CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002 8.G Owners Manual

5-18 How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
The radiator pressure cap is located in the front of the
engine compartment near the diagonal cross brace on the
passenger's side of the vehicle. See ªEngine Compartment
Overviewº in the Index for more information on location.You can 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 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 some pressure left.2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.

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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. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
3. If you have the 3800 V6 engine, remove the 3800
Series II V6 engine cover shield to access the bleed valve.
A. Clean the area around the engine oil fill tube and
cap before removing. Twist the oil fill tube, with
cap attached, counterclockwise and remove it.
B. Lift the engine cover shield at the front, slide the
catch tab out of the engine bracket and remove
the cover shield.
C. Put the oil fill tube, with cap attached, in the valve
cover oil fill hole until you're ready to replace the
cover shield.

5-20
4. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed
valve or valves.
3400 V6 Bleed
Valve #13400 V6 Bleed
Valve #2
3400 V6 engine: There are two bleed valves. One is
located on the thermostat housing. The other is
located on the thermostat bypass tube.
3800 V6 engine:
There is one bleed
valve. It is located on
the thermostat housing.
3800 Series II V6
Bleed Valve

5-21
5. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL

coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck. See
ªEngine Coolantº in the Index 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 filled.
6. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.7. If you have the 3800 V6 engine, replace the
3800 Series II V6 engine cover shield.
A. Remove the oil fill tube, with cap attached, from
the valve cover.
B. Insert the catch tab on the cover shield under the
bracket on the engine.
C. Place the hole in the cover shield over the hole in
the valve cover. Install oil fill tube and cap by
twisting clockwise.
8. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
COLD mark.
9. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.

5-22
10. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
11. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX
-COOL
coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base of the filler neck.
12. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrow on the pressure cap lines up like this.
13. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold.

5-23
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.

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The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll need is in the trunk. The steps for
removing the compact spare tire and installing it on the
vehicle are listed below.
1. Turn the center nut on
the compact spare tire
cover counterclockwise
to remove it. Then
remove the cover.

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2. Remove the compact spare tire from the trunk. See
ªCompact Spare Tireº later in this section for more
information about the compact spare.3. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench.

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The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) extension
and protector/guide (B) and wheel wrench (C).
Removing Wheel Covers and
Wheel Nut Caps
Wheel Center Caps
Your vehicle may have
center caps if equipped
with aluminum wheels.
To remove a center cap use the wheel wrench to
pry gently at the notch in the wheel cap. Don't use a
tool that is narrower than the wheel wrench to pry at
the notch.

5-27 Wheel Covers
If your vehicle is equipped
with wheel covers,
loosen the plastic nut
caps with the wheel
wrench in a counter
clockwise direction.
If needed, you can finish loosening them with your
fingers. Then, using the flat end of the wheel wrench,
pry along the edge of the cover until it comes off. The
edge of the wheel cover could be sharp, so don't try to
remove it with your bare hands.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.