If No Steam Is Coming from the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is displayed but no steam can be seen or heard, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when the vehicle:
- Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
- Stops after high-speed driving.
- Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed with no sign of steam:
- Turn the air conditioning off.
- Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan speed. Open the windows as necessary.
- When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) for an automatic transmission or Neutral for a manual transmission, and let the engine idle.
If the overheat warning no longer displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle distance from the vehicle in front. If the warning does not come back on, continue to drive normally and have the cooling system checked for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine for three minutes while parked. If the warning is still displayed, turn off the engine until it cools down.
Test yourself
A quick Chevrolet Spark quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.