overheating Oldsmobile Alero 2003 Owner's Manuals

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature.
if the gage
pointer moves into the red
area, the light comes
on and you hear a chime,
your engine
is too hot.
It means that your engine
coolant has overheated.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
Low Coolant Warning Light
1
This light comes on
briefly when you turn your
ignition on.
!f this !ight comes on and stays on and you hear a
chime, the coolant level in your vehicle is low.
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-23. If the light is on along
with an overheat warning, you may have a
serious overheating problem. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-31
listed previously.
Notice: Damage to your engine from neglected
coolant problems can be costly and is not covered
by your warranty.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26 for information
on what
to do. Your vehicle should be serviced as soon
as possible.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States
or Check Engine Light in
Canada
17
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
II I I I
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
3-3 1

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer
are 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 are stiil working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
P; ‘ting 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 your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle or into a
gear for a manual transaxle, yet. When parking
uphill, turn your wheels away from the curb. When
parking downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
1/:!?ee!s.
3. When the chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P) for an
automatic transaxle or
REVERSE (R) for a manual
transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-4 1

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See
Engine Overheating on
page
5-26.
4-42

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ........................................................... -5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work ......................... 5.4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your
Vehicle
..................................................... -5-4
Fuel
............................................................... -5-5
Gasoline Octane ........................................... -5-5
Gasoline Specifications .................................... 5.5
California Fuel .............................................. -5-6
Additives
...................................................... -5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
.............................. -5-6
Filling Your Tank
..................................... 5-7
Fillins a Portable Fuel Container .. ...... 5.8
the Hood
...................................................... 5-9
Hood Release .............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview ....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
.................................................. -5-1 5
Au'romaiic Transaxie Fiuia A-LL
Manual Transaxle Fluid .................................. 5-22
Checking
Things Under
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-21 - ^^ .............................
Hydraulic Clutch ........................................... 5-22
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................................ 5-28
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid
............ ............ -5-36
Brakes
...................................................... -5-38
Battery
........................................................ 5-41
Jump Starting
.............................................. 5-42
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5-23
Headlamp Aiming
........................................... 5-47
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-49
Haloger;
!3L;lbs .............................................. 5-49
Headlamps .................. .... ......... 5-49
Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps
.......... ......... 5-50
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
.................................... 5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............ 5-50 n-.-~ n ..II-- nepmwzIIIe111 DUIU~ J-J 1 rc4 .......................................
5- 1

When to Check and What to Use
Schedule to determine
how often you should
check the fluid level in your
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper
fluid. See
Part B: Owner
Checks and Services
on page 6-9 and Part D:
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
on
page 6- 15.
How to Check and Add Fluid
You do not need to check the fluid level unless you
suspect a clutch problem. To check the fluid level, take
the cap
off. If the fluid level reaches the top of the
reservoir, the fluid level is correct. It isn’t a good idea to
top
off your clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct a
leak. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem
Have the system inspected and repaired.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (1 29°C).
@ Protect against rust and corrosion.
@ Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
5-23

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
If the surge tank is empty, a special fill
procedure is necessary. See
Engine Overheating
on page
5-26 and “How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank under
Cooling System on page 5-28
for instructions.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a low
coolant warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel.
See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-31
and Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-31.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
1 --I can be -Jrned you s I 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.
I I
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
5-26

Heater a _.__ . -ldiatoL -.oses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there
is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running.
If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL
is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
- at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice: This vehicle has a specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check to see
if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level isn’t at or above the
FULL
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water
and DEX-COOL@ coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is cool before you
do it. See Engine Coolant on page 5-23 for more
information.
5-30

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your Oldsmobile Warranty booklet for details.
r--
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of
too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
4 inflated tires pose -..? same c ~ lger
I as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
I could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
~ pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
~ Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
~ impact - such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
~ Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
I
I
your tread is badiy WBTii, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
5-53

Engine (cont.) Coolant Temperature Gage
........................... 3-31
Cooling System Inspection ............................ 6-1 4
Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-1 2
Exhaust ..................................................... 2-30
Oil ............................................................. 5-15
Overheating ................................................ 5-26
Starting .................................................. 2-1 8
Engine Compartment Fuse Block .................. 5-84
Engine Coolant Level Check .............................. 6-9
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing .................. 4-42
Engine Oil Additives ........................................ 5-19
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance ..................... 6-5
Enhanced Traction System(ETS) ......................... 4-9
Ac'rive Light ................................................ 3-30
Warning Light ............................................. 3-29
Entry/Exit Lighting ........................................... 3-1 6
Express Down Window .................................... 2-15
Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-31
Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-13
Engine Oil Level Check ..................................... 6-9
F
FabridCarpet ...............................
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner
.....
(RDS. XMTM and DAB) .... .............. 3.46. 3-56
Finding a Station ............................ 3-39, 3-44, 3-54
Finding a PTY Station
............
5-73
5-2
1
Finish Care ................................................ 5-76
Finish Damage ............................................... 5-77
Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-61
Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-62
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle
.................. ........ 5-22
Manual Transaxle .................................... 5-22
Power Steering ........................................... 5-35
Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-36
Fog Lamps .................................................... 3-15
Folding the Seatback ........................................ 1-8
Footmtes ........................................................ 6-5
Fuel ............................................................... 5-5
Additives ...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel .............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container ..................... 5-8
Filling Your -rank ........................................... 5-7
Gage ......................................................... 3-37
FM Stereo ..................................................... 3-65
Following Distance .......................................... 4-40
Fge!s i~ Fnminn Pnrrntrin c. "'V'Y" v"u"L"-U J-v cr? ..............................
Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications .................................. 5-5
System Inspection ....................................... 6-14
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-81
Windshield Wiper ......................................... 5-81
5