The pointer of your vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange under most conditions.
If it climbs to the red mark, you
should determine the reason (hot
day, driving up a steep hill, etc.).
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the vehicle
or engine cover.
Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn off the all accessories, and
turn on the hazard warning
indicators.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
Look for any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see
on page
).
If you don’t find an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
expansion tank.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming from under the vehicle or
the engine cover, turn off the
engine. Wait until you see no more
signs of steam or spray, then open
the front hood and engine cover.
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197
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Emergency
Towing
If the Engine Overheats
187
NOTICE:
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature
gauge pointer at the red mark can
cause serious damage to your engine.
