1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 223

If No Steam Is Coming FromYour Engine If you get the overheat warning but or hear no see steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you: Climb a long hill on a hot day. Stop after high-speed driving. Idle for long periods in traffic. Tow a trailer. If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, so: try this for a minute or 1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off. 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed andopen the window as necessary. If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to besafe, drive slowerfor about 10 minutes. If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive normally. If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away. If there's still no sign of steam, you can idle theengine for two or three minutes while you're parked, tosee if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out o the vehicle until it cools down. f You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away. 3. If you're in a trafficjam, shift to NEUTRAL (N); otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving -- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) for four-speed automatic or DRIVE (D) for three-speed automatic transaxles. 5-15