2007 PONTIAC G6 overheating

StabiliTrak®Not Ready Light
If your vehicle has the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light will come on if
there is a problem
detected with the
StabiliTrak
®system.
This light will also come on when the StabiliTrak
®
system has been turned off.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 265.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
If your vehicle has the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light will come on
when the StabiliTrak
®
system is activated.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 265.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area,
the light comes on and you hear a chime, the
engine is too hot! It means that your engine
coolant has overheated. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 342.
United StatesCanada
203

Three important considerations have to do with
weight:
the weight of the trailer
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs
(453 kg). But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on
your vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all
the required trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment, passengers and
cargo in the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.When towing a trailer on long uphill grades and
the outside temperature is above 85°F (29°C),
reduce your vehicle speed to 45 mph (72 km/h) to
avoid overheating the engine cooling system.
You can ask your dealer for additional trailering
information or advice, or you can write us at:
Pontiac-GMC Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
298

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer will not
strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers.
Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your dealer. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you signal a
turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers you
are about to turn, change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It is important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
When towing a trailer on long uphill grades and
the outside temperature is above 85°F (29°C),
reduce your vehicle speed to 45 mph (72 km/h) to
avoid overheating the engine cooling system.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou
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.
302

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid (do not overll), engine
oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and
the Index will help you nd them quickly. If you
are trailering, it is a good idea to review this
information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 342.
304

Service........................................................ 308
Accessories and Modications................... 308
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 309
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 309
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 310
Fuel............................................................. 310
Gasoline Octane........................................ 310
Gasoline Specications.............................. 310
California Fuel........................................... 311
Additives................................................... 311
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 312
Filling the Tank......................................... 313
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 315
Checking Things Under
the Hood.................................................. 316
Hood Release........................................... 317
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 318
Engine Oil................................................. 325
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 328
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 330
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(2.4L L4 and 3.5L V6 Engines).............. 332Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.6L Engine)......................................... 332
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
(3.9L V6 Engine).................................... 335
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 338
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 338
Engine Coolant.......................................... 339
Pressure Cap............................................ 342
Engine Overheating................................... 342
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 344
Cooling System......................................... 345
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 349
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 350
Brakes...................................................... 352
Battery...................................................... 355
Jump Starting............................................ 356
Bulb Replacement....................................... 361
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 361
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 362
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) (Sedan)................... 363
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
305

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 342.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.
339

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL®coolant mixture at the surge tank,
but only when the engine is cool. If the surge tank
is empty, a special ll procedure is necessary.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 342andCooling
System on page 345.
{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 replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
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 318
for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd an engine coolant temperature gage
on your vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 203.
342

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