2005 CHEVROLET OPTRA 5 cooling

Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located in the rear of
the engine compartment on the driver’s side. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be between the
MAX (A) and MIN (B) marks on the coolant surge
tank. The level rises at engine operation temperature
and drops again when the engine cools down.
Adding Coolant
If the level falls below the MIN (B) mark, add the proper
coolant mixtureat the surge tank,but only when the
engine is cool. If the surge tank is empty, a special fill
procedure is necessary. SeeCooling System on
page 5-24for instructions on “How to Add Coolant to
the Coolant Surge Tank.”
5-22

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.
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 windows 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 does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are 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.
Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
5-24

{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling, do
not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface. Make sure that the
air conditioning is turned off.
The coolant level should be between the MIN and MAX
marks on the coolant surge tank when the engine is
cool. If it is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fan is running. If
the engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If
it is not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
5-25

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not between the MIN and
MAX marks, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean, drinkable
waterand proper coolant at the coolant surge tank, but
be sure the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-20for more information.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant
as follows:
{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 coolant
surge tank pressure cap — even a little — they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
cap when the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
{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 would not 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.
5-26

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. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
1. You can remove the coolant surge tank pressure
cap when the cooling system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise (left) about two or two and
one-half turns.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will
allow any pressure still left to be vented out
the discharge hose.2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.
5-27

3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture
to the MAX mark on the coolant surge tank. Wait
about five minutes, then check to see if the level is
below the MAX mark. If the level is below the
MAX mark, add additional coolant to bring the level
up to the MAX mark. Repeat this procedure until
the level remains constant at the MAX mark
for at least five minutes.4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower than
the MAX mark, add more of the proper mixture
to the coolant surge tank until the level reaches the
MAX mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
See your dealer, if necessary.
Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is located toward the
front of the engine compartment on the driver’s side
of the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for reservoir location.
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
5-28

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-59for
more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used
or how far it’s been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
Notice:Use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use only SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install them
on the front tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely fastened. Drive
slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting
your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving too
fast or spinning the wheels with chains on will
damage your vehicle.
5-57

Fuses Usage
DRIVER’S
PWR WNDWDriver’s Power Window
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps
DR/LCK Door Lock
MIR HTD Heated Mirror
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM LTLicense Plate Lamp, Parking
Lamp Left
INJ Injector
ENG SNSREvaporative Emission (EVAP)
Canister Purge Solenoid, Heated
Oxygen Sensor (HO2S), Cooling
Fan Relay, CMP Sensor
LOW BEAM LT Headlamp Low-Beam Left
ILLUM RTIllumination Circuit, Parking
Lamp Right
LOW BEAM RT Headlamp Low-Beam Right
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
BATT PWR Battery Power
ABS Anti-lock Brake System
HVAC BLWR HVAC Blower
IGN 2 Ignition 2Fuses Usage
IGN 1 Ignition 1
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
COOL FAN
LOWCooling Fan Low
DEFOG Defog
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
Relays Usage
COOL FAN
LOWCooling Fan Low
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM Illumination Relay
A/C CMPRSR Air Conditioning Compressor
HORN Horn
DEFOG Defog
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
MAIN Main Relay
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
HEAD LAMPS Headlamp Relay
5-81