1994 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN overheating

Table of Contents
Introduction - How to Use this Manual
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes safety
and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
Section 1 - Seats and Safety Restraints
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety restraints
properly.
Section 2 - Features & Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Section 3 - Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort
controls and how to operate your audio system.
Section 4 - Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and
how to drive under different conditions.
Section 5 - Problems on the Road
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while
driving,
such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
Section 6 - Service & Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running
properly and looking good.
Section 7- Schedule Maintenance Services
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and
what fluids and lubricants to use,
Section 8 - Customer Assistance Information
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” on page 8-4.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this
manual. You can use it
to quickly find something you want to read.
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Listed are four situations you may experience with your fuel gage:
0 At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
0 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.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up.
0 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.
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.
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Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
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 panel 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 around 45 mph
(70 kdh) 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.
If
you have a manual transmission and you are towing 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 Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, 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 in 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
chocks absorb
the load.
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Problems On The Road
Section
.
.
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flasher ..................................... 5-2
Other Warning Devices .................................... 5-3
Jumpstarting .............................................. 5-3
TowingYourVehicle ........................................ 5-7
Engine Overheating ...................................... 5-10
Engine Fan Noise ...................... ................ 5-24
If a Tire Goes Flat ......................................... 5-24
Changing a Flat Tire ..................................... 5-25
SpareTire ............................................. 5-26
Jackstorage ........................................... 5-26
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ..................... 5-40
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Towing From the Rear
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your vehicle instrument panel.
If you have a diesel engine, you will also find a low coolant light on your
instrument panel.
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Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often to check the
lubricant and when to change
it. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below
the bottom of the filler
plug hole, you’ll need
to add some lubricant.
If the differential is at
operating temperature
(warm), add enough
lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
If the differential is cold, add enough lubricant to raise the level to
1/2 inch
(12 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of lubricant to
use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant 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 -20°F (-29”C), or -34°F (-37°C) in
Give boiling protection up to 258°F (1 25°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Canada
and for vehicles with the cold climate option.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
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Radiator Pressure Cap-Gas Engines
I I
The radiator pressure
cap must be tightly
installed with the
arrows on the cap
lined up with the
ovefflow tube on the
radiator filler neck.
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.
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Surge Tank Pressure Cap- Diesel Engines
The surge tank
pressure cap must be
tightly installed with
the arrows
on the cap
lined up with the top
tube
of the coolant
surge tank.
NOTICE:
Your surge tank pressure cap 1s a unique 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap for use with surge tank cooling systems only.
It 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 top tube
of the coolant surge tank.
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.
Power Steering Fluid
I NOTICE:
Always turn the engine off before checking or adding power
steering
fluid. The power steering pump cap is close to the fan
and other moving parts.
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