Vehicle Care 10-17
Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on the
driver side of the engine
compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on
page 10‑6for more information
on location.
{WARNING
Turning the surge tank 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
surge tank 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 between
the MIN and MAX lines. 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. See below for
instructions on “How to Add Coolant
to the Coolant Surge Tank”.
{WARNING
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.
ProCarManuals.com
10-18 Vehicle Care
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a
specific coolant fill 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 surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at
between the MIN and MAX lines,
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. See Engine Coolant
on
page 10‑15for more information.
{WARNING
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.
{WARNING
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
fire 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.
ProCarManuals.com
Vehicle Care 10-19
{WARNING
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 coolantsurge 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
one-quarter of a turn. 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. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper DEX-COOL®coolant
mixture, to between the MIN and
MAX lines. 4. With the coolant surge tank
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 fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture to
the coolant surge tank until the
level reaches between the MIN
and MAX lines.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight.
Check the level in the surge tank
when the cooling system has
cooled down. If the coolant is not at
the proper level, repeat Steps 1
through 3 and reinstall the pressure
cap. If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system cools
down again, see your dealer/retailer.
ProCarManuals.com
10-20 Vehicle Care
Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature
warning light on your vehicle's
instrument panel. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
on page 5‑21.
If Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
{WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can cause serious injury, even if
the hood is opened just a little.
Stay away from the engine if
steam is seen or heard coming
from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
until it cools down. Wait until there
is no sign of steam or coolant
before opening the hood.
If driving continues when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. Someone
could get badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine has
cooled.
Notice: Driving the vehicle when
there is no coolant in the coolant
overflow recovery bottle, can
badly damage the engine.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From
The Engine
If there is an engine overheat
warning, but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
.Tows a trailer.
If there is an overheat warning with
no sign of steam, try this for a
minute or so:
1. If there is an air conditioner and it is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on the heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open
the windows as necessary.
3. Try to minimize engine load. If in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral);
otherwise, shift to the highest
gear possible while driving.
ProCarManuals.com
10-22 Vehicle Care
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use,Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑7.
Always use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield or rear
window washer fluid, be sure to
read the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the vehicle
in an area where the temperature
can fall below freezing, use a fluid
that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Windshield Washer
Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
until the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview
on
page 10‑6for reservoir location. Notice:
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage your
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can
damage the vehicle's
windshield washer system
and paint.
ProCarManuals.com
Service and Maintenance 11-3
life system whenever the oil is
changed. SeeEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑10.
When the change engine oil light
displays, certain services, checks,
and inspections are required. The
services described for
Maintenance Ishould be performed
at every engine oil change.
The services described for
Maintenance IIshould be
performed when:
.Maintenance Iwas performed
the last time the engine oil was
changed.
.It has been 10 months or more
since the change engine oil light
has displayed or since the last
service.
Maintenance I
.Change engine oil and filter. See
Engine Oilon page 10‑8.An
Emission Control Service.
.Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑15.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
.Tire inflation check. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑50.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑57.
.Rotate tires. See Tire Rotationon page 10‑57.
.Fluids visual leak check (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). A leak in any
system must be repaired and the
fluid level checked.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection (vehicles driven in
dusty conditions only). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
on
page 10‑12.
.Brake system inspection (or
every 12 months, whichever
occurs first).
Maintenance II
.Perform all services described in
MaintenanceI.
.Steering and suspension
inspection. Visual inspection for
damaged, loose, or missing
parts or signs of wear.
.Engine cooling system
inspection. Visual inspection of
hoses, pipes, fittings, and
clamps and replacement,
if needed.
.Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning,
if contaminated. See Exterior
Care
on page 10‑82. Worn or
damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 10‑29.
ProCarManuals.com
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Body hinges and latches, key
lock cylinders, folding seat
hardware, and sunroof
(if equipped) lubrication. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑7. More
frequent lubrication may be
required when vehicle is
exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a
clean cloth makes them last
longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
.Restraint system component
check. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑23.
.Automatic transmission fluid
level check and adding fluid,
if needed. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid
on
page 10‑12.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑12.
.Passenger compartment air filter
replacement (or every
12 months, whichever occurs
first). More frequent replacement
may be required if vehicle is
driven regularly under dusty
conditions.
Additional Required Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
.Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑15.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑50.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑57. Once a Year
.See
Starter Switch Checkon
page 10‑27.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control System
Check on page 10‑28.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑28.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Checkon
page 10‑29.
.Engine cooling system and
pressure cap pressure check.
Radiator and air conditioning
condenser outside cleaning. See
Cooling System on page 10‑14.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat
shields inspection for loose or
damaged components.
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
ProCarManuals.com
11-6 Service and Maintenance
ServiceMaintenanceIMaintenance
II
Change engine oil and filter. Reset oil life system. ••
Engine coolant level check. ••
Windshield washer fluid level check. ••
Tire inflation pressures check. ••
Tire wear inspection. ••
Rotate tires. ••
Fluids visual leak check. ••
Engine air cleaner filter inspection (vehicles driven in dusty conditions only). ••
Brake system inspection. ••
Steering and suspension inspection. •
Engine cooling system inspection. •
Windshield wiper blades inspection. •
Body components lubrication. •
Restraint system components check. •
Automatic transmission fluid level check. •
Engine air cleaner filter inspection (vehicles not driven in dusty conditions). •
Passenger compartment air filter replacement. •
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