engine overheat BUICK CENTURY 2004 User Guide

Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice:The radiator cap on your vehicle is a
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overow tube on the radiator
ller neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located near the front of
the engine compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
The coolant temperature gage and the engine coolant
temperature warning light on the instrument panel
can indicate an overheated engine condition. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-35and
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light on
page 3-35.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
The emergency engine protection operating mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency situation. If an overheated engine condition
exists, this protection mode alternates ring groups
of cylinders to help prevent engine damage. In
this mode, there will be a signicant loss in power and
engine performance. The engine coolant temperature
gage indicator will move to the red area, and, the engine
coolant temperature warning light will come on,
showing that an overheated engine condition exists.
Driving extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheated 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 5-13.
5-25

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” underEngine Overheating on page 5-25
for information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. See “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” underEngine
Overheating on page 5-25for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
5-26

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheated engine warning can indicate a serious
problem.
If there is an overheated engine warning and you do not
see or hear any steam, 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 an overheated engine warning appears with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.2. Adjust the heater to the highest temperature and
fan speed settings and open the window as
necessary.
If the overheated engine warnings no longer exist, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warnings do not come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for three
minutes while you are parked. If the warning still
exists,turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicleuntil it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-27

When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be
at or above the COLD
mark on the coolant
recovery tank. If it is not,
there may be a leak
at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator,
water pump, or somewhere
else in the cooling
system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.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 are not the vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode”
in the Index for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
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 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.
5-29

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If a problem has not been found yet, but the coolant
level is not at the COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®engine
coolant at the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-22for more information.
{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: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.
{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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-30

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD mark, start the vehicle.
If the overheated engine warnings continue, there is
one more thing that can be done. Add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before this is done.
{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.
5-31

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
Notice:Your engine has a specic radiator
ll procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
Remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise at
its rst stop. Do not press down while turning the
pressure cap.If a hiss is heard, wait for it to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down
as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
{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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-32

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-97
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-97
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-97
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-97
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-14
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-39
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-41
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-41
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-36
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-35
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-14
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-25
Starting......................................................2-20
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-45
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Warning Light.............................................3-34
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Event Data Records (EDR)................................ 7-9
Express-Down Window....................................2-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-27
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station.......3-49, 3-56
Finding a Station....................................3-46, 3-53
Finish Care....................................................5-92
Finish Damage...............................................5-93
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-64
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-6
Flat Tire........................................................5-74
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-75
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM ...............................................................3-63
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-5
Following Distance..........................................4-43
5

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®.............2-31
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-32
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-32
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-18
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-13
O
Odometer......................................................3-29
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-12
Oil
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-41
Engine.......................................................5-13
Pressure Light.............................................3-40
Older Children, Restraints................................1-28
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®Personal Calling.................................2-34
OnStar®Services............................................2-33
OnStar®System.............................................2-33
OnStar®Virtual Advisor....................................2-34
Operation Tips................................................3-26
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-4Outlet Adjustment............................................3-25
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-32
Power Mirrors.............................................2-32
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..........................................5-25
Overseas – Customer Assistance........................ 7-4
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-8
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner’s Information........................................7-12
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-26
Shifting Out of............................................2-28
Parking
Brake........................................................2-25
Over Things That Burn.................................2-29
Parking on Hills..............................................4-44
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-26
Passenger Control..........................................3-24
Passing.................................................4-13, 4-43
PASS-Key
®II .................................................2-17
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-7
Playing a Cassette Tape..................................3-58
Playing a CD.........................................3-51, 3-60
Playing the Radio...................................3-45, 3-53
9