1993 CHEVROLET BLAZER overheating

Section
0
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes
safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
L
A
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts
properly.
1 This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort
controls and how to operate your audio system.
Here
YOU II find helpful information and tips about the road and
how to drive under different conditions.
5
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while
driving, such as
a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running
properly and looking
good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and
what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how
to contact your GM division for
assistance and how to get service publications.
It also gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects”.
an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this
1. You can use it to quickly find something you want to
TO21 0
V

Listed are four situations you may experience with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the fuel gage indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicated the tank
was half full, but it
actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill the
tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. \
The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn off the ignition.
None
of these indicate a ,problem with the fuel gage.
For information on how to
fill your fuel tank see “Fuel-Filling Your Tank” in
the Index.
For your fuel tank capacity, see “Fuel-Tank Capacity”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
260
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, about 260°F
(145°C) or more, your engine is too hot! It
means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal operating conditions, you should pull \
off the road,
stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Coolant Can Burn You Badly!
In “Problems on the Road”, this manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
2-77

Your Driving and the Road
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument \
panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about
to turn, change lanes,
or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument pan\
el 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 still 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 45 mph (70
kmlh) or less to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission, you should use D (or, as you need to,
a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in D when towing
a trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend the
life of your transmission.
Or,
if you have a manual transmission with fifth gear and you are to\
wing a
trailer, it’s better not
to use fifth gear, just drive in fourth gear (or, as you
need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hilk
You really should not park your rig 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 P (Park) yet, or into gear
for a manual transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3, When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes\
until the
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and \
then
chocks absorb the load.
shift
to P (Park), or R (Reverse) for a manual transmission.
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case \
is in
a
drive gear-not in
N (Neutral).
4-62

Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
............. 5-2
Other Warning Devices ........................................................................\
................. 5-3
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
................................ 5-3
Towing Your Vehicle, ........................................................................\
..................... 5-7
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
....................... 5-8
Engine Fan Noise ........................................................................\
....................... 5-1 6
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
...................... 5-16
Changing a Flat
Storing the Jack
If You’re Stuck: In
Tire ........................................................................\
............... 5-16
and
Tire. ........................................................................\
...... 5-30
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ................................................... 5-31
5-1

Pmbkms on the Road
If your vehicle has the four-wheel-drive option and the transfer case is
engaged,
a dolly must be used under the rear wheels when towing from the
front.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your vehicle instrument panel,
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
I
‘i Steam from an overheated engine can bum you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away from
the vehide until it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coalant before opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is overheated, the liquids in it
can catch fire. You or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is
Cool.
you keep driving with no coolant, your
costly repairs would not be covered
by
your warranty.
5-8

The coolant level should be at or above 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.
CAUTION
A
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, 1‘ it coulc
lose all coolant. That could cause an engine fire, and you could
be
I burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric engine fan (if you
have one) is running. If the engine is overheating, the fan \
should be running.
If
it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
Start the engine again to see
if the regular fan runs when the engine does.
If
it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level \
isn’t at or above
COLD, add a 50150 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper
5-1 1

Service & Appearance Care
The following explains your cooling system and how to add cool\
ant when it is
low.
If you have a problem with engine overheating, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your vehicle
will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 258°F (125°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of clean water (preferably distilled), and antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
6038-M,” which won’t damage aluminum parts. Also use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) with a complete coolant change.
If
you use these, you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system can be dangerous.
I
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. Us\
e
a 50/50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze.
jIi ,yo.w use an improper coolant mix, your engine .coutd overheat andi
badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.’ TP~
much water in ;the mix can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, .heater
wre-ad -.other parts.
Some conditions, such as air trapped in the cooling system, can affect the
coolant level in the radiator. Check the coolant level when th\
e engine is cold
and follow the steps under “Adding Coolant” for the prope\
r way to
add
coolant.
.. .. ..
If you have to add coolant mdre than four times a year, have your dealer
check
your cooling system.
6-26

Service & Appearance Care
Radiator Pressure Cap
I
I
-
- K2515
1 NOTICE
four radiator pressure cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa) pressure-type cap and
nust be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine
mage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line up \
with
werffow tube
on the radiator filler neck.
-m recommended.
I
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace
your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat is recommended.
6-28