1997 CHEVROLET S10 Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Thermostat
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 tub.e on the radiator
filler neck.
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine
coolant sys-tem. The. thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
Power Steering Fluid
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Check Power $.teering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a le.& in the,system or
ym hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicattt a problem. Have-the .-system inspecte.d
and repaired.
How To -Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and.
the top of the-reservoir ciean,.then tms.crew the cap and
wipe the dipstick .with a clean rag. Replace th.ccap tind
completely :tighten .it. Then remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The 1evel.sh.suld be between the- ADD and FULL
mxks. For the 2.2L engine, the. fluid level should be
at tbe C- mark. If rieCe;sssirfr, add mly enou.gh fluid to
bring the level up to the proper range.
TO determine what kind of fluid to use, E&
“Recommended Fiuids and Lubricants” in the-:Index.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can-cmse leaks and damage hoses-and seals.
Windshield Washer Flu,id
What to Use
When you need windshield washe? fluid, be sure to read
the:maaufact-’s
instructions before me. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where. the. temperature
may
fall below freezing, use a fluid th-at has su.fficien.t
protection against free2i.n.g.
6-2.9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Washer Fluid
dpen the cap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY with the
washer synibol on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full.
.NOTIICE-:
a
a
e
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions .for
adding water.
Don’t
mix water with rea-dy-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause- the soIution
to freeze.
.and damage your washer
fluid. tank .and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water.doe-sn’t clean as well’aswasher fluid.
Fill yourwasher fluid tank only
thre-elquarters full-when it’s very
cold. This
alIows for expansion if freezing occurs,
which codd damage: the tank if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator :antifreeze
in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
6-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake Fluid
I
i
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is ha-e. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There .are only tw.0 reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that, the brak.e
fluid goes. down to an acceptable level. :during normal
brake lining wear. When new lin-ings are put-in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other leason is that fluid is
leaking o.ut of the’brake system. If it is, you should lwve
your brake system fixed, since a leak means that so.oner
or later your brakes won’t work. well, or won’t work
at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brczke fl.uid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct :a leak. If-you add fluid
when your linings are. worn: then you’ll have too snucl.1
fluid when you. get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) b1-ake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
I
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spin
on the engine. The .fluid will burn if the- engine.
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic @em.
Refel‘ to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when t.o
check your brake fluid. See “Periodic M.aintenance
Tnspection-s’”
in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking B-rake Fluid What to Adid
You. can check. th.e .brake fluid without taking off the- cap.
Just look at the windows on the brake fluid reservoir.
The fluid levels. should be above MIN. If they aren't,
h.aw your-brake System checked to see if there is B leak.
After work i-s done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the levels are above MIN and below the top
of each window.
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- Such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Paft
No.. 12377:967). Usenew brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean the brake, fluid reservuir cap and the area
around the cap. before removing it. Th.is will help keep
dirt from
entering the reservoir.
I
With the wrong kind. of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, 'or' they
may not even work at all. This codd cause a
crash. Always use the proper- brake fluid.
1
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts, For example,
just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as. engine
oil, in your brake system can dam-age brake
system
patts-so badly that thef”l1 have to be
rep1aced:Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces,
the paint- finish can be
damaged:. $e careful not to
spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
imnxdiately. See “Appearance Care” in
the-Index.
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes..
Disc brake ‘pads have built-in wear indicators that make. a.
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn
and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time your vehicle-is moving (except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warnirg sound. means that.s.oon
yaur brakes won’t work, well. That could lead to
an accident. When
you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have
your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
I
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
c’ould result in costly brake repair.
6-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Some driving conditions or cljrnates may cause-a brake
squeal when. the brakes are first app1ie.d or li,ghtly
;ipplied. This; does.laot mean something is- wrong with
your brakes,
Propeiiy torqued wheel nuts axnecessary to h:elp
prevent. brake pulsation. When tirm are rotated, inspect
-brake pads for wear and evenly ‘torque wheel nuts in the
-proper sequence to GM specifications.
You rea dnm brakes. don’t’h-ave wear irdicators, but- if
you ever hear a rex brake rubbing noise, have the rear
-brake- linings inspected. Also, the .rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tit-& are removed
-for rotatimar
changing, When you have the &ant brakes
replaced, have the rear bp&m inspected, too,
.Brake linings should alw-ays be replaced as complete
axle -sets.
See, “Brake System I-nspection” ixl Section 7 of this manual
under Part C “Pexiodic Maintenance Inspections.”
.Brake P.edaL Travel
S-ee your dealer if the brake pedal does .not return to
normal hei-ht,, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
,travel. This cau1.d I be a sign :qf brake troubk,
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brace s~op, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
If your brake pedal goes down farthcr than normal., your
rear drum brakes may need-:adjustrnent. Adjust them by
backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few times.
Replacing B:rake System Pats
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Battery
Every -new vehicle h-as n D~CQ Freedom. .battery. You
never have to .add watu to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we .recommend a .Deko Fteedom
battery. Get-one that has the replacement number shown
on .the. original battery’s label.
@ , .-
Bulb Replacement
&fore you replace any bulbs, .be .SUE that all .the ku~~ps
are off and the engine. isn’t running. See “Replacement
Bulbs” in the Index.
If you’re not going to drive your vehisle.for 25 days &+more,
take- off the black, negative (-) cable fkom the -battery. This
will help keep your battery from Mnming dawn.
-
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gy inside and
can
burst if you drop 6.r scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb packa.ge.
B-atteries have ac.id that can burn
you and gas J I
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jumy? Starting” in the index
for tips on working a und a battery with9,qt
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
far longer storage periods..
Also, for your. audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
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