BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2007 Owner's Manual

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, this is
what you see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
C. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank{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 recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
381

The coolant level should be at or above the full
cold mark. If it is not, you may have 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, your vehicle
needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 380for 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 could 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.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at or above the full 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 375
for 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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is
at or above the full cold mark, start your vehicle.
383

If the overheat warning continues, there is 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.
{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.
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.
1. 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 rst stops. Do not press down while
turning the pressure cap.
384

If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
2. Then 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.3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air
bleed valves.
There are two bleed valves. One is located on
the thermostat housing. The other is located
on the thermostat bypass tube.HousingBypass Tube
385

4. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 375
for more information about the proper coolant
mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an
air bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise,
close the valves after the radiator is lled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine and the compartment.6. Start the engine and let it run until you can
feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.
Watch out for the engine cooling fans.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture through the ller neck until the
level reaches the base of the ller neck.
Filling in the Radiator Filler NeckUpper Radiator Hose
386

8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time
during this procedure if coolant begins to ow
out of the ller neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the arrows on the pressure cap
line up properly.
9. Then ll the coolant recovery tank to the full
cold mark.
10. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank.Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine
Compartment
Overview on page 364
for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
uid unless you suspect there is a leak in the
system or you hear an unusual noise. A uid loss
in this system could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
Filling in the Coolant Recovery Tank
387

How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering uid, do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine
compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a
clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the
uid level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the level
should be at the H (Hot) mark. When it is cold, the
level should be at the C (Cold) mark. If the uid
is at the ADD mark, you should add uid.
What Power Steering Fluid to Use
To determine what kind of uid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 485.
Always use the proper uid. Failure to use the
proper uid can cause leaks and damage hoses
and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What Washer Fluid to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure
to read the manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating your vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer uid until
the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 364
for reservoir location.
388

Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer uid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water does not clean as well as washer
uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank
if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir
is lled with DOT-3
brake uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 364for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst is that
the brake uid goes down to an acceptable level
during normal brake lining wear. When new linings
are put in, the uid level goes back up. The other
reason is that uid is leaking out of the brake
system. If it is, you should have your brake system
xed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes will not work well, or will not work at all.
389

So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add
uid when your linings are worn, then you will have
too much uid when you get new brake linings. You
should add or remove brake uid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your
brake warning light will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 219.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 485.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper
brake uid.
390