Pontiac Solstice engine Cooling System. The Cooling System allows the Pontiac Solstice engine to maintain the
correct working temperature.
Pontiac Solstice Heater and radiator hoses, and other Pontiac Solstice engine parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the Pontiac Solstice engine if there is a leak. If you run the Pontiac Solstice engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an Pontiac Solstice engine fire, and you could be burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the Pontiac Solstice.
The Pontiac Solstice has an indicator to warn of Pontiac Solstice engine overheating.
There is an Pontiac Solstice engine coolant temperature warning light on your Pontiac Solstice’s instrument panel. If an Pontiac Solstice engine overheat warning is displayed but no steam
can be seen or heard, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the Pontiac Solstice engine can get a little too hot
when the Pontiac Solstice:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day. Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed with no sign of steam:
Turn the air conditioning off.
Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan speed. Open the windows as necessary.
In heavy traffic, let the Pontiac Solstice engine idle in N (Neutral)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and let the Pontiac Solstice engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gage is no longer in the overheat zone or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the Pontiac Solstice can be driven. Continue to drive the Pontiac Solstice slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
Pontiac Solstice distance from the car in front of you. If the warning does not come back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park the Pontiac Solstice right away. If there is no sign of steam, idle the Pontiac Solstice engine for three
minutes while parked. If the warning is still displayed, turn off the Pontiac Solstice engine until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood when this warning appears, but instead get service help right away.
If you do decide to lift the hood, make sure the Pontiac Solstice is parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the Pontiac Solstice engine cooling fan is running. If the Pontiac Solstice engine is overheating, the fan should be running.
If not, do not continue to run the Pontiac Solstice engine and have the Pontiac Solstice serviced.
When working near the radiator cooling fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position. The fan is temperature controlled and can start at any time the
ignition switch is in the ON position. An electric Pontiac Solstice engine cooling fan under the hood can start up even when the Pontiac Solstice engine is not running and can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan. You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the hood, don’t open the
hood until the radiator has had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap when the Pontiac Solstice radiator is hot.
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 Pontiac Solstice’s coolant warning system
is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the Pontiac Solstice engine could get too hot but you would not get the overheat warning. The Pontiac Solstice engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Check Pontiac Solstice engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the system should be drained, flushed, and refilled with fresh coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenser for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the face of the condenser. Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rubber,
cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the connection at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks. With the Pontiac Solstice engine at normal operating temperature (but not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing properly, the Pontiac Solstice engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin todrain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT REMOVE
THE Pontiac Solstice COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System — Drain, Flush, and Refill
The system should be drained, flushed, and refilled at the intervals If the solution is dirty or contains a considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a reliable cooling
system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly dispose of old antifreeze solution. Coolant and Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Pontiac Solstice Parts”
Mixing of coolants other than specified Pontiac Solstice engine coolants, may result in Pontiac Solstice engine damage and
may decrease corrosion protection. Do not use plain water alone or alcohol-based
Pontiac Solstice engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use additional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as
they may not be compatible with the radiator Pontiac Solstice engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
This Pontiac Solstice has not been designed for use with Pontiac Solstice coolants.
Adding Pontiac Solstice Coolant
Your Pontiac Solstice has been built with an improved Pontiac Solstice engine coolant Pontiac Solstice Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized water when mixing the water/Pontiac Solstice engine coolant solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the Pontiac Solstice engine
cooling system.
it is the owner’s responsibility to maintain the proper level of protection against freezing according
to the temperatures occurring in the area where the Pontiac Solstice is operated. Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the Pontiac Solstice engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant changes.
Pontiac Solstice Cooling System Pressure Cap The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of coolant and to ensure that coolant will return to the radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on the Pontiac Solstice cooling system pressure cap are a safety precaution.
Never add coolant when the Pontiac Solstice engine is overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated Pontiac Solstice engine. Heat causes pressure to build up in the cooling system. To prevent scalding
or injury, do not remove the pressure cap while the system is hot or under pressure. Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your Pontiac Solstice. Personal injury or Pontiac Solstice engine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Coolant
Used Pontiac Solstice engine coolant requiring proper disposal. Check with your local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or children, do not store Pontiac Solstice engine coolant in open containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
Pontiac Solstice engine OFF and cold, the level of the coolant in the bottle should be between the ranges indicated on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
Pontiac Solstice coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise your service attendant of this. As long as the Pontiac Solstice engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle need only be checked once a month. When additional coolant is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do not overfill. When the Pontiac Solstice is stopped after a few miles of operation, you may observe vapor coming
from the front of the Pontiac Solstice engine compartment. This is normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high humidity accumulating on the radiator and being vaporized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot coolant to
enter the Pontiac Solstice radiator. if your Pontiac Solstice engine compartment shows no evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the Pontiac Solstice may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate. Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle. Check coolant freeze point in the radiator and in the coolant recovery bottle. If antifreeze needs to be
added, contents of coolant recovery bottle must also be protected against freezing. If frequent coolant additions are required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle does not drop when
the Pontiac Solstice engine cools, the cooling system should be pressure tested for leaks. Maintain coolant concentration at 50% Pontiac Solstice engine coolant (minimum) and distilled water for proper
corrosion protection of your Pontiac Solstice engine, which contains aluminum components.
Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed. Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your Pontiac Solstice is equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean, also. Do not change the Pontiac Solstice thermostat for Summer or Winter operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install ONLY the correct type Pontiac Solstice thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory coolant performance, poor Pontiac Solstice gas mileage, and increased emissions.
