2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO cooling

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 and the outside air mode button
pressed. 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 exterior lamps
control on the underside of
the dashboard. The shift
lever must be in PARK (P)
for the remote trunk release
button to work.

2-80 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States - 3400
V6 Engine ClusterUnited States - 3800
V6 Engine Cluster
Canada - 3400 V6
Engine ClusterCanada - 3800 V6
Engine ClusterThis 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.

2-88
Battery Life Indicator
When the vehicle is
started this message
will be displayed for
three seconds.
If the message is displayed when the engine is running,
you may have a problem with your charging system. If
there is a problem with the charging system, four chimes
will sound when the message comes on. The battery
display will also stay on while the key is in ON until the
engine is started.
If the message stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or some
other charging system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving with this message on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this message
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories.Hot Coolant Temperature
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.

2-89
Low Coolant Level
United 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.Low Oil PressureUnited States Canada
This message is displayed when the engine oil pressure
is low. A chime will sound continuously, also. See ªOil
Pressure Indicator/Low Oil Pressure Lightº earlier in
this section.

3-4
A/C (Air Conditioning Compressor): Press this
button to turn the air conditioning compressor on and
off. An indicator light will glow on this button when the
air conditioning compressor is turned on. The system
will cool and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle when
the A/C light and fan are on.
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, select a fan setting,
turn the right knob on the control panel to vent mode,
press the air conditioning compressor and recirculation
buttons, 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 vent mode; press the air conditioning
compressor and the outside air buttons, and move the
temperature controls 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, turn the right knob on the control panel
to bi
-level mode. Press the air conditioning compressor
button and move the temperature controls to a
comfortable setting.
Heating
On cold days, turn the right knob on the control panel to floor
mode. Press the outside air button and move the temperature
controls 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 vent mode, press the outside air button, and move the
temperature controls 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, turn the fan to the
highest setting, and use defroster with the temperature
indicator(s) all the way in the red area. To warm passengers
while keeping the windows clear, use defogger. 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.

4-40 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.

5-
5-1
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5
-2 Other Warning Devices
5
-3 Jump Starting
5
-10 Towing Your Vehicle
5
-10 Engine Overheating5
-13 Cooling System
5
-23 If a Tire Goes Flat
5
-24 Changing a Flat Tire
5
-35 Compact Spare Tire
5
-36 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow