2009 SATURN ASTRA radiator cap

{CAUTION
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
reservoir 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 or
above the KALT/COLD mark on the
coolant reservoir. If it is not, you
may have a leak at the coolant
reservoir 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 the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®can 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 the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
®
(silicate-free) coolant in the
vehicle.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-13
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How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Reservoir
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the 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 reservoir. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not
at or above the KALT/COLD mark,
add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant reservoir,
but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant reservoir
pressure cap, is cool before you
do it. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 9-16for more information.If no coolant is visible in the coolant
reservoir, 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 reservoir pressure
cap — even a little — they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
reservoir pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
coolant reservoir pressure cap to
cool if you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
The 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.
9-14 Vehicle Service and Care
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{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. Remove the coolant reservoir
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
reservoir pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the coolant reservoir
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.2. Keep turning the coolant
reservoir pressure cap slowly,
and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant reservoir with
the proper mixture, to the
KALT/COLD mark. Wait about
ve minutes, then check to see
if the level is below the mark.
If the level is below the
KALT/COLD mark, add additional
coolant to bring the level up to
the mark. Repeat this procedure
until the level remains constant
at the KALT/COLD mark for
at least ve minutes.4. With the coolant reservoir
pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant reservoir might
be lower. If the level is lower
than the KALT/COLD mark,
add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant reservoir
until the level reaches the
KALT/COLD mark.
5. Replace the coolant reservoir
pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and
fully seated. Coolant Reservoir Pressure Cap
Vehicle Service and Care 9-15
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Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
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 in the
Maintenance and Limited
Warranty and Owner Assistance
Information manual.Checking Coolant
The coolant reservoir is located in
the engine compartment on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 9-6for more information
on location.
{CAUTION
Turning the coolant reservoir
pressure cap when the engine
and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow
out and burn you badly. Never
turn the coolant reservoir pressure
cap – even a little – when the
engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When your engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at
the KALT/COLD line.
Do not overll the coolant reservoir.
Too much coolant can result in
an overow condition when the
uid is hot.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-17
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Maintenance Footnotes
(a)A fluid loss in any vehicle system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired
and the fluid level checked. Add fluid
if needed.
(b)If driving regularly under dusty
conditions or in high-polluted
regions, replace the filter at each
engine oil change.
(c)Inspect brake lines and hoses for
proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc
brake pads for wear and rotors for
surface condition. Inspect other
brake parts, including calipers,
parking brake, etc.
(d)Inspect front and rear suspension
and steering system for damaged,
loose, or missing parts or signs of
wear. Inspect power steering cables
for proper hook-up, binding, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect power steering
hydraulic lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc.(e)Inspect hoses and have them
replaced if they are cracked,
swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect all
pipes, fittings and clamps; replace
with genuine parts as needed.
To help ensure proper operation,
a pressure test of the cooling system
and pressure cap and cleaning
the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser is
recommended at least once a year.
(f)Inspect wiper blades for wear,
cracking, or contamination.
Clean the windshield and wiper
blades, if contaminated. Replace
wiper blades that are worn or
damaged. See Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement on page 9-21
and “Windshield and Wiper Blades”
in Exterior Cleaning on page 9-76.
(g)Make sure the safety belt
reminder light and safety belt
assemblies are working properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see anything that might keep
a safety belt system from doingits job, have it repaired. Have any
torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also see Airbag System Check
on page 1-37.
(h)Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
door hinges and latches, hood
hinges and latches, and trunk lid
hinges and latches. More frequent
lubrication may be required
when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a clean
cloth will make them last longer,
seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(i)Change automatic transmission
fluid if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer
towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police,
or delivery service.
11-8 Service and Maintenance
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(j)Drain, flush, and refill cooling
system. This service can be
complex; you should have your
dealer/retailer perform this service.
See Engine Coolant on page 9-16
for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap, and filler neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
(k)Inspect belt for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage. Replace
belt if necessary.
(l)Drain, flush, and refill brake/clutch
hydraulic system at a regular service
interval (IorII) every two years.
This service can be complex; you
should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service. See Brakes
on page 9-22.
(m)This service can be complex;
you should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service.Owner Checks and
Services
These owner checks and services
should be performed at the intervals
specied to help ensure vehicle
safety, dependability, and
emission control performance.
Your dealer/retailer can assist with
these checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once. Whenever any
uids or lubricants are added to
the vehicle, make sure they are
the proper ones, as shown in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-12.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these
underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Notice:It is important to check
the engine oil regularly and
keep it at the proper level.
Failure to keep the engine oil
at the proper level can cause
damage to the engine not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Check the engine oil level and
add the proper oil if necessary.
SeeEngine Oil on page 9-7.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level
and add DEX-COOL®coolant
mixture if necessary. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 9-16.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid
level in the windshield washer
uid reservoir and add the proper
uid if necessary.
Service and Maintenance 11-9
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