Chevrolet Captiva Owners Manual: Engine Overheating

There is a coolant temperature warning light on the instrument panel. See Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 5-20.

If Steam is Coming from the Engine

Warning

Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious injury, even if the hood is opened just a little.

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.

Caution

Running the engine without coolant may cause damage or a fire. Vehicle damage 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 a/c 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.

If the overheat warning is no longer on, the vehicle can be driven. Just to be safe, drive slowly for about 10 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.