engine overheat BUICK ROADMASTER 1993 Owners Manual

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning: ’ J
Light
1
I
This light tells you that ‘
your engine coolant has
ovetheated.
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.
:I
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
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature,
If the
gaie: pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is too
hot!
: y’,
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.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
133

Riding” your brake
overheat to the point that they won’t work well,
You might not be able to stop your vehicle
it
time to avoid an accident. If you “ride” your
brakes, they will get
so hot they will require a 1st
of pedal force to slow you down. Avoid “ridil
the brakes.
If you keep pace with the traffic and al1,ow realistic
followirig distance.s, you will eliminate a lot
of
unnecessary braking. ‘That means better braking and
longer brake
life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally .but don’t
pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake. assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once.the power
assist
is used up, it-may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal
will be harder to push.
165

Part 5 Problems on the Road
I- .. . 1. ’ . ’ ‘I
.. .....
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Part 5 includes:
Hazard Warning Flashers
............................................................
“Jump”Starting ...................................................................
OtherWarningDevices .............................................................
TowingYourBuick ................................................................
Engineoverheating ................................................................
IfaTireGoesFlat .................................................................
ChangingaFlatTire ................................................................
CompactSpareTire ................................................................
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ..............................................
204
205
206
212
216
224
224
238
239

1. Turn off yom air conditioner.
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.
Stop :after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this
for a minute or so:
If there's still no. sign of steam, push the accelerator until
the .engine speed is about twice
as fast as normal idle-
speed. Bring the engine speed back
to normal idle speed
after two or three minutes.
Now see if the warning stops.
But then,
if you still have the-warning, TURN OF'F THE
ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE
VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to 1ift.the hood but to get service
help right away.
217

1
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11 parts, can be very hot. Don’t 1 Ich them. I
do, you can be burned.
Don’t
run the engine if ther I leak. If yo
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine Pire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leaK, start tne engine again to see
if the fan runs when the engine does. If it doesn’t,, your
vehicle needs service. Turn
off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you,haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above
“FULL COLD,” add-a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant’’ i\
n
the Index for more information about the proper coolant
mix.)
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other I
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the, proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water
or the wrong mix, 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 mix of
clean
---- s-- -1 a proper antifr ze.
5
219 1 i

m
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II
L, CAUTIOP
You can be bu 3d if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene
glycc
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t
spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the Luolant in the coolant recovery ~~IMC is “1 or
above
“FULL COLD,” start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing
you can try. You can add the proper coolantmix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before
you do it.
220

I A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high eed, the I
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 other damage.
When
you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above 35 I h
(55 km/h) as shown on the speedome r. c
239

er to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water,
or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. Wi’th
plain water or the wrong mix, 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 mix of
clean water and a proper antifreeze.
257

Starting Your Car if the Battery is"Dead" ....... : ..... 206
Steam From Hot (Overheated) Engine
................ 216
Steering
....................................... 169
Steering Tips
................................... 169
Steering Wheel. Tilt
............................... 88
Steering Without Power Assist
..................... 169
Steireo Sound Systems
............................ 134
Storage Armrest
................................. 11 1
Storage Compartment. Wagon
....................... 68
StorageTray
.................................... 112
Storing Your Car
................................ 264
Stuck. If Your Car is
.............................. 239
Steering in Emergencies
... : ....................... 170
Stuck. If Your Ignition Key is
....................... 75
Subscribing to hick Service Publications
............ 323
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System
(SIR) ......... 35
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System Light
......... 36
Symbols on Road Signs
........................... ' 156
Symbols on Your Car
.............................. 12
Table of Contents
.................................. 9
Tachometer
..................................... 119
Tamper-Resistant Odometer
........................ 114
Tailgate Operation
.............................. : . 66
Tailgate Release
.................................. 66
Taillamp
.Bulb Replacement ........................ 267
TapePlayerCare
................................ 148
Temperature, Engine Coolant Warning Light
.......... 122
Theft
........................................... 7 2
Thermostat
..................................... 259
Third Gear, When
to Use ............................. 80
Third Seatback Operation .......................... 19
Tilt Steering Wheel
................................ 88
Time. Setting the ..................... 137.139.142. 145
Tire Balance
.................................... 277
Tire Chains
..................................... 278
Tire. Flat
....................................... 224
Tire Inflation
.................................... 272
Tire Inspection and Rotation
.................. i .... 273
Tire Quality Grading
............................. 275
Tires
.......................................... 271 .
Tires and Winter Driving .......................... 191 I
Tires. When to Replace ............................ 274
Tires. White Sidewall. Cleaning
.................... '284
Topstrap
........................................ 48
Torn Safety Belts ........................ 1 ........ 59
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
.............. 190
Towing a Trailer
................................. 1.95
Towing Your'Car
................................ 212
Trademarks. GM .................................. 2
Traffic Lights
................................... 157
Traffic Officer
.................................. 159 ~
Trailer Brakes ................................... 198
Trailer Tbwing
.................................... 195
Tailgate Remote Release
........................... 65
Transmission. Automatic
........................... 78
Transmission Fhid
...... , ......................... 254
Trip Odometer
.................................. 114
Turn Signal and Headlight Beam Lever ........ i ....... 88
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator ............... 89
Turn Signal Reminder ............................. 90
Trunk Pull-Down Feature
...................... 1 .... 65
Trunk Release
................................... 65
Twilight Sentinel
................................. 99
'lhisted Safety Belts
............................... 34
Two Children Wearing the Same Safety Belt
............ 56
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335