If No Steam Is Coming From YourEngineAn overheat warning, along with a low coolant condition,can indicate a serious problem.If you get an engine overheat, but see or hear nosteam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimesthe engine can get a little too hot when you:• Climb a long hill on a hot day.• Stop after high-speed driving.• Idle for long periods in traffic.• Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” underTowing a Trailer on page 4-53.If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,try this for a minute or so:1. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fanspeed and open the window as necessary.2. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);otherwise, shift to the highest gear whiledriving – DRIVE (D).If you no longer have the overheat warning, you candrive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drivenormally.If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park yourvehicle right away.If there’s still no sign of steam, push down theaccelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fastas normal idle speed for at least three minutes whileyou’re parked. If you still have the warning, turn off theengine and get everyone out of the vehicle until itcools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine ProtectionOperating Mode” listed previously in this section.You may decide not to lift the hood but to get servicehelp right away.5-27
