cooling PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2006 User Guide

{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 surge tank is boiling, do
not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at the COLD FILL line. If it
is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap or
in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed 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, the fans should be running.
If they are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-26

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:Your engine has a specic cooling system
drain and ll procedure. Failure to follow this
procedure could cause your engine to overheat and
be severely damaged. If your engine’s cooling
system needs to be drained and re-lled, please see
your dealer.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not at the COLD FILL
line, 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 5-19for more information.If no coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
{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.
5-27

{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 coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not 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 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.
{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.
1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure
cap when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about two or two and one-half
turns. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any pressure still left to be vented out
the discharge hose.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap slowly,
and remove it.
5-28

3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture,
to the COLD FILL line. Wait about ve minutes,
then check to see if the level is below the COLD
FILL line. If the level is below the line, add additional
coolant to bring the level up to the line. Repeat
this procedure until the level remains constant at the
COLD FILL line for at least ve minutes.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 than
the COLD FILL line, add more of the proper mixture
to the coolant surge tank until the level reaches
the COLD FILL line.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
See your dealer, if necessary.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
reservoir location.
5-29

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire clearance to the
body and chassis.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause a crash. When you change
a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper
or wire brush later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or the
threads of the wheel nuts. If you do, the wheel
nuts might come loose and the wheel could
fall off, causing a crash.
5-57

Underhood Fuse Block
The underhood fuse block is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
Lift the cover for access to the fuse block.
To remove fuses, use the fuse puller, or hold the end of
the fuse between your thumb and index nger and
pull straight out.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
more information on location.
Fuses Usage
1 Empty
2 Rear Window Defogger
Fuses Usage
3 Empty
4 Body Control Module 3
5 Crank
6 Body Control Module 2
7 Body Control Module
8 Cooling Fan 2
9 Empty
10 Trunk
11 Trunk
12 Empty
13 Fuel Pump
14 Rear Defogger Relay
15 Air Conditioning Clutch
16 Empty
17 Empty
18 Trunk Release
19 Fuel Pump
20 Empty
21 Mirrors
22 Air Conditioning
23 Empty
24 Cooling Fan 2 Relay
25 Fuse Puller
26 Powertrain Relay
5-80

Fuses Usage
27 Empty
28 Empty
29 Data Link Connector
30 Outlet
31 Empty
32 Empty
33 Emissions
34 Crank Relay
35 Empty
36 Empty
37 Empty
38 Empty
39 Empty
40 Cooling Fan
41 Empty
42 Engine Control Module
43 Engine Control Module, Transmission
44 Anti-lock Brake System
45 Injectors, Ignition Module
46 Back-up Lamps
47 Empty
48 Empty
49 Low Beam Daytime Running LampsFuses Usage
50 Low Beam Daytime Running Lamps Relay
51 Run, Crank Relay
52 Windshield Wiper Relay
53 Fog Lamps
54 Fog Lamps Relay
55 Horn
56 S Band, OnStar
®
57 Anti-lock Brake System
58 Wiper Diode
59 Windshield Wiper
60 Horn
61 Anti-lock Brake System
62 Instrument Panel Ignition
63 Driver’s Side High Beam
64 Canister Vent
65 Driver’s Side Low Beam
66 Passenger’s Side Low Beam
67 Passenger’s Side High Beam
68 Parking Lamps Relay
69 Parking Lamps
70 Windshield Wiper Relay
71 Low Beam
72 High Beam
5-81

Capacities and Specications
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. Please refer to
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-21for more information.
ApplicationCapacities
English Metric
Cooling System 7.9 qt 7.5 L
Engine Oil with Filter 5.0 qt 4.7 L
Fuel Tank 13.8 gal 62.7 L
Transmission, Automatic (Complete Drain and Rell) 9.5 qt 9.0 L
Transmission, Manual (Complete Drain and Rell) 2.75 qt 2.6 L
Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb ft 140Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to ll to the appropriate level, as recommended in
this manual.
Engine Specications
Engine VIN Code Transmission Spark Plug Gap
2.4L L4 BAutomatic
Manual0.042 inch (1.06 mm)
5-82

Maintenance Schedule......................................6-2
Introduction...................................................6-2
Maintenance Requirements..............................6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................6-2
How This Section is Organized.........................6-2
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services...........6-4
Using the Maintenance Schedule......................6-4
Scheduled Maintenance...................................6-4
Part B: Owner Checks and Services................6-13
At Each Fuel Fill..........................................6-13
At Least Once a Month.................................6-14
At Least Twice a Year...................................6-14At Least Once a Year...................................6-15
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections.........6-19
Steering and Suspension Inspection................6-19
Exhaust System Inspection............................6-19
Fuel System Inspection..................................6-19
Engine Cooling System Inspection...................6-20
Throttle System Inspection.............................6-20
Brake System Inspection................................6-20
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants. . . .6-21
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-23
Part E: Maintenance Record...........................6-24
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
6-1

100,000 Miles (160 000 km)
❑Vehicles with Driver Information Center (DIC): The
Engine Oil Life System will tell you when to change
the engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil Life
System on page 5-16.An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote *)
❑Vehicles without Driver Information Center: Change
engine oil and lter (or every 3 months, whichever
occurs rst).An Emission Control Service.
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-51for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
❑Replace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
❑Change automatic transmission uid and lter if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F (32°C)
or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
If you have not used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, have not
changed your automatic transmission uid, change both
the uid and lter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
❑Drain, ush, and rell cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs rst).
This service can be complex; you should have
your dealer perform this service. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-19for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap, and neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure
cap.An Emission Control Service.
❑Inspect engine accessory drive belt. Visually inspect
belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or obvious damage.
Replace belt if necessary.An Emission Control
Service.
6-12