10-14 Vehicle Care
Cooling System
When it is safe to lift the hood:
2.4L L4 Engine shown, 3.5L V6 and3.6L V6 Engines similar
A. Electric Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Pressure Cap
{WARNING
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
surge tank is hot, do not do anything
else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be
between the MIN and MAX lines.
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.
{WARNING
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 fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed 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.
ProCarManuals.com
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
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
Service and Maintenance 11-5
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 40 000 km/25,000 Miles
.Fuel system inspection for
damage or leaks.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 80 000 km/50,000 Miles
.Engine air cleaner filter
replacement. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑12.
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly
or mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. See
Automatic Transmission Fluid
on
page 10‑12.
.Transfer case fluid change
(severe service) for vehicles
mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 160 000 km/100,000 Miles
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (normal service). See
Automatic Transmission Fluid
on
page 10‑12.
.Transfer case fluid change
(normal service).
.Spark plug replacement. An
Emission Control Service. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 240 000 km/150,000 Miles
.Engine cooling system drain,
flush, and refill, cooling system
and cap pressure check, and
cleaning of outside of radiator
and air conditioning condenser
(or every 5 years, whichever
occurs first). See
Cooling
System
on page 10‑14. An
Emission Control Service.
.Engine accessory drive belt
inspection for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage and
replacement, if needed. An
Emission Control Service.
ProCarManuals.com