GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2000 🢒 Firefly (Canada) 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Controls - 1.0L 🢒 Cooling System Draining and Filling

Caution: Under some conditions, the ethylene glycol engine coolant is combustible. In order to help avoid being burned, do not spill the antifreeze or the coolant on the exhaust system or the hot engine parts.

Caution: Do not remove the radiator cap when the radiator is warm. Removing the cap immediately lowers the boiling point of the coolant, and could cause a violent overflow, resulting in a large coolant loss and personal injury.

Notice: Alcohol, methanol-based coolants or plain water alone should not be used in the cooling system at any time. Damage to the cooling system could result from their use.

Important: 

   • Maintain the cooling system protection at -36°C (-33°F).
        This temperature will prevent corrosion and loss of coolant from boiling. Maintain this level of protection even if extreme temperatures are not expected.
   • The manufacturer fills the cooling system with a coolant that is a 50/50 mixture of water and ethylene glycol coolant. This coolant solution provides freezing protection to -36°C (-33°F).
   • Add ethylene glycol coolant to the coolant reservoir when the coolant level is low.
        Refer to the coolant proportioning chart and to the coolant capacity chart.

  1. Remove the radiator cap.
  2. Start the engine. Run the engine for 15 minutes.

    3. Important: Dispose of used coolant in a coolant holding tank which you pick up with used oil.

    Do not pour used coolant down the drain. Ethylene glycol coolant is a toxic chemical. Do not dispose of ethylene glycol coolant into the sewer system or into the ground water.

  3. Stop the engine.

    4. Object Number: 233531 Size: SH
  4. Open the drain plug (2) on the radiator.

    5. Drain the coolant into a container.

  5. Close the drain plug (2).
  6. Fill the cooling system with water.
  7. Repeat the drain and the fill procedure until the drained water is clean.
  8. Close the radiator drain plug (2).

    9. Object Number: 233533 Size: SH
  9. Remove the hose (1) from the reservoir cap.
  10. Slide the coolant reservoir (2) out of the mounting bracket.
  11. Use soap and water in order to clean the inside of the coolant reservoir.
  12. Thoroughly rinse the coolant reservoir.
  13. Install the coolant reservoir to the vehicle.
  14. Prepare a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol coolant GM P/N 1052753, or of an equivalent, and water.
  15. Fill the radiator to the base of the radiator filler neck.
  16. Fill the coolant reservoir to the FULL mark on the reservoir.
  17. Install the reservoir hose (1) to the reservoir cap.
  18. Run the engine until the coolant reaches operating temperature. The coolant is at running temperature when the following conditions exist:
    19. • The hoses feel warm.
    • The coolant is moving in the radiator.
  19. Add coolant to the radiator until the coolant level reaches the radiator filler neck.
  20. Install the radiator cap.
  21. Inspect the following components for leaks:
    22. • The radiator
    • The coolant reservoir
    • The coolant pipe connections
    • The hose connections
  22. Tighten any loose connections as necessary.