The cooling system consists of the following components:

The cooling system maintains engine coolant and automatic transmission/transaxle fluid temperature at an efficient level during all engine operating conditions. The thermostat controls the coolant circulation. When the engine is cold the thermostat remains closed and the engine coolant has little or no movement through the cooling system to allow the engine to warm up quickly. When the engine coolant reaches normal operating temperature, the thermostat opens, and the engine coolant starts to circulate through the engine to the radiator. The water pump, driven by the drive belt, circulates the engine coolant through the engine block, cylinder heads, heater core and radiator. The heated engine coolant flows to the coolant recovery reservoir, heater core and radiator. Some engine coolant heat is dissipated through the heater core but a majority of the required heat dissipation occurs through the radiator. Air, passing through the radiator, cools the engine coolant as the engine coolant passes from the inlet tank on the left side of the radiator, through horizontal core tubes, to the outlet tank on the right side of the radiator. Fins between the tubes of the radiator increase the efficiency of heat transfer by creating a larger surface area for the cooling air to pass over. Cooling air passing over the fins is directed through the radiator by the use of a deflector mounted under the front fascia, a baffle directing that air through the A/C condenser, the radiator and a pair of shrouded electric fans that pull the air through into the engine compartment. The electric fans receive electrical power through fuses and relays housed in the underhood accessory wiring junction block. The relays are controlled by the PCM. The PCM, located in the air box, uses the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor, A/C usage and other variables to determine cooling fan operation.

The coolant recovery reservoir is connected to the radiator by a overflow hose. The overflow hose is connected to the radiator at the neck of the radiator adjacent to the radiator pressure cap. The overflow hose allows engine coolant to flow to and from the coolant recovery reservoir as the engine coolant expands and contracts with engine cooling system temperature. The overflow hose connects to the coolant recovery reservoir through the coolant recovery reservoir cap. The overflow hose extends down from the coolant recovery reservoir cap into the bottom of the coolant recovery reservoir. The coolant recovery reservoir cap also serves as the fill point for engine coolant. A radiator pressure cap seals the cooling system, causing the system to operate at a higher than atmospheric pressure. The high pressure operation raises the boiling point of the engine coolant to about 125°C  (257°F), increasing the cooling efficiency of the radiator.

Two quick-connect fittings on the outside of the outlet tank on the right side of the radiator are connected to a transmission oil cooler located inside the outlet tank. Transmission oil cooler lines are connected from the transmission to quick-connect fittings. A/T fluid is pumped by the transmission through a transmission oil cooler feed line to the transmission oil cooler upper inlet quick-connect fitting. The A/T fluid temperature is regulated by the temperature of the engine coolant that surrounds the transmission oil cooler as the A/T fluid passes down through the transmission oil cooler. The A/T fluid leaves the transmission oil cooler through the lower transmission oil cooler outlet quick-connect fitting and returns back to the transmission through the transmission oil cooler return line.