
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.
2-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Open both hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery.
Using
a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom’ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right amount of fluid is
there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that
first. If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative
(-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts too.
6. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of
the vehicle with the
dead battery.
5-4

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 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. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@)
or DRIVE (D) for automatic transmissions. If
you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive.
Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 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 ofthe 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.
5-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle
on the lower driver's side of
the instrument panel.
Then go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release. Lift the hood, release
the hood
prop from its retainer and
put the hood prop into the slot
in the hood. You may
have a
lnnl~ that cn'qes *n when you lift the hood.
.. .: '_* , . . .I.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You
or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that
will burn onto a hot engine.
6-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Composite Headlamps
1. Open the hood. removal pins at the top
of the radiator support.
Use a hex socket
to
unscrew the pins.
3. Pull the headlamp lens
assembly out. (Some
vehicles may have
side-by-side bulbs.)
~ ~ ~~~
4. Unplug the electrical connector.
6-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If
you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have
it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Manual Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed.
See “Manual Transmission” in the Index.
A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
Hydraulic Clutch System Check
Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir. See
“Hydraulic Clutch Fluid” in the Index.
A fluid loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired at once.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door and fuel door hinges, rear
compartment hinges, latches and locks including the
glove box, console doors and
the body hood and any
moving seat hardware. Lubricate the hood safety lever
pivot and prop rod pivot. Part
D tells you what to use.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
7-48