2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER engine overheat

Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil
is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to change your transmission ¯uid.
See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page 6-4.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Chevrolet dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the ¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a ®re.
Too little ¯uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission ¯uid.Check the ¯uid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your ®ngers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the ®ller plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the ®ller plug hole.
3. If the ¯uid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the ¯uid level is low, add more
¯uid as described in the next steps.
5-26

Engine Coolant
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 on
page 5-31.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and the proper
coolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-33ÉF (-36ÉC)
·Give boiling protection up to 258ÉF (125ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
What to Use
Use a 50/50 mixture ofclean, drinkable waterand coolant
that meets GM Speci®cation 1825-M, which won't
damage aluminum parts. You can also use a recycled
coolant conforming to GM Speci®cation 1825-M with a
complete coolant ¯ush and re®ll. If you use this coolant
mixture, you don't need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as 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 ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you don't
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-28

Engine Overheating
You will ®nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle's instrument panel cluster. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-31.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch ®re.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches ®re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-31

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
·Climb a long hill on a hot day.
·Stop after high-speed driving.
·Idle for long periods in traffic.
·Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you're parked. If you still have the warning,
turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-32

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 mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable waterand a proper coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-28for
more information about the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's
coolant warning system is set for the proper
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and a proper coolant.
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 mixture.
5-35

{CAUTION:
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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above the FULL mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and if you turn
the radiator pressure cap Ð even a
little Ð they can come out at high speed.
CAUTION: (Continued)
5-36

Engine (cont.)
Overheating................................................5-31
Starting......................................................2-16
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
Environmental Concerns..................................4-17
Express-Down Window....................................2-13
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
4-Door Models.......................................1-26, 1-49
Filter.............................................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finding a Station............................................3-38
Finish Care....................................................5-83
Finish Damage...............................................5-86
Five-Speed....................................................2-23
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-43
Flash to Pass.................................................. 3-6
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-67
Flat Tire........................................................5-66
Fluid Level Check...........................................6-25
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Automatic Transmission................................5-23
Manual Transmission....................................5-26
Power Steering...........................................5-40
Windshield Washer......................................5-41FM ...............................................................3-42
Folding the Seatback........................................ 1-7
Following Distance..........................................4-57
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-25, 5-53
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-35
Front Axle......................................................5-54
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-5
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-36
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-28
Fuses...........................................................5-89
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-89
G
Gage............................................................3-31
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-31
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-26
Tachometer.................................................3-26
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
5