2007 GMC ACADIA engine overheat

Radiator 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 396
for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
There is an engine coolant temperature gage on
your vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 225.
Your vehicle may also have an ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE and ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE message
displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 244.
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. 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
410

CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when the vehicles
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.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 412for
information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
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. SeeOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 412
for information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
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. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest
fan speed and open the windows as
necessary.
3. If you are in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving — DRIVE (D) or LOW (L).
411

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. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and
get everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down.
Also, see “Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets your vehicle
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an
overheat protection mode which alternates ring
groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage.
In this mode, there is a signicant loss in power and
engine performance. The temperature gage
indicates an overheat condition exists. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil on page 397.
412

When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at least up to the FULL COLD mark. 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 fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not, your vehicle
needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
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.
414

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery 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 coolant recovery tank.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant recovery tank, but be sure
the cooling system, including the coolant recovery
tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See
Engine Coolant on page 406for more information.
{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.
415

{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.
If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. You can add the proper
mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure
the cooling system is cool before you do it.
416

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 402
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 226
Coolant.................................................... 406
Coolant Heater......................................... 127
Coolant Temperature Gage...................... 225
Coolant Temperature Warning Light.......... 224
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 513
Engine Compartment Overview................ 396
Exhaust................................................... 138
Oil ........................................................... 397
Oil Life System........................................ 400
Overheated Protection Operating Mode.... 412
Overheating............................................. 410
Running While Parked............................. 139
Starting.................................................... 126
Entry Lighting.............................................. 187
Event Data Recorders................................. 537
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 47
Exterior Lamps............................................ 183
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 402
Finish Damage............................................ 486
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 172Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 176
Flat Tire...................................................... 457
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 458
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 472
Floor Mats................................................... 162
Fluid
Automatic Transmission............................ 404
Power Steering........................................ 419
Windshield Washer.................................. 420
Fog Lamp
Fog .......................................................... 186
Fog Lamp Light........................................... 230
Fuel............................................................ 387
Additives.................................................. 389
California Fuel.......................................... 388
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 393
Filling Your Tank...................................... 390
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 390
Gage....................................................... 231
Gasoline Octane...................................... 388
Gasoline Specications............................ 388
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 490
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 490
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 493
Windshield Wiper..................................... 490
544

Outlets
Accessory Power..................................... 197
Outside
Convex Mirror.......................................... 144
Heated Mirrors......................................... 145
Power Foldaway Mirrors........................... 143
Power Mirrors.......................................... 142
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode....................................... 412
Owner Checks and Services....................... 507
Owners, Canadian.......................................... 3
P
Paint, Damage............................................ 486
Parade Dimming.......................................... 188
Park Aid...................................................... 194
Park (P)
Shifting Into............................................. 135
Shifting Out of......................................... 137
Parking
Assist....................................................... 194
Brake....................................................... 134
Over Things That Burn............................ 137Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............... 218
Passenger Sensing System........................... 85
Passing....................................................... 342
PASS-Key
®III+........................................... 120
PASS-Key®III+ Operation........................... 121
Power
Door Locks.............................................. 107
Electrical System..................................... 490
Liftgate..................................................... 110
Lumbar Controls........................................ 12
Outlet 115 Volt Alternating Current ........... 198
Retained Accessory (RAP)....................... 125
Seat.......................................................... 10
Steering Fluid.......................................... 419
Tilt Wheel and Telescopic
Steering Column................................... 174
Windows.................................................. 115
Pretensioners, Safety Belt............................. 47
Privacy........................................................ 536
Event Data Recorders.............................. 537
Navigation System................................... 538
OnStar..................................................... 538
Radio Frequency Identication.................. 538
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.......... 107
549