engine overheat CHEVROLET TRACKER 2003 2.G User Guide

Engine Overheating
You will ®nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle's instrument panel cluster. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-31.
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.
5-31

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine 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 this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.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, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, 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.
5-32

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 the FULL mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable waterand a proper coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-28for
more information about the proper coolant mixture.
{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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, your engine could get too hot but you
wouldn't 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 a proper 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.
5-35

{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.When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above the FULL mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
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 Ð even a
little Ð they can come out at high speed.
CAUTION: (Continued)
5-36

Engine (cont.)
Overheating................................................5-31
Starting......................................................2-16
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
Environmental Concerns..................................4-17
Express-Down Window....................................2-13
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
4-Door Models.......................................1-26, 1-49
Filter.............................................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finding a Station............................................3-38
Finish Care....................................................5-83
Finish Damage...............................................5-86
Five-Speed....................................................2-23
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-43
Flash to Pass.................................................. 3-6
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-67
Flat Tire........................................................5-66
Fluid Level Check...........................................6-25
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Automatic Transmission................................5-23
Manual Transmission....................................5-26
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41FM ...............................................................3-42
Folding the Seatback........................................ 1-7
Following Distance..........................................4-57
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-25, 5-53
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-35
Front Axle......................................................5-54
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-5
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-36
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-28
Fuses...........................................................5-89
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-89
G
Gage............................................................3-31
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-31
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-26
Tachometer.................................................3-26
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
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