2003 GMC SONOMA engine coolant

{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an enginere, and you could be
burned. Get any leakxed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again.
The engine cooling fan speed should increase when idle
speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal
down. If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off
the engine.Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
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 occursrst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the ADD mark, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean,
drinkable waterand DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the
coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-25for more information.
{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 catchre and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®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.
{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. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture, up to the base of thefiller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-25for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.4. Thenfill the coolant recovery tank to ADD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank,
but leave the radiator pressure cap off.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture
through thefiller neck until the level reaches
the base of thefiller neck.8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins toflow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure
the arrow on the pressure cap lines up like this.Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch is not engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing and/or high outside temperatures,
the fan speed increases when the clutch engages.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

What to Use
To determine what kind offluid to use, seePart D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-33.
Always use the properfluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washerfluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use afluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-10for reservoir location.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap
with the washer
symbol on it.SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-10for
more information on locationt. Add washerfluid until the
tank is full.
Notice:
When using concentrated washeruid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding
water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washeruid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washeruid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water doesn’t
clean as well as washeruid.
Fill your washeruid tank only three-quarters
full when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
Don’t use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

93,000 Miles (155 000 km)
❑Change engine oil andlter (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).An Emission Control Service.
❑Lubricate chassis components (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).(See footnote #.)
❑Check rear/front axleuid level and adduid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.(See footnote **.)
96,000 Miles (160 000 km)
❑Change engine oil andlter (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).An Emission Control Service.
❑Lubricate chassis components (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).(See footnote #.)
❑Check rear/front axleuid level and adduid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.(See footnote **.)
❑Rotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
99,000 Miles (165 000 km)
❑Change engine oil andlter (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).An Emission Control Service.
❑Lubricate chassis components (or every 3 months,
whichever occursrst).(See footnote #.)
❑Check rear/front axleuid level and adduid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.(See footnote **.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
❑Inspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
❑Replace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
❑If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven’t
changed your automatic transmissionuid, change
both theuid andlter.
Manual transmissionuid doesn’t require change.
❑4.3L V6 Engine Only: Inspect Positive Crankcase
Ventilation (PCV) valve.An Emission Control
Service.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
❑Drain,ush and rell cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occursrst).
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-25for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test cooling system and
pressure cap.An Emission Control Service.
❑Inspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
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100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
❑Inspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
❑Replace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
❑If you haven’t used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven’t
changed your automatic transmissionuid, change
both theuid andlter. Manual transmission
uid doesn’t require change.
❑4.3L V6 Engine Only: Inspect Positive Crankcase
Ventilation (PCV) valve.An Emission Control
Service.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
❑Drain,ush and rell cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occursrst).
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-25for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.An Emission Control Service.
❑Inspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
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Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals specied to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever anyuids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuelll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-25for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washeruid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the properuid if necessary. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-38for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inated to the correct pressures.
Don’t forget to check your spare tire. SeeTires on
page 5-58for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every 50 hours of tape play. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-36for further details.
At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
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2003 - Sonoma OM