engine overheat CADILLAC ELDORADO 1997 10.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine . -.-
You will find an ENGINE COOLANT HOT-IDLE
ENGINE message or a STOP ENGINE ENGINE
OVERHEATED message on the Driver Information
Center
(IDIC). There is also an engine temperature
warning light andor gage on
the instrument panel.
See “Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light” or
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Should a low coolant condition exist and the message
STOP ENGINE ENGINE OVERHEATED is displayed,
an overheat protection mode which alternates firing
groups
of four cylinders helps prevent engine damage.
In this mode, you will notice a loss in power and engine
performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle
to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency; you may
drive up to
50 miles (80 km). Towing a trailer in the
overheat 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 indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine L
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. 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 Iiquids in it
can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
If your engine catches fire 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” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search 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 stem,
try this for
a minute or so:
I. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Dial temperature control to the highest heat setting
and open the window, as necessary.
otherwise, shift
to the highest gear while
driving
-- OVERDRIVE (@) or THIRD (3).
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about IO minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, YOU can idle the engine
for two
or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If it isn’t, the coolant level should be indicated by a
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center.
If it is, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or
somewhere else in
the cooling system.
Heater and radiatoi hoses, and.other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
.Don’t run sthe engine if-there is a leak. If you
the engine,.+it could loge all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and sou could be burned.
Get any leak Pled before you drive ,. the vehicle. ’’-
NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
Adding only plain water 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. 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
water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
5-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire
and its wheel together.
9 9
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
~ ~~
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicie and can damage
the chains
too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
If you let your tires spin at igh speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment
fire OR- other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the
wheels as little as possible.
eels above 35 mph (S5 kd) as shown
on the speedometer.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle is equipped with a transaxle fluid change
indicator.
A CHANGE TRANS FLUID message will
display on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) when
the powertrain computer determines that the transaxle
fluid needs to be changed or at each
100,080 miles
(160 080 km) interval, whichever occurs first. See your
Maintenance Schedule booklet for more information.
When this message appears, change the transaxle fluid
and reset the transaxle fluid life indicator as follows:
I. Turn the ignition on but do not start the engine.
2. Press and hold the OFF and rear defog buttons on the
climate control at the same time until the
TRANS
FLUID RESET message appears on the DHC.
The cooling s stern in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL‘ extended life coolant.
2
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If YOU have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating”
in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
@ Give freezing protection down to -34” F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF (1 29°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX-COOL~ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@is added t~
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant
will require change SOQWW 0- at
34b,8(Bo miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever CD~CUP’S first. Damage caused
of coolant other than
covered
by your new vehicle warranty.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and
one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum
parts. If you use this mixture,
you
don’t need to add anything else.
A, CAUTION.: ..
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can
be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid Bike alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will.
YQW 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 5W50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOE~ coolant.
If YSU use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and
be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors
QF additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the surge tmk, but only when the
engine is cool.
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.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is tight.
The surge tank cap is a I§ psi (105 ma)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be
sure the arrows
If the surge tank pressure cap needs to be replaced, a
General Motors cap is recommended.
e
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.
If your thermostat needs to be replaced, a General
Motors thermostat is recommended.
-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your new Cadillac comes with high-quality tires
made
by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have
questions about your tire warranty and where to obtain
service,
see your Cadillac Warranty booklet for details.
..
,A CAUTION:: ..
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as
a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and
a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
I .CAUTION: (Continued) ’ .. ’ . ..
@ Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check
all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should
be checked
when your tires are cold.
cut, punctured or broken
by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
@ Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is
badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
See “Inflation
-- Tire Pressure” in this section
for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
speed driving.
e Overinflated tires are more likely to be