2007 CHEVROLET HHR coolant

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the
indicator is in the red area, turn off the air
conditioning to reduce engine load. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 309.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here
is how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle, or into
gear for a manual transaxle. When parking
uphill, turn your wheels away from the
curb. When parking downhill, turn your wheels
into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P) for
an automatic transaxle or REVERSE (R) for a
manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
285

Service........................................................ 289
Accessories and Modications................... 289
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 290
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 290
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 291
Fuel............................................................. 291
Gasoline Octane........................................ 291
Gasoline Specications.............................. 292
California Fuel........................................... 292
Additives................................................... 292
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 293
Filling the Tank......................................... 294
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 296
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 296
Hood Release........................................... 297
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 298
Engine Oil................................................. 299
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 302
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 304
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 305
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 305
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 306
Engine Coolant.......................................... 306Pressure Cap............................................ 309
Engine Overheating................................... 309
Cooling System......................................... 312
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 316
Brakes...................................................... 317
Battery...................................................... 320
Jump Starting............................................ 320
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 327
Bulb Replacement....................................... 330
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 330
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 330
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ... 331
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps...................................... 332
License Plate Lamp................................... 334
Replacement Bulbs................................... 334
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 335
Tires............................................................ 336
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 337
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 340
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 344
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 345
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
287

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it
is in your vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite the
gasoline vapor. You can be badly burned
and your vehicle damaged if this occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup
bed, or on any surface other than the
ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
296

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 316.
B. Pressure Cap. SeePressure Cap on page 309.
C. Coolant Recovery Tank. See “Checking
Coolant” underEngine Coolant on page 306.
D. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 304.
E. Electric Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View).
See Cooling SystemCooling System on
page 312.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 299.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 299.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. SeeBrakes
on page 317andHydraulic Clutch on
page 306.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 320.J. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 383.
K. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 320.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 298
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down
and check the level.
299

Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from the brake master
cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 317for more information.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 309.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
306

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not 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 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:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not 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 extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system, you
could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in
this manual for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 403for more information.
307

Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery
tank cap has this
symbol on it. The tank
is located in the
engine compartment
toward the front
of the engine on the
passenger’s side of the
vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 298
for more information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface when
checking the coolant level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at the COLD FILL line or a little higher. The
COLD FILL line is near the bottom of the tank and
sticks out from the rear of the tank.
Adding Coolant
If more coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the coolant
recovery tank, but only when the engine is cool.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, a
special ll procedure is necessary. SeeCooling
System on page 312for more information.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. With the coolant
recovery tank, you will almost never
have to add coolant at the radiator. Never
turn the radiator pressure cap — even a
little — when the engine and radiator
are hot.
308

{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.
Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 298
for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd a coolant temperature warning light
and a coolant temperature gage on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on page 187and
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 188
for more information.
309