark.
What to Add:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
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