Page 185 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
If Steam Is Corning From Your Engine
-
8
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no
coolant, your vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
5-13
Page 186 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
See “Driving on Grades”
in the Index.
If
you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute
or
so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to the
highest gear while driving
- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a) or
DRIVE
(D).
window as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower
for about ten minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign
of steam, push the accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice
as fast as normal idle speed. Bring the engine speed back to
normal idle speed after two or three minutes. Now see
if the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning, turn @‘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.
Page 187 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:
A. Coolant recovery tank
B. Radiator pressure cap
C. Engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything
else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at
ADD. 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.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’t \
covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See if the fan speed
increases when idle speed is doubled
by pushing the accelerator pedal down.
If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
5-15
Page 188 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search 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 ADD , add
a
50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more
information about the proper coolant mix.)
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiat\
or,
heater core and other parts. Use the recommended coolant.
I I
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at ADD , 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.
5-14
Page 189 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
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
to the left until it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the pressure cap.)
5- 17
Page 190 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base of the filler neck.
5-18
Page 191 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to ADD.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap
off.
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine fan.
5-19
Page 192 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may be
lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the proper mix through the
filler neck until the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
8. 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.
Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster to provide more air to cool the engine. In most every day
driving conditions the clutch is not fully engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing
and/or high outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch
engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is normal and
should not be mistaken
as the transmission slipping or making extra sh
It is merely the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will slow
down when additional cooling is not required and the clutch disengage .ifts.
S.
You may
also hear this fan noise when you start the engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what
to expect and what to do:
If
a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
5-20