engine overheat CHEVROLET KODIAK 2004 User Guide

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature warning gage on
your vehicle’s instrument panel, as well as a low coolant
warning light. Your vehicle also has a check gages
warning light on the instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
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 liquids in it can catch re. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-36

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. SeeLow Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-36for more information.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, 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.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in neutral while
stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift
to park or neutral and let the engine idle.2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If climbing a hill, downshift to raise engine and fan
speeds.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as
fast as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you’re parked. If you still have the warning,turn off
the engine and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-37

{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 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.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface. You can
remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise (left) about one full turn. 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 slowly, and
remove it.
5-41

Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker inside the motor and a circuit breaker or fuse in
the fuse block. If the motor overheats, the wipers will
stop until the motor cools. If the overload is caused by
an electrical problem, be sure to get it fixed.
Fusible Links
A fusible link is a short piece of wire several gauge
sizes smaller than the circuit it protects. It will melt in an
overload situation, opening the circuit.
Your starter and other circuits have these fusible links.
The size is printed on the insulation. If the insulation
is burned beyond recognition, consult your GM dealer
for the proper size. Replace a fusible link with one of the
same size and insulation type. Fusible link insulation
is a special purpose high-temperature material.
The hydraulic brake booster motor feed circuit and
starter circuit are protected by a fusible link. Vehicles
with a diesel engine have a fusible link for the intake
heater feed circuit.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens. This
protects the circuit until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers,
maxi-fuses and fusible links. This greatly reduces the
chance of a fire caused by an electrical problem. There
may be a fuse taped to the wiring harness near the
hydraulic brake booster.
5-87

Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-26
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-20
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Dual Tire Operation.........................................5-69
E
Eaton®Fuller®Five and Six-Speed
Transmissions and TTC Spicer Seven-Speed
Transmissions.............................................2-30
Eaton
®Fuller®Nine and Ten-Speed
Non-Synchronized Manual Transmissions........2-32
Electric Air Compressor...................................5-51
Electrical Connections......................................4-36
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-86
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-87
Fusible Links..............................................5-87
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-86
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-87
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-87
Elevated Idle/Exhaust Restrictor........................2-21
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-30
Battery.......................................................5-55
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-37Engine (cont.)
Checks Before Operating..............................2-22
Coolant..............................................5-32, 5-35
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake........................2-25
Drive Belt Routing......................................5-103
Exhaust.....................................................2-37
Fan Noise..................................................5-43
Oil .....................................................5-20, 5-25
Overheating................................................5-36
Overspeed Warning Light..............................3-39
Reduced Power Light...................................3-41
Shutdown Warning Light...............................3-39
Starting Your Diesel.....................................2-14
Starting Your DURAMAX™ Diesel..................2-19
Starting Your Gasoline..................................2-12
Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown..............2-16
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-24
Engine Cooling System Service........................6-26
Engine Cover Check.......................................6-28
Engine Oil Additives................................5-23, 5-29
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-24
Engine Road Speed Governor..........................3-25
Engine Speed Limiting.....................................3-25
Engine Starter Over-Crank Protection.................2-12
Event Data Records (EDR)................................ 7-5
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light...........................3-40
5