2007 PONTIAC G6 engine overheat

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, 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.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your
vehicle to 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, you will notice a signicant loss in
power and engine performance. The temperature
gage will indicate 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 325.
344

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark on the coolant surge tank. 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.
346

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 at or above the
FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®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. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 339for 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 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.
347

{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.
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
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.
348

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your
vehicle and the damage would not be covered
by your warranty. Some add-on electrical
equipment can keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain your vehicle’s
battery, even if your vehicle is not operating.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to your
vehicle, seeServicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 92.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an
internal circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor
overheats due to heavy snow, etc., the wiper will
stop until the motor cools. If the overload is
caused by some electrical problem, have it xed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Fuses in the fuse block protect the power windows.
When the current load is too heavy, the fuse opens
protecting the circuit until the problem is xed.
Fuses
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected
from short circuits by a combination of fuses,
circuit breakers and fusible links. This greatly
reduces the chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted, replace the fuse.
Be sure to replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
There are three fuse blocks in your vehicle: one
in the center of the instrument panel, one in
the engine compartment and one in the trunk.
There is a fuse puller located on the instrument
panel fuse block. It can be used to easily remove
fuses from the fuse block.
415

Engine (cont.)
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...... 344
Overheating............................................. 342
Starting.................................................... 125
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)................ 263
Active Light.............................................. 202
Warning Light........................................... 202
Entry/Exit Lighting....................................... 179
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 461
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 45
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 330
Finish Damage............................................ 411
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 250
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 166
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 169
Flat Tire...................................................... 390
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 390
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 400Fluid
Automatic Transaxle........................332, 335
Manual Transaxle..................................... 338
Power Steering........................................ 349
Windshield Washer.................................. 350
Fog Lamps.................................................. 178
Fuel............................................................ 310
Additives.................................................. 311
California Fuel.......................................... 311
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 315
Filling Your Tank...................................... 313
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 312
Gage....................................................... 208
Gasoline Octane...................................... 310
Gasoline Specications............................ 310
Low Warning Light................................... 208
Fuses.......................................................... 415
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............. 418
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 416
Rear Compartment Fuse Block................ 421
Windshield Wiper..................................... 415
476

Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with
Compass.............................................. 145
Automatic Dimming Rearview with
OnStar
®and Compass......................... 143
Manual Rearview Mirror........................... 142
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®...... 142
Outside Convex Mirror............................. 147
Outside Power Mirrors............................. 147
MyGMLink.com............................................ 453
N
New Vehicle Break-In.................................. 122
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts....... 443
O
Odometer.................................................... 194
Odometer, Trip............................................ 194
Off-Road Recovery...................................... 269
Oil
Engine..................................................... 325
Pressure Light.......................................... 207Oil, Engine Oil Life System ......................... 328
Older Children, Restraints............................. 46
Online Owner Center................................... 453
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual........ 148
Other Warning Devices................................ 166
Outlet Adjustment........................................ 191
Outlet(s), Accessory Power.......................... 181
Outside
Convex Mirror.......................................... 147
Power Mirrors.......................................... 147
Overhead Console Reading Lamps............. 180
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode....................................... 344
Owner Checks and Services....................... 438
Owners, Canadian.......................................... 3
P
Paint, Damage............................................ 411
Parade Dimming.......................................... 180
Park (P)
Shifting Into............................................. 136
Shifting Out of......................................... 138
Park (P) Headlamps Off in Park (P)............ 175
480