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For 1990-2009 cars only

Charge Air Cooling System Draining and Filling Static Fill

Draining Procedure

Tools Required

    • J 26568 Coolant and Battery Tester
    • J 38185 Hose Clamp Pliers

    Object Number: 1606522  Size: SH

    Caution: To avoid being burned, do not remove the charge air coolant cap while the system is hot. The cooling system will release scalding fluid and steam under pressure if charge air coolant cap is removed while the system is still hot.

    Important: Make sure the intercooler system is cool and that the pump is not in the ON position.

  1. Remove the manifold sight shield. Refer to Intake Manifold Sight Shield Replacement .
  2. Remove the charge air coolant cap.
  3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  4. Place a drain pan under the charge air cooler radiator.

  5. Object Number: 1735637  Size: SH
  6. Remove the drain plug from the charge air cooler radiator.
  7. Drain the charge air cooling system.
  8. Inspect the coolant.
  9. Follow the appropriate procedure based on the condition of the coolant:
  10. • Normal in appearance--Follow the filling procedure.
    • Discolored--Follow the flush procedure. Refer to Flushing .
  11. Install the drain plug to the charge air cooler radiator.
  12. Remove the drain pan from under the charge air coolant radiator.
  13. Lower the vehicle.

Filling Procedure


    Object Number: 1606527  Size: SH

    Notice: The procedure below must be followed. Improper coolant level could result in poor system performance.

    Important: The charge air cooling system is filled through the fitting in the charge air coolant pump outlet hose.

    Be sure the coolant does not make contact with the drive belt or any other surfaces. Coolant contact will cause belt noise and require belt replacement.

  1. Place a moderate amount of absorbent material below the charge air cooler manifold lines (1) to ensure that coolant does not contact the belts or other components.

  2. Object Number: 1735599  Size: SH
  3. Remove the cap on the charge air cooler pump outlet hose.

  4. Object Number: 1735598  Size: SH

    Important: Use a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® antifreeze and clean drinkable water.

    Pour coolant in very small amounts to avoid coolant spillage from the charge air coolant cap port or from the funnel.

  5. Using a small funnel, slowly fill the charge air cooling system through the charge air coolant cap port with a 50/50 coolant mixture until the level is slightly below the charge air coolant cap port. Refer to Approximate Fluid Capacities .

  6. Object Number: 1735599  Size: SH
  7. Install the cap on the charge air cooler pump outlet hose.

  8. Object Number: 1644372  Size: SH
  9. Install a new charge air cooler cooling fill cap O-ring.

  10. Object Number: 1644371  Size: SH
  11. Install a new charge air cooler cooling fill cap.

  12. Object Number: 1644374  Size: SH
  13. Ensure the charge air cooler cooling fill cap is installed in the proper orientation:
  14. • The alignment boss (1) is at the rear of the charge air cooler manifold.
    • The alignment boss (2) is at the front of the charge air cooler cooling filling cap.

    Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 1644370  Size: SH
  15. Install the charge air coolant cap bolts.
  16. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

    Important: Do not cycle the charge air cooling system without the charge air cooling cap in place or coolant loss will occur.

  17. Cycle the charge air cooling system ON by using the Tech 2 or by starting the engine for approximately 2 minutes.
  18. Cycle the charge air cooling system OFF.
  19. Remove the charge air coolant cap bolts.
  20. Remove the charge air coolant cap.
  21. Important: It is normal to have a very small pocket of air at the top of the system below the fill cap on a properly filled charge air cooling system.

  22. Ensure that coolant is almost level with the coolant cap fill port (1). Top off with a 50/50 coolant mixture through the charge air coolant cap port if necessary.

  23. Object Number: 1606522  Size: SH
  24. Install the charge air coolant cap.
  25. Install the charge air coolant cap bolts.
  26. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

  27. Repeat steps 10-16 two more times to ensure the system is properly purged of air.
  28. Inspect the concentration of the engine coolant, using the J 26568 .
  29. Inspect the charge air cooling system for leaks.
  30. Install the manifold sight shield. Refer to Intake Manifold Sight Shield Replacement .

Charge Air Cooling System Draining and Filling GE 47716

Draining Procedure

Tools Required

    • J 26568 Coolant and Battery Tester
    • GE-47844 Charge Air Cooling System Pressure Test Adapter
    • GE-47716 Vac N Fill Coolant Refill Tool

    Object Number: 1606522  Size: SH

    Caution: To avoid being burned, do not remove the charge air coolant cap while the system is hot. The cooling system will release scalding fluid and steam under pressure if charge air coolant cap is removed while the system is still hot.

    Important: Make sure the intercooler system is cool and that the pump is not in the ON position.

  1. Remove the manifold sight shield. Refer to Intake Manifold Sight Shield Replacement .
  2. Remove the charge air coolant cap.
  3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  4. Place a drain pan under the charge air cooler radiator.

  5. Object Number: 1735637  Size: SH
  6. Remove the drain plug from the charge air cooler radiator.
  7. Drain the charge air cooling system.
  8. Inspect the coolant.
  9. Follow the appropriate procedure based on the condition of the coolant:
  10. • Normal in appearance--Follow the filling procedure.
    • Discolored--Follow the flush procedure. Refer to Flushing .
  11. Install the drain plug to the charge air cooler radiator.
  12. Remove the drain pan from under the charge air coolant radiator.
  13. Lower the vehicle.

GE 47716 Procedure

    Important: To prevent boiling of the coolant/water mixture in the vehicles cooling system, do NOT apply vacuum to a cooling system above 49°C (120°F). The tool will not operate properly when the coolant is boiling.

  1. Install the GE-47844 onto the charge air cooler cap port.

  2. Object Number: 1617435  Size: SH
  3. Attach the Vac-N-Fill cap to the GE-47844 .

  4. Object Number: 1617436  Size: SH
  5. Attach the vacuum gage assembly to the Vac-N-Fill cap.

  6. Object Number: 1617437  Size: SH
  7. Attach the fill hose to the barb fitting on the vacuum gage assembly. Ensure the valve is closed.

  8. Object Number: 1617438  Size: SH

    Important: Use a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® antifreeze and clean drinkable water. Always use more coolant than necessary. This will eliminate air from being drawn into the cooling system.

  9. Pour the coolant mixture into the graduated reservoir.
  10. Important: Prior to installing the vacuum tank onto the graduated reservoir, ensure the drain valve located on the bottom of the tank is closed.

  11. Install the vacuum tank on the graduated reservoir with the fill hose routed through the cut-out area in the vacuum tank.

  12. Object Number: 1617440  Size: SH
  13. Attach a shop air hose to the venturi assembly. Ensure the valve on the venturi assembly is closed.

  14. Object Number: 1617441  Size: SH
  15. Attach the vacuum hose to the vacuum gage assembly and the vacuum tank.

  16. Object Number: 1617442  Size: SH
  17. Open the valve on the venturi assembly. The vacuum gage will begin to rise and a hissing noise will be present.

  18. Object Number: 1617443  Size: SH
  19. Continue to draw vacuum until the needle stops rising. This should be 610-660 mm (24-26 in Hg). Cooling hoses may start to collapse. This is normal due to vacuum draw.
  20. To aid in the filling process, position the graduated reservoir above the fill neck.

  21. Object Number: 1617446  Size: SH
  22. Slowly open the valve on the vacuum gage assembly. When the coolant reaches the top of the fill hose, close the valve. This will eliminate air from the fill hose.
  23. Close the valve on the venturi assembly.
  24. If there is a suspected leak in the cooling system, allow the system to stabilize under vacuum and monitor for vacuum loss.
  25. If vacuum loss is observed, refer to Loss of Coolant .

  26. Open the valve on the vacuum gage assembly. The vacuum gage will drop as coolant is drawn into the system.

  27. Object Number: 1617448  Size: SH
  28. Once the vacuum reaches zero, close the valve on the vacuum gage assembly and repeat steps 10 and 16.
  29. Detach the Vac-N-Fill cap from the GE-47844 .
  30. Remove the GE-47844 from the fill neck.
  31. Add coolant to the system as necessary.
  32. Inspect the concentration of the coolant mixture using J 26568 .
  33. The vacuum tank has a drain valve on the bottom of the tank. Open the valve to drain coolant from the vacuum tank into a suitable container for disposal.

  34. Object Number: 1644374  Size: SH
  35. Install the charge air cooler cap.
  36. Ensure the charge air cooler cooling fill cap is installed in the proper orientation:
  37. • The alignment boss (1) is at the rear of the charge air cooler manifold.
    • The alignment boss (2) is at the front of the charge air cooler cooling filling cap.

    Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 1606522  Size: SH
  38. Install the charge air coolant cap bolts.
  39. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

  40. Inspect the charge air cooling system for leaks.
  41. Install the manifold sight shield. Refer to Intake Manifold Sight Shield Replacement .