If Your Vehicle Overheats - Toyota Previa Owner's Manual

If your vehicle overheats

If your engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, if you
experience a loss of power, or if you
hear a loud knocking or pinging noise,
the engine has probably overheated.
You should follow this procedure
1. Pull safely off the road, stop the ve-
hicle and turn on your emergency
flashers. Put the transmission in "P"
and apply the parking brake. Turn off
the air conditioning if it is being used.
2. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the
reservoir, stop the engine. Wait until
the steam subsides before opening
the hood. If there is no coolant boiling
over or steam, leave the engine run-
ning.
CAUTION
!
To help avoid personal injury, keep
the hood closed until there is no
steam. Escaping steam or coolant is
a sign of very high pressure.
3. Visually check to see if the engine
drive belt (fan belt) is broken or loose.
Look for obvious coolant leaks from
the radiator, hoses, and under the ve-
hicle. However, note that water drain-
ing from the air conditioning is normal
if it has been used.
CAUTION
!
When the engine is running, keep
hands and clothing away from the
moving fan and engine drive belts.
4. If the engine drive belt is broken of the
coolant is leaking, stop the engine im-
mediately. Call a Toyota dealer for as-
sistance.
5. If the engine drive belt is O.K. and
there are no obvious leaks, you may
help the engine cool down more quick-
ly by running it at about 1500 rpm for
a few minutes with the accelerator
pedal lightly depressed.
6. Check the coolant reservoir. If it is dry,
add coolant to the reservoir while the
engine is running. Fill it about half full.
CAUTION
!
Do not attempt to remove the engine
coolant reservoir cap when the
engine is hot. Serious injury could
result from scalding hot fluid and
steam blown out under pressure.
7. After the engine coolant temperature
has cooled to normal, again check the
coolant level in the reservoir. If neces-
sary, bring it up to half full again. Seri-
ous coolant loss indicates a leak in the
system. You should have it checked as
soon as possible at your Toyota deal-
er.
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