The cooling system maintains the engine temperature at an efficient level during all engine operating conditions. When the engine is cold, the cooling system cools the engine slowly or not at all. This slow cooling of the engine allows the engine to warm up quickly.

The cooling system includes a radiator and recovery subsystem, cooling fans, a thermostat and housing, a coolant pump, and a coolant pump drive belt. The timing belt drives the coolant pump.

All components must function properly in order for the cooling system to operate. The coolant pump draws the coolant from the radiator. The coolant then circulates through water jackets in the engine block, the intake manifold, and the cylinder head. When the coolant reaches the operating temperature of the thermostat, the thermostat opens. The coolant then goes back to the radiator where it cools.

This system directs some coolant through the hoses to the heater core. This provides for heating and defrosting. The surge tank is connected to the radiator to recover the coolant displaced by expansion from the high temperatures. The surge tank maintains the correct coolant level.

The cooling system for this vehicle has no radiator cap or filler neck. The coolant is added to the cooling system through the surge tank.

This vehicle has a lightweight tube-and-fin aluminum radiator. Two models of radiators are available: small, standard, and heavy duty. The 2 models vary only by capacity. Plastic tanks are mounted on the right and the left sides of the radiator core.

On vehicles equipped with automatic transaxles, the transaxle fluid cooler lines run through the left radiator tank. A radiator drain cock is on this radiator.

To drain the cooling system, open the drain cock.

Caution: As long as there is pressure in the cooling system, the temperature can be considerably higher than the boiling temperature of the solution in the radiator without causing the solution to boil. Removal of the pressure cap while the engine is hot and pressure is high will cause the solution to boil instantaneously -- possibly with explosive force -- spewing the solution over the engine, fenders and the person removing the cap.

The surge tank is a transparent plastic reservoir, similar to the windshield washer reservoir.

The surge tank is connected to the radiator by a hose and to the engine cooling system by another hose. As the vehicle is driven, the engine coolant heats and expands. The portion of the engine coolant displaced by this expansion flows from the radiator and the engine into the surge tank. The air trapped in the radiator and the engine is degassed into the surge tank.

When the engine stops, the engine coolant cools and contracts. The displaced engine coolant is then drawn back into the radiator and the engine. This keeps the radiator filled with coolant to the desired level at all times and increases the cooling efficiency.

Maintain the coolant level between the MIN and the MAX marks on the surge tank when the system is cold.

The belt-driven centrifugal coolant pump consists of an impeller, a drive shaft, and a belt pulley. The coolant pump is mounted on the front of the transverse-mounted engine, and is driven by the timing belt.

The impeller is supported by a completely sealed bearing.

The coolant pump is serviced as an assembly and, therefore, cannot be disassembled.

A wax pellet-type thermostat controls the flow of the engine coolant through the engine cooling system. The thermostat is mounted in the thermostat housing to the front of the cylinder head.

The thermostat stops the flow of the engine coolant from the engine to the radiator to provide faster warm-up, and to regulate the coolant temperature. The thermostat remains closed while the engine coolant is cold, preventing circulation of the engine coolant through the radiator. At this point, the engine coolant is allowed to circulate only throughout the heater core to warm it quickly and evenly.

As the engine warms, the thermostat opens. This allows the engine coolant to flow through the radiator where the heat is dissipated through the radiator. This opening and closing of the thermostat permits enough engine coolant to enter the radiator to keep the engine within proper engine temperature operating limits.

The wax pellet in the thermostat is hermetically sealed in a metal case. The wax element of the thermostat expands when it is heated and contracts when it is cooled.

As the vehicle is driven and the engine warms, the engine coolant temperature increases. When the engine coolant reaches a specified temperature, the wax pellet element in the thermostat expands and exerts pressure against the metal case, forcing the valve open. This allows the engine coolant to flow through the engine cooling system and cool the engine.

As the wax pellet cools, the contraction allows a spring to close the valve.

The thermostat begins to open at 87°C (189°F) and is fully open at 102°C (216°F). The thermostat closes at 86°C (187°F).

Caution: Refer to Electric Coolant Fan Caution in the Preface section.

Caution: Refer to Damaged Fan Blade Caution in the Preface section.

The cooling fans are mounted behind the radiator in the engine compartment. The electric cooling fans increase the flow of air across the radiator fins and across the condenser on A/C-equipped vehicles. This helps to speed cooling when the vehicle is at idle or moving at low speeds.

The fan size is 366 mm (14.4 in) in diameter with 5 blades to aid the airflow through the radiator and the condenser. A non-A/C model is 300 mm (11.8 in). An electric motor attached to the radiator support drives the fan.

A/C OFF or Non-A/C Model

A/C ON

The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor uses a thermistor to control the signal voltage to the engine control module (ECM) and controls the instrument panel temperature indicator. The ECT sensor is located on the cylinder head. Refer to the appropriate engine controls section for diagnosis and replacement of the sensor.

The vehicle is designed to accept an engine block heater. The engine block heater helps to warm the engine for improved cold weather starting. It can also help reduce fuel consumption when a cold engine is warming up.

The engine block heater utilizes an existing expansion plug for installation and is located in the engine block in an existing freeze plug port.

Contact your General Motors dealer for further information or installation.