
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. See “Driving on Grades”
underTowing a Trailer on page 306.
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 while stopped. If it is safe to
do so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL and let the engine idle.
2. Turn off the air conditioning.
3. 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, pull over, stop, and
park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. Push down
the accelerator until the engine speed is about
twice as fast as normal idle speed for at least
three minutes while you are parked. If you
still have the warning, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to
get service help right away.
349 

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant
level is not at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
engine coolant at the coolant recovery tank. See
Engine Coolant on page 345for 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 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 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. Do not
spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank
is at the FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
352 

If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. Add the proper 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 — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and radiator pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1. Remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap
slowly counterclockwise about one full turn.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the cap to remove it.
353 

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear
drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal  rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are  rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to
help prevent brake pulsation. When tires are
rotated, inspect brake pads for wear and evenly
tighten wheel nuts in the proper sequence
to torque speci cations inCapacities and
Speci cations on page 437.
Rear drum brakes do not have wear indicators,
but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected
immediately. Also, the rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. When
you have the front brake pads replaced, have
the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service might be required.
360 

Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, the brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality brake parts. When you replace
parts of the braking system — for example, when
the brake linings wear down and you need new
ones put in — be sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 332for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
361