Thread: P0440 error/fault code

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

when the cars cooled off, open the radiator cap, not the res tank. look inside fill if needed. bleed it, then watch for it to drop or not.

Ok.. So a few questions to your suggestion about bleeding the Radiator. My boyfriend doesn't believe I should be doing this (he thinks you can just top it off because as I said before, he works on old school cars and Diesel Trucks), so therefore, will not help me do this as he doesn't think it is necessary or Transmission Fluid (even though I showed him that the original warranty even states this).

1. I found this webpage about how to do it myself and am wondering if this is correct, or if there is anything else I have to do or not do? Again, it's a 2000 Grand Prix - GT How to Flush the Radiator in a Pontiac Grand Prix | eHow.com

2. If these steps are correct.. Step 2 states to turn the cap one full turn. Does that mean not to completely open it until I am sure that there is no pressure or whatever?

3. How do you "blow" the drain plug? Meaning just to open it or actually use something that blows the liquid out?

4. Step 8 says to turn the heat to "high", however, "high" (or 5) doesn't work on my car. It's the only heat/cold setting that doesn't work. Is putting it on 4 good enough?

5. What is the cooling fan and how do I know if it came on twice?

6. After I've done all this, it says to recheck the coolant level. I assume they mean after the engine cooled off again, right?


I'm sorry that my questions are probably ridiculous to you, because they seem to me like they are as I'm asking them (like the answers should be obvious), but I legitimately don't know the answers. I've never worked on a car in my life and don't the first thing about them other than putting the key in the ignition, turning it on and driving. I'm learning as I go though, but it's just a lot to take in when there's so much to learn.