2010 SATURN VUE check engine

10-16 Vehicle Care
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean,
drinkable water and one-half
DEX-COOL
®coolant which will not
damage aluminum parts. If you use
this coolant mixture, you do not
need to add anything else.
{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
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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: 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. If you have to add coolant more
than four times a year, have your
dealer/retailer check your cooling
system.
Notice:
If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the vehicle's
cooling system, the vehicle
could be damaged. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual
for the cooling system.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
on page 11‑7for
more information.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Vehicle Care 10-21
If the overheat warning is no longer
on, the vehicle can be driven. Just
to be safe, drive slower for about
ten minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, drive normally.
If the warning continues and the
vehicle is not stopped, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning continues,
turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down.
The decision may be made to not lift
the hood but to get service help
right away.Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment Overviewon page 10‑6for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Power steering fluid is used in all
vehicles with V6 engines. Vehicles
with the 4-cylinder engine have
electric power steering and does not
use power steering fluid.
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the
system or you hear an unusual
noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
To check the power steering fluid,
do the following:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Remove engine oil fill cap.
3. Slide engine cover rearward and lift to remove.
4. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
5. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
6. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
7. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The fluid level should be within the
area indicated on the dipstick when
the engine is cold.
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Vehicle Care 10-27
How to Check Lubricant
AWD Differential Case
A. Fill Plug
B. Drain Plug
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
If the level is below the bottom of
the filler plug hole, you'll need to
add some lubricant. Add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the filler plug hole. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem; check and have it
repaired, if needed.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what kind of lubricant
to use. See
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. 2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake
on
page 9‑39.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer/
retailer for service.
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10-28 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
System Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface. 2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
See Parking Brake
on
page 9‑39.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN, but do not
start the engine. Without
applying the regular brake, try to
move the shift lever out of
P (Park) with normal effort. If the
shift lever moves out of P (Park),
contact your dealer/retailer for
service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.For automatic transmission
vehicles, the ignition should turn
to LOCK/OFF only when the
shift lever is in P (Park). The
ignition key should come out
only in LOCK/OFF.
.For manual transmission
vehicles, the ignition key should
come out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
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Vehicle Care 10-29
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if
service is required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear and cracking.
See Scheduled Maintenance
on
page 11‑2for more information.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed in
different ways. For proper type
and length, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑9.
To replace the windshield wiper
blade:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
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