2007 SATURN VUE engine overheat

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. Just
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.
If you keep driving when your 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.
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.
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 you have an air conditioner and it 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. Try to minimize engine load. If you are in a
traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise,
shift to the highest gear possible while driving.
335
ProCarManuals.com

If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about ten minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can 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.Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is
what you will see:
A. Electric Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
2.2L L4 Engine shown, 3.5L V6 Engine similar
336
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at the COLD FILL line.
If it is not, you may have a leak at 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 fan
is running. If the engine is overheating, the
fan should be running. If it is not, your vehicle
needs service. Turn off the engine.
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.
337
ProCarManuals.com

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 the COLD
FILL line, 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 331for 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 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.
338
ProCarManuals.com

{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.
339
ProCarManuals.com

E
EDR ............................................................ 455
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment................................... 409
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 409
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 410
Power Windows and Other Power
Options................................................. 409
Underhood Fuse Block............................. 411
Windshield Wiper Fuses........................... 409
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 324
Change Engine Oil Light.......................... 179
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 175
Coolant.................................................... 331
Coolant Heater......................................... 113
Coolant Temperature Gage...................... 174
Coolant Temperature Warning Light.......... 173
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 435
Engine Compartment Overview................ 314
Exhaust................................................... 123
Oil ........................................................... 318
Oil Life System........................................ 323
Overheating............................................. 334
Reduced Power Light............................... 179Engine (cont.)
Running While Parked............................. 124
Starting.................................................... 111
Entry Lighting.............................................. 153
Event Data Recorders................................. 455
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 41
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 324
Finish Damage............................................ 405
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 225
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 142
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 144
Flat Tire...................................................... 385
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 386
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 397
Fluid
Manual Transaxle..................................... 330
Windshield Washer.................................. 341
Fog Lamp
Fog .......................................................... 152
Folding Rear Seat......................................... 18
Folding Seatback, Passenger........................ 16
Footwell Lamps........................................... 153
461
ProCarManuals.com