engine overheat CHEVROLET S10 1997 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Codant Heater (Option) 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC .outlet.
“VORTEC” 4301); 2.2L Engine
Engine
In very cold weather? 0 “F (- 18 * C) or colder, the engine
ooiantheater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better
fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of
four hours prior to statin-g your vehicle.
10 Use the- Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the- engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the ele.ctrica1 cord.
Plugging le cord into an-ungroundec let
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause:
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, .use ,a
heavy-duty three-p.rong extension cord rated for
at least 15
amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure -to unplug. and store
the cord as
it was before tu keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don%, it could b.e damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in?.The answer depends on the-outside temperature, the
kind
.of ail you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your GM dealer in the area where-you’Il be parking your
vehicle. The
dealer can give you the best advtce for that
particular area.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Brake
I NOTICE: I
Driving with .the:p.arking brake on c=an.cause
your- rear brakes to overheat. Y0.u may have to
replace them, and you. could .also-damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you. are towing a trailer and.you must. park on a hill,
see--"Towing a Trailer" in. the Iadex. That section shows
what to
do first- to. ke.ep the trailer from moving.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Ru-ming (Auto,matic Tra mission
Models Only]
It can be dangerous to leave ; LXF -vehicle with the
engine- runnin.g. Your vehicle could move: suddenly
if
the shift lever is 'not fuUy in PARR (P) with the
parking brake. firmly set. If you: have fo-ur-wheel
drive
w.ith a manual transfer case shift lever and
your transfer caseis in
NEUTRAL (N), your
vehicle. will be free to roll, even if your shift lever
is-in PARK (P). So be sure- the transfer ,case.is in a
drive .gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). And, E you
leave. the .vehicle with the engine running; it could.
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could.
be injured. Don'? leave your vehicle with the
engine rummg. unless you have to.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Anti-Lock Brake System Warning., Light,
1
With the anti-lock brake
system, this Light will come
on when. yau start .youx
ANTI - LOCK engine and may stay
Engine Coolant Temperature -Gage
This gage shows the..engin-e
coolant temperature,
If the
moves -into
It means that your engine:co‘olant has overheated. Ifyou
have been operating your vehicle grrtder .normal driving
C.ondifions,
y~u should pull.off ‘the foad, stop your
vehicle. and tm off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Proble.ms on the Road,r’ this mangal shows you what
to do. See “Engine Ovefheittit~g” in the Index.
2-59

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
YQU will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument paneI.
ESteam Is Coming FroniYour Engine
Steam from an overheatdengine can burn y.ou
badly, even if you just open the ho.od. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam toming
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.fire. You
.or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats,, and getmt of the vehicle until. the
engine
is cool.
NOTICE:
I
If your -engine catches fire. because you keep
driving with no co.olant, your vehicle can b.e
badly damaged. The costly repairs would..not. be
c~overed by your warranty.
5-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine IfNo Steam Is Coming -. From Your Engine
If y0.u get the overheat warning but s.ce or hear RO
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine
can get a 1i.ttle too hot when yau:
.O Climb a long hill OLI: a hot day.
0 S.top after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
e- Tow a trailer. See “Dfiving on Grades” in .the Index.
If you get .the overheat warning with no sign of s-team;
try this for a minute or so:-
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest.$gm
speed
and open the window as necessary.
3. 1% you’re in a. traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving -- AUTOMATlC OVERDRIVE (@) or
DRIVE (D) far automatic transmissions.
If you n.0 longer have the overheat warniiqg,. you
can drive. Just to besafe, driv.e slower for .about
10 minu.tes. If the
warning does;n’.t come back. ofl,
you can drive normdly..
If the warning c.aritinues-, pull OV&, stop, and p-~k y.Our-
vehicle right hway.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push the accelerator Uhtil
the
engine speed is about twice as fast-as normal idie
speed. Bring the. engine speed back to- normal idle sped
after two QP three minutes. Now:s.ye if the warning, stops.
But
&en-, if you still have the .warnhg-, twn qfl--fhc
engine and get Gveryona .out af rhe whicle until it
coois Eo wn.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to, Add Csolsrnt to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolmt level
isn’t at ADD, add a :SO/SO mixture. of clean wnrer
(prefer&bly .distilled) :and DEX-CC)OL@ (siljcate-frm)
antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for more information.)
r-
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be da-ngerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol,
can boil before the proper
coolant mix win. Your vehicle’s coolant warning.
system
-is set.for the.pr0pe.r coolant mix. With
plain water
or the wrong-mix, your engine conld
,get too hQt but y.ou 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 ana DEX=COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack.the
engine, radiator, heater
core and ather parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine r
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 the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
ADD, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the. proper coolant .mix
directly to the radi,ator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Dan’t use your. campacl. spare .on othex vehicle-s,
And don’t mix .yoat cumpact c spa^. tirem-wheel with
:olher-whe;els-ar tk~. They won’t fit. Keep yirur. spare
tire and its whd together.
NOTICE.:
Tire chains: won’t - fit your xornpact .spare. Using
th.em can damage.yaur ve~hicle .and can damage:
the chains
too-. Don’t use :tire chains an your
CaPnpact.-spaPe.
If You’re .Stuck.: In
Ice or Snow
What: you d.on”t want to .do when yo.t~e vehcle is sty& i.~
t.0 spin your wheels too fast. Tlie melhod known as
‘:rocking” can heIp you. g-et out whm you’re: stack, but
you must use: caution.
explode.,. and you or oth-ers could be.injure& And,
the tran3mission or other pqrts of the. .vehicle. cm.
,overheatc That :could cause an engine
compartment fire
:or other damage. When yo.u’re.
.stuck, .spin the wheels as little-as passsble. Dan%
spin the- wheels above 35 mph (55 kmh) as shown
‘on the speedometer.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Referto the Maitltenance Schedule -to determine haw
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance S-ervic-es” in the Index.
HOW to Check Lubricant
If the 1ev.el is below -the bottom of the filler plug hole,
youfll need to add some lubricant.
If the differential is at aperating temperature (warm),
add enough lubricant to ,raise the level to the bottom of
the filler plug hole,
If the differe.ntia1 is. cold, add enough lubricant to raise-
the level
to 1/2 inch ( 12 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determirie what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine C,oolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled
with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for:5 year$ or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whicheveroccurs first,
if you add only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The fdIowing explains
your .coaling system and how to
add coolant when
it is-10~~ If YQU have a problem with
engine overheating,
see “Engine Overheating’’ in
the Index.
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