1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme check engine

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down. The
coolant level should be at or above
the
COLD mark.
If it isn’t,
you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
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- 1
CAUTION I
Heater and radiator hoses,
and other engine parts, can
1;, ;cry hot. Don’t touch them. If
you do,
you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a
leak. If you
run the engine, it could
lose all coolant. That could cause
an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before
I
you drive the vehicle.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see
if the electric engine fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running.
If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery
Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
COLD, add a
50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper
antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank.
(See the Index under Engine Coolant
for more information abaut the proper
coolant
mix.)
199

204
Problems on the Road
Engine Overheating (cow.)
IO. Then replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the
arrows on the pressure cap
line up like this.
1 1. Check the coolant recovery tank.
The coolant level should be at
HOT
when the engine is hot and at
COLD when the engine is cold.
Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to (‘blow out’’
while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever
have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and
grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well out of the trafEic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the
next section
shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.

226
Sewice & Appearance Care
Retractable Underhood Light
(OPTION)
To Use:
Pull the light away from the base and
attach it to the area
of the vehicle where
you
may be working. A magnet on the
back will hold it in place.
To Retract:
1. Turn the crank clockwise.
2. Slide the light back into its base.
Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
level every time you get fuel. In order to
get
an accurate reading, the oil must be
warm and the vehicle must be
on level
ground.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a
few minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
To Check Engine Oil:
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip lower.
3.1 L V6: Checking Engine Oil
Twin
Dual Cam 3.4L V6 : Checking
Engine
Oil

Service & Appearance Care
Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to replace the air filter
and the
PCV filter.
See the
Index under Scheduled
Maintenance Services.
Operating the engine with
the air cleaner off can cause
you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it
stops flame if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned.
Don’t drive with it
off, and be
careful working
on the engine with
the air cleaner off.
To Check or Replace:
1. Remove the four screws
the cover. and
pull off
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Automatic Transaxle Fluid (CONT.)
Wait at least 30 minutes before
checking the transaxle fluid level
if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite awhile.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 lm) when outside
temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F
(lO"C), you may
have to drive longer.
90°F (32°C).
weather.
To Check the Fluid Level:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
parking brake applied.
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting off the
Engine, Follow These Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
must be in the crosshatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
-

Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant:
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be between
the COLD
and HOT marks or a little higher.
When your
engine is warm, the level
should be u.p to HOT, or a little
higher.
If this light comes on, it means you’re
low
on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant:
If you need more coolant, add the
proper
mix at the coolant recovery
tank.
Turning the radiator pressure I
cap when the engine and
radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. With the
coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at
the radiator. Never turn the
radiator pressure cap-even a
little-when the engine and
radia
I are hot.
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n

Power Steering Fluid
How to Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot,
the
level should be at the H mark.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level should be at the
C
mark.
What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind
of fluid to use. See
the
Lndex under Fluids G Lubricants.
Windshield Washer Fluid
To Add
Open the cap labeled WASHER
FLUID
ONLY. Add washer fluid until
the bottle
is full.
237

Service & Appearance Care
270
Fuses & Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are
protected from short circuits by
a
combination of fuses, circuit breakers,
and fusible thermal links in the wiring
itself. This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Some fuses are located in a fuse block
in the glove box as shown above.
To
locate the fuse block, lift out the storage
bin inside the glove box. See the
diagram later in this section.
Another set of fuses is located in the
component center, under the
instrument panel.
Additional fuses are located in the
underhood electrical centers on the
right and left sides of the engine
compartment. Spare fuses
and a fuse puller are located
in the glove box lid. To remove the
cover, press in on both ends
of the
cover and pull it
off.
Place the wide end of the fuse puller
over the plastic end of the fuse. Squeeze
the ends over the fuse and pull it out.
To identify and check fuses, refer to the
charts on the following pages. Look
at the silver-colored band inside
the fuse. If the band is broken or
melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.