coolant level GMC JIMMY 1997 Owner's Manual

Air Conditioning
011 cool but sunny days, use BI-LEVEL A/C to deliver
~varm
air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
p"nel outlets.
When the air conditioner is on. you may sometimes
notice slight changes
in your 1:ehicle's engine speed and
power, This
is normal because the system is designed
to cycle the compressor
on and off to keep the
clesired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if yo11 keep plr windows closed
while using
it. On cold days. use HEATER With the
ten~perature knob turned clockwise.
BLEND is LISS~LI~ in
cool weather when you have fos or ice on the
winclshield
or side windows.
If ~OLI use the optional engine coolant heater befhre
starting yo~~r engine. your heatin2 system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment
in
cold weather. See "Engine Coolant Heater" in the Index.
3-3

When towing a trailer, the ~~rrows on your instrument
panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
itre burned out. Thus. you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs arc
still working.
Driving On Grades
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reducc your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission ovc.rheating.
If you have an automatic transmission. you should use
DRIVE
(D) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle
in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life
of your
trrmsmission. Or:
if you have ;1 manual transmission. it's
better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a I~MW gear). Whcn
towins at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If yo^^ turn
your engine off immediately after towing
at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your \:ellicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this. let the
engine
r~~n while parked (preferably on level grout1d)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (Pj (or the
1manuaI transmission out of
gear and the parking brake
applied) 1'01-
;I few minutes before turning the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning. see "Engine
Overheating"
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle. with a trailer
attached.
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
yo~~r vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
4-52

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the
ADD mark, add a SO/SO mixture of d~ctrz
,twtur (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL'@
(silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank.
(See "Engine Coolant" in the Index for more
information.
)
_s I
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, your 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
a 50/50 mix of clean
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 mix.
5-16

Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold. the coolant level should be at
ADD, or a little higher. When your engine is warm. the
level
should be up to FULL HOT, or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL'
coolant mixture crt rhe cwolcrllt I-KO\!PI-J tcrnk.
~ ' Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank,
you will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture at the recovery
tank, but be careful not to spill
it.
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.
6-25

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified
to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
nerft.
- .nance of your vehicle.
~e sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever
any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in
Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See "Engine Oil" in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the emgine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mix if necessary. See "Engine Coolant" in the
Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid le\:el in the
winclshield washer tank and
acid the proper fluid if
necessary. See "Windshield Washer Fluid" in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
"Tires"
in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning slwuld be done every
SO hours of tape play. See "Audio Systems" in the
Index
for further details.
7-46

Engine ........................................ 6-8
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-17
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-46
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-76
Fan Noise
................................... 5-22
Exhaust
..................................... 2-34
Identification
................................ 6-58
OilLevelCheck
............................... 7-46
Overheating
................................. 5-12
Specifications
................................ 6-63
Running While Parked
......................... 2-35
Starting
..................................... 2-15
Engine Oil
..................................... 6-9
Additives
................................... 6- 12
Checlung
.................................... 6-9
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-79
When to Change
.............................. 6-12
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-36
Exterior Metal Parts, Protecting
.................... 6-55
Adding
..................................... 6-10
Kindtouse
................................. 6-10
Used
....................................... 6-13
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-34
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-50
Fifth Gear, Manual Transmission
................... 2-21
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter
Air ........................................ 6-13
Remote Oil
.................................. 6-12 Finishcare
. ............................i...... 6-54
First Gear Finish Damage
................................. 6-56
Automatic Transmission
....................... 2-20
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire, Changing
............................. 5-23
Fluids and Lubricants
....................... 6-64, 7-52
Fog Lamp Switch ............................... 2-47
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-4
Fourth Gear, Manual Transmission
................. 2-21
Four-wheel Drive
......................... 2-23, 6-21
Front Map Lamps
............................... 2-48
Front Reading
Lamps .................. 2-47,2-51, 6-38
Front Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
........... 6-36
FrontStorageArea
.............................. 2-56
ManualTransmission
.......................... 2-21
French Language Manual
u
FrontAxle .................................... 6-22
.. ...........................
FrontTowing .................................. 5-10
Front Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
.......... 6-36
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Filling Your
Tank .............................. 6-5
Foreign Countries
.............................. 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-59
Gage
....................................... 2-81
bages Engine Coolant TemDerature
.................... 2-76 v L
Engine Oil Pressure ........................... 2-79
Fuel
....................................... 2-81
9-4 b