1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER coolant temperature

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0°F
(- 1 8 O C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can
help. You’ll get easier
starting and better
fuel
economy during engine
warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged
in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
-
I
A CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as
it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don’t,
it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends
on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your
GM dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your
engine is too hot!
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems
on the Road,” this manual shows you what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. This
system is called OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada, OBD
I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light comes on to indicate that there is a
problem and service is required. Malfunctions often
will be indicated by
the system before any problem
is apparent, which may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist
your service technician
in correctly diagnosing
any malfunction.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check Gages Light
The CHECK GAGES light
will
come on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
CHECK
GAGES
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil pressure
gages to
see if they are in the warning zones.
Fuel Gage
e'
E
B9
When the ignition is on,
the fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have remaining,
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the 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.
0 The gage doesn't go back to EMPTY (E) when you
turn off the ignition,
2-74

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it. On cold days, use
HEATER with the
temperature knob turned clockwise.
BLEND is useful in
cool weather when
you have fog or ice on the
windshield or side windows.
If
you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
I
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Airflow is through the instrument
panel outlets.
Your vehicle’s ventilation system supplies outside air to
the inside
of your vehicle when it is moving. When the
vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air to
flow
through by selecting any mode and any fan speed. You
will find air outlets in the center and on the sides
of
your instrument panel.
You can move the outlets to direct the flow of air, or
close the outlets altogether. When you close an outlet, it
will increase the flow
of air coming out of any outlets
that are open.
3-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 kmh) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have
an automatic transmission, you should use
DRIVE (D) when towing
a trailer. Operating your
vehicle in DRIVE
(D) when towing a.trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life of your
transmission. Or, if
you have a manual transmission,
it’s better not to use FIFTH
(5) gear, just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn
your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK
(P) (or the
manual transmission
out of gear and the parking brake
applied) for a few minutes before turning the engine off.
If
you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet, or into gear for a manual
transmission. Then turn your wheels into the
curb
if facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the
regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes.
Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P), or
REVERSE
(R) for a manual transmission.
If
you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a
manual transfer case shift lever, be sure the transfer
case is
in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N).
Release the regular brakes.
4-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
- :/..:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn 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 vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there
is no sign of steam or coolant 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.
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.
5-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain
in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
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.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your vehicle will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37 “C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
I 1
NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine coolant
will require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months whichever
occurs first.
6-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’ Radiator Pressure Cap
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.
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.
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