engine overheat PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2008 User Guide

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped,
pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap2.4 L4 Engine
5-29

{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 fan are running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan should be running.
If they are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running the engine
without coolant is not covered by the warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
5-31

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:The engine has a specic cooling system
drain and ll procedure. Failure to follow this
procedure could cause the engine to overheat and
be severely damaged. If the engine’s cooling system
needs to be drained and re-lled, please see the
dealer/retailer.
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. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-24for 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.
5-32

{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The 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. 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.
5-33

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-8
Disc, MP3......................................................3-63
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Automatic Door Lock..................................... 2-8
Automatic Door Unlock.................................. 2-8
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-8
Manual Door Locks....................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Driver
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-2
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-37
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-38
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-44
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-40
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
Before a Long Trip......................................4-17
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-18
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-18
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-24
Winter........................................................4-19
E
EDR .............................................................7-17
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-95
Floor Console Fuse Block.............................5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-95
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-97
Electronic Stability Control................................. 4-9
Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light...........3-29
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-32
Coolant......................................................5-24
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-30
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-19
Overheating................................................5-27
Reduced Power Light...................................3-35
Running While Parked..................................2-30
Starting......................................................2-20
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-15
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-21
4