1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme tires

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.

Problems on the Road
212
Compact Spare Tire (CONT.)
YBTICE
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method laown as “rocking” can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
Don’t use your compact spare
on some
other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or
wheel with other wheels
or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel
together.

CAUTION I
A
If you let your tires spin at
high speed, they can explode
and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of
the vehicle can overheat. That
could cause an engine compartment
fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels
above
35 mph (56 lun/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That will clez the area around
your front wheels. Then shift back and
forth between
R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as
little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the
transaxle
is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you
out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If you do need to be
towed out, see the
Index under Towing
Your Oldsmobile.
213

Checking Aim of the Headlights
@-DOOR MODELS)
Your vehicle has the 55 x 135 mini-
quad headlight system. These
headlights have horizontal and vertical
aim indicators. The aim has been preset
at the factory and should need no
further adjustment. To check
the aim, the vehicle should be
properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle must have all four tires on
a perfectly level surface.
The vehicle should not have any
snow, ice or mud attached to it.
9 There should not be any cargo or
loading
of vehicle, except it should
have a
full tank of gas and one person
or
160 pounds (75 kg) on the driver’s
seat.
Tires should be properly inflated.
The horizontal indicator should read
0 (zero).
241

Service & Appearance Care
246
To Replace a Headlight (CONT.)
To check the aim, the vehicle should be
properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle must have all four tires on
a perfectly level surface.
The vehicle should not have any
snow, ice or mud attached to it.
There should not be any cargo or
loading of vehicle, except it should
have a full tank
of gas and one person
or
160 pounds (75 kg) on the driver's
seat.
Tires should be properly inflated.
The horizontal indicator should read
0 (zero). If
your vehicle is damaged in
an
accident and the headlight aim seems to
be affected, see your Oldsmobile dealer.
Headlights on damaged vehicles may
require recalibration of the horizontal
aim by your Oldsmobile dealer.
Headlight Replacement
(4-DOOR MODELS)
See the Index under Replacement
Bulbs to check the type of bulb to use.
To Replace a Bulb:
1. Turn the L-shaped bulb assembly
counterclockwise
*I6 turn until the
flanges align with the slots in the
retainer ring. You may need to twist
it back and forth slightly to loosen it.

Sewice & Appearance Care
Windshield Wper Blade
Replacement
Replacement blades come in different
types and are removed
in different
ways. Here’s how to remove the type
with a release clip:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away
2. Lift the release clip with a
from the windshield.
screwdriver and
pull the blade
assembly
off the wiper arm.
the wiper m.
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight it may properly carry. The
Tire-Loading Information label found on the inside
of the trunlc lid tells you
the proper size, speed rating and
recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on your vehicle. It
also gives
you important information about the
number
of people that can be in your
vehicle and the total weight that you
can carry. This weight is called the
Vehicle Capacity Weight and includes
the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
The other label is the Certification label,
on the rear edge
of the driver’s door. It
tells you the gross weight capacity
of
your vehicle, ded the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle,
all
occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed
the
GVWR for your vehicle, or the
Gross Axle~Weight Rating (GAWR) for
either the front
or rear axle.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you
should spread it out. Don’t cany
more
than 167 lbs, (75 kg) in your trunk.

Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a serious accident. See
Loading Your
Vehicle earlier in this section.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as overloaded tires. The resulting
accident could cause serious injury. Check all tires frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked when your tires are
cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact, such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires at the recommended
pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your tread is badly worn, or if your
tires have been damaged, replace them.

Inflation-Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label
which is on the inside of the trunk lid
shows the correct inflation pressures for
your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for
at least three hours or driven no more
than a mile. When to Check
Check your tires once a month or
more.
Don’t forget your compact spare
tire. It should be
at 60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check:
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at
the tires will not tell you the pressure,
especially
if you have radial tires-
which may look properly inflated even
if
they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
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253