1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE heating

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down
a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 kmih) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs. (450 kg), you may prefer to drive in
THIRD
(3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). This will minimize
heat build-up and extend the life
of your transaxle.
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. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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0 Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-2
5-3
5-8
5-13
5-24
Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing
Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
If a Tire Goes Flat
5 -24
5-24
5-34
5-35
Air Inflator (Option)
Changing a Flat Tire
Compact Spare Tire
If You’re
Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
5-1
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel.
See “Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage” in the Index.
You also have a low
coolant level light on your instrument panel. See “Low
Coolant Light’’ in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating
Mode
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of three cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this
mode, you will notice a significant loss in power and
engine performance. The low coolant light may come
on
and the temperature gage will indicate an overheat
condition exists. This emergency operating mode allows
your vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency. Towing
a trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
I
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss and change the
oil. See
“Engine Oil, When
to Change” in the Index.
5-13
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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 cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans should be running. If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant
level isn’t
at or above the FULL COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and
DEX-COOL’ engine coolant at the coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for
more information.)
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 mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
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 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
5-18
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Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOLd extended life coolant.
J
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 DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
~
~
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use
only DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL 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. Damage caused by the
use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
6-21
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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.
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.
Radiator I ressure 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.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap,
a GM cap
is recommended. When you replace your thermostat, a
GM thermostat
is recommended.
Power
Steering Fluid
'l'kv Gower steering fluid reservoir is located to the right
of the windshield washer fluid reservoir, at the back of
the engine compartment.
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Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see
your Chevrolet Warranty booklet for details.
A C WTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and
a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle’’ in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued
~~
CAUTION: (Continued)
0
0
0
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by
a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your
tread is badly worn, or
if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
6-40
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Driving (Continued) IntheRain
.................................. 4-18
On Curves
.................................. 4- 11
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-40
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-24
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-26
Wet Roads
.................................. 4-18
Winter
...................................... 4-26
WithaTrailer
................................ 4-37
Night
...................................... 4-16
Through Water
............................... 4-20
Dump and Stow Feature
........................... 1-7
Electrical Equipment. Adding
.................... 2-28
Electrical
System ............................... 6-57
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-32
Engine
....................................... 6-10
Coolant
..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-29
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-29
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-9 1
Cooling System .............................. 6-65
Exhaust
..................................... 2-38
Identification
................................ 6-56
Oil Level Check
.............................. 7-29
Overheated Protection Operating Mode
........... 5- 13
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked
......................... 2-39
Specifications
................................ 6-65
StartingYour
................................ 2-27
Temperature Warning Light
..................... 2-92 Engine
Oil ............................... 2.95. 6.11
Checking
................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-14
Used
....................................... 6-15
What Kind to Use
............................. 6-13
WhentoAdd
................................ 6-12
When to Change
.............................. 6-14
Equipment. Adding to the Outside Of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-38
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-63
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-49
Fan Knob. Climate Control System .................. 3-2
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-15
Filter. Passenger Compartment Replacement
......... 6-16
Finishcare
.................................... 6-52
Finish Damage
................................. 6-54
FirstGear
..................................... 2-33
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-65
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-34
Folding Driver’s Seatback
......................... 1-3
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 6-7
FrenchLanguageManual
........................... ii
FrontDoor
..................................... 2-4
Front ParkingEurn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-34
Front Seat Storage Bin
........................... 2-71
9-4
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