radiator PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Owners Manual

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your
engine coolant has
overheated.
Low Coolant Light (VS Engine)
This warning light should
come on while you are
starting your engine.
If the
light doesn’t
come on, have
it repaired.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems
on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. Your
Firebird is equipped with
a LOW COOLANT
indicator which is designed to detect when the coolant
level drops below set limits. If the low coolant level
sensor (on the radiator) drops while the engine is
running,
the LOW COOLANT indicator will light and
remain lit until the ignition switch
is turned to the OFF
position. Check coolant level and add coolant as needed.
The LOW COOLANT light might stay on after filling
the radiator. Turn the ignition switch to the
OFF
position, then restart the engine to verify that the LOW
COOLANT light goes out. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index.
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..
A. Cool - ~ : Zecovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Electric Engine Fan
I /A CAUTION:
An electric 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 th'e coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't
do anything else until it cools down.
When it is cool, remove the coolant recovery tank cap
and look at the dipstick.
The coolant l'evel should be at
FULL COLD.
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.
5-16

Heater and radiator hoses, 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.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free)
antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine,
Coolant’’
in the Index for more information.)
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.
5-17

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.
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. 1
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
FULL COLD 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 radiator but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
~
1 A CAUTION:
Steam and sc’alding liquids from a hot cooling
system can
blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the pressure
cap
-- even a little I- they can come out at high
speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap to
cool if
you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
5-18

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V6 Engine Only)
I NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the pressure cap and upper radiator
hose,
is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise until
it first stops. (Don’t press
down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
You can be burnet 'you spimm 2oolant 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.
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air
bleed valve.
3800 V6 (VIN Code M): There is one bleed valve. It
is located on the thermostat housing.
4. Fill.the radiatorwith the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
If you see a! stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise,
close the
valve after the radiator is filled.
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5. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to FULL HOT
6. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
7. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan( s).
8. 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.
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9. 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.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V8 Engine Only)
NOTICE:
~~ ~
The LT1 Engine (Code P) has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat
and be
severely damaged.
~~
5-22

1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until it first
stops. (Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap
.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down
as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
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.
5-23

3. After the engine cools, open the air bleed valves on
the heater return hose and water pump inlet.
4. Fill with the proper DEX-COOL' coolant mixture.
Add
coolant until you see a steady stream of coolant
coming from the bleed valves.
5. Close the bleed valves.
6. Continue to fill the radiator up to the base of the
7. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine
filler neck.
and compartment.
5-24