2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO cooling

For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Battery
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.

2-12
Trunk
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can't see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT. That will force outside air into
your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº in
the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Trunk Lock
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key in
the lock and turn it. You can also press the car symbol
on your remote keyless entry transmitter (if equipped).
Remote Trunk Release
You can also unlock
the trunk from inside
the vehicle.
Press the button located below the headlamp control
knob on the underside of the dashboard. The shift lever
must be in PARK (P) for the remote trunk release button
to work.

2-82
Canada-3400 V6
Engine ClusterCanada-3800 V6
Engine Cluster
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle is
working. During the majority of the operation, the gage
will read 210
F (100
C) or less.
If you are pulling a load or going up hills, it is normal
for the temperature to fluctuate and approach the 250
F
(122
C) mark. When the gage reads greater than 250
F
(122
C), the HOT COOLANT TEMP light will be
illuminated in the message center and a chime will
sound continuously. If the gage reaches the 260
F
(125
C) mark, it indicates that the cooling system is
working beyond its capacity.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (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. The CHECK ENGINE 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. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.

2-90
Hot Coolant Temp
United States Canada
This message is displayed when the cooling
system temperature gets hot. A chime will sound
continuously, also.
Check the coolant temperature gage and the coolant
level. See ªEngine Coolant,º ªEngine Coolant
Temperature Gageº and ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index for further information.Low Coolant LevelUnited States Canada
This message is displayed when the cooling system is
low on coolant. Four chimes will also sound.
The engine may overheat. See ªEngine Coolantº
in the Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon
as possible.

3-2
Comfort Controls
Manual Single Zone Climate Control
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle. The system works best if
you keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Knob
The knob on the left side of the climate control panel
regulates the fan speed. To turn the fan off, turn the
knob to OFF.
If airflow seems very low when the fan knob is turned to
the highest setting, regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment air filter (if equipped) may need
to be replaced. See ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index.Temperature Knob
The center knob on the control panel changes the
temperature of the air coming through the system. Turn
this knob toward red (clockwise) for warmer air. Turn it
toward blue (counterclockwise) for cooler air.
Mode Knob
The right knob on the control panel has several settings
to control the direction of the airflow:
UPPER: This setting directs air through the
instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air two ways.
Half of the air is directed through the instrument panel
outlets. Most of the remaining air is directed through
the floor vents and a small amount to the windshield
defroster and side window outlets.
LOWER: This setting sends most of the air
through the ducts near the floor. The remaining air
comes out of the defroster and side window outlets.
The RECIRCULATION button cannot be selected in
this mode.

3-6 Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
For quick cool
-down on very hot days, turn the right
knob on the control panel to UPPER; push the A/C
button on; push the RECIRCULATION button on
and move the temperature control all the way in the
blue area. If this setting is used for long periods of time,
the air in your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, turn the right knob on
the control panel to UPPER; push the A/C button on;
push the OUTSIDE AIR button on and move the
temperature control all the way in the blue area.
The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
To remedy this you can turn the right knob on the
control panel to BI
-LEV. Push the A/C button on and
move the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Heating
On cold days, turn the right knob on the control panel to
LOWER. Push the OUTSIDE AIR button on and move
the temperature control all the way in the red area. The
system will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the
floor ducts.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, turn the right knob on the control
panel to UPPER; push the A/C button off; push the
OUTSIDE AIR button on and move the temperature
control to a comfortable setting. Your vehicle also has
the flow
-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front
and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use
DEFROST with the temperature indicator(s) all the way
in the red area. To warm passengers while keeping the
windows clear, use DEFOG. For more information,
see ªRecirculationº in the Index.

4-25
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Always have your
engine running and your vehicle in gear when
you go downhill.

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.

Stay in your own lane when driving on two
-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.

As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.

You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no
-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

4-39 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

Start your engine;

Shift into a gear; and

Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don't overfill),
engine oil, drive belts, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's
a good idea to review this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.