engine coolant CHEVROLET ASTRO PASSENGER 1993 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
BRAKE
Brake
(Standard Cluster) mrtery
Charging
System
I
ANTI-
LOCK
Four- Wheel
Anti-lock Brakes
Fuse Fuel
1
Engine Oil
Pressure
Here are some
other symbols you may see:
Lighter Horn Speaker
PO359

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features & Controls
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Standard CIuster Digital Cluster
TEMP
PPLY BRAKE TO SHIFT
PO643
If you have the standard cluster, you have a gage that shows the\
engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves to the H (red) side, your
engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been
operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you shou\
ld pull
off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
If you have a digital cluster, a
box around the temperature symbol will also
flash
if 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Winter Driving
AM480005
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine coolant
mix is correct.
Snow tires can help in loose snow, but they may give you les\
s traction
on ice than regular tires.
If you do not expect to be driving in deep
snow, but may have
to travel over ice, you may not want to switch to
snow tires at all.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush
or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shove\
l, a flashlight, a
red cloth, and a couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old
carpet
or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these ,itemsin your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably\
have
good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a
lot less traction or “grip” and will
need
to be very careful.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Don’t have your vehicle towed with the wheels in contact with the ground if
it has all-wheel drive. If a vehicle with all-wheel drive must be towed with
sling-type
or wheel lift equipment, then either the front or rear wheels must
be supported on a dolly.
If your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, don’t have it towed on t\
he rear wheels
unless you must.
If a vehicle with rear-wheel drive must be towed on the rear
wheels, don’t go more than
35 mph (56 kmlh) or farther than 50 miles
(80 km) or your transmission will be damaged. If these limits must be
exceeded, then the rear wheels have to be supported on a doll\
y.
1 CAUTION
L A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t properly secured. This
b can cause a collision, serious personal injury and vehicle dama\
ge.
The vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or steel cab\
les
before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps, canvas webbing,\
etc.)
that can be
cut by sharp edges underneath the towed vehicle.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and the warning light about a hot
engine on your vehicle’s instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
PO452
5-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CALITION
I
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 opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is overheated, the liquids 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
m
NOTICE ~~ ~
I your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant, yolrl
lehicle can be badly damaged.
Thrr costly repairs would not be covered
y your warranty.
If No Steam /s 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 t\
his for a minute
or
so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn your heater to full hot at the fan speed and open the window as
necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten 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.
5-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to
lift the hood but to get service help right away.
PO424
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. Engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything
else until
it cools down.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine c I
PO453
The coolant level should be at or above FULL. If it isn't, you may have a
leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somew\
here
else in the cooling system.
mm I CAUTION
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, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferable 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 CAUTION
A 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, yo\
ur
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
~ cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater
‘e and other parts. Use the recommended coolant.
I CAUTION
A You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
b contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
Vwn the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or above FULL, start
your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 CAUTION
II
A
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 pressure 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.
I A
PO425
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on #he Road
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
PO422
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 SOt-t~e
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down as you turn it.
Remc- the pressure cap.
PO423
3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base of the filler neck,
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