Page 224 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When  it is cool,  remove  the coolant  recovery  tank  cap 
and look at the  dipstick. 
The  coolant  level  should 
be FULL 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. 
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,  it could  lose  all coolant.  That could 
cause  an engine  fire, and 
you could  be  burned. 
Get any leak  fixed before  you drive  the  vehicle. 
NOTICE: 
~~~ 
Engine damage  from  running  your  engine 
without coolant  isn’t  covered  by  your warranty. 
If there  seems to be no leak,  with the  engine on, check  to 
see  if the  electric  engine 
fan is running. If the  engine  is 
overheating,  the fan  should  be  running. 
If it isn’t,  your 
vehicle  needs service. 
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        Page 225 of 402

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A 
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant 
Recovery Tank 
If you  haven’t  found a problem yet, but  the coolant  level 
isn’t at 
FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture  of clean 
water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL ’ (orange-colored,  silicate-free)  antifreeze at the  coolant 
1 recovery tank. (See  “Engine Coolant” in the Index 
~ for  more  information.) 
i 
A CAUTION: 
Adding  only  plain  water to your  cooling  system 
can  be  dangerous.  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 
CAUTION:  (Continued) 
- - - 
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. Use a 
50/50 mix  of clean 
water  and DEX-COOL 
TM antifreeze. 
NOTICE: 
In cold  weather,  water can freeze  and crack the 
engine,  radiator, heater  core and other parts. 
Use  the recommended  coolant  and the proper 
coolant  mix. 
5-18 
t   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 226 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine YOU can  be  burned  if  you  spill  coolant  on  hot 
engine  parts.  Coolant  contains  ethylene  glycol 
and  it  will  burn  if  the  engine  parts  are  hot  enough.  Don’t  spill  coolant  on  a  hot  engine. 
1 
. 
When the  coolant in the  coolant  recovery  tank is at 
FULL COLD, 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. 
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        Page 228 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator 
(V6 Engine) Only 
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  counterclockwise  until  it  first  stops.  (Don’t 
press  down  while  turning  the  pressure  cap.) 
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. 
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        Page 229 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Fill the radiator with the proper  mix, up to the base 
of the  filler  neck. 
4. Then fill the  coolant  recovery  tank to FULL COLD. 
5. Put the cap  back on the coolant  recovery tank, but 
leave  the radiator  pressure  cap 
off. 
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        Page 230 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. 
7. 
Start the engine  and let it run  until  you  can feel the 
upper  radiator  hose  getting  hot.  Watch out for the 
engine  fan. 
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. 
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        Page 231 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Coolant to the Radiator 
(V8 Engine Only) 
NOTICE: 
The LTl Engine  (Code P) has a specific  radiator 
fill  procedure.  Failure 
to follow  this  procedure 
could  cause  your  engine 
to overheat  and  be 
severely  damaged. 
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  counterclockwise  until  it  first  stops.  (Don’t 
press  down  while  turning  the  pressure  cap.) 
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.   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 232 of 402
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can  be  burned  if  you  spill  coolant  on  hot 
engine  parts.  Coolant  contains  ethylene  glycol, 
and 
it will  burn  if  the  engine  parts  are  hot 
enough.  Don’t  spill  coolant  on  a  hot  engine. 
3. After  the  engine  cools,  open  the air bleed  valves on 
the  heater  return  hose  and  water pump  inlet. 
4. Fill  with  the  proper mix. Add  coolant  until you see a 
5. Close  the bleed valves. 
6. Continue to fill the  radiator  up to the base of the 
7. Rinse  or wipe the  spilled  coolant  from  the engine 
and  compartment. 
8. Start  the engine  and allow it to run in  idle  for 
approximately  four  minutes. 
By this time,  the 
coolant  level inside  the  radiator  will be lower.  Add 
more 
of the  proper  mix through  the  filler  neck until 
the level  reaches the base  of the  filler  neck. 
steady  stream 
of coolant  coming 
from the  bleed  valves. 
filler neck. 
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