coolant level OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1999 Owners Manual

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2-59 Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on,
your system is low on
coolant and the engine
may overheat.
See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as soon as you can.
This light will come on briefly when the ignition is
turned to ON.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on and a chime
will sound to indicate that there is a problem and service is
required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent
more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
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5-13
CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down.
3800 V6 Engine
3.5L V6 Engine
The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark
on the overflow hose in the coolant recovery reservoir
for the 3800 engine. To check the coolant level, remove
the cap on the coolant recovery tank. Make sure to
check that the coolant level is up to the COLD fill level
on the hose attached to the cap. For the 3.5L engine the
coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD
mark on the coolant surge tank. If it isn't, you may have
a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
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5-15 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank (3800 V6 Engine)
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX
-COOL
engine coolant at the
coolant recovery tank. (See ªEngine Coolantº in the
Index for more information.)
CAUTION:
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 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 wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire 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.
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5-20
10. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
11. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX
-COOL
coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base of the filler neck.
12. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.
13. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold.
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5-21 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank (3.5L Engine)
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at 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 ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for
more information.)
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 coolant
surge tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and coolant surge tank pressure
cap to cool if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
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5-24
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark.5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.
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6-
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6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-9 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-9 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-13 Engine Oil
6
-18 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-22 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
6
-26 Engine Coolant
6
-31 Power Steering Fluid
6
-33 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-34 Brakes
6
-37 Battery
6
-38 Bulb Replacement
6
-45 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-46 Tires6
-54 Appearance Care
6
-54 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-56 Care of Safety Belts
6
-57 Cleaning Glass Surfaces
6
-57 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-59 Sheet Metal Damage
6
-59 Finish Damage
6
-60 Underbody Maintenance
6
-60 Chemical Paint Spotting
6
-61 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-62 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-62 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-63 Electrical System
6
-69 Replacement Bulbs
6
-70 Capacities and Specifications
6
-71 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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6-25 How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross
-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long
-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn't take much fluid, generally less than one
pint (0.5 L). Don't overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON
-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON

-III is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under ªHow to Check.º
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Radiator Pressure Cap
(3800 V6 Engine)
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure
-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC
Delco
cap is recommended.
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6-28
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant (3800 V6 Engine)
The coolant recovery tank for the 3800 V6 engine is
located in the engine compartment, behind the headlamp
on the driver's side.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the COLD
mark or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to the HOT mark or a little higher.
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6-30 Checking Coolant (3.5L V6 Engine)
The coolant surge tank for the 3.5L V6 engine is located
in the engine compartment toward the rear of the engine
on the passengers' side of the vehicle.
CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD mark.
If the low coolant warning
light comes on and stays on,
it means you're low on
engine coolant.
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