
1
How to Use this Manual
I
Wehicle Symbols (CONTJ
These symbols are on some of your
controls: These symbols are used on warning
and indicator lights:
Windshield Wipers
Engine Coolant
Temperature
Windshield Washer
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Defogger Ventilating Fan
Power Window
Here are some other symbols you
may see:
Fuse
Battery Charging
System Trunk Release
Lighter
Fuel
Engine
Oil Pressure
Brake
Anti-Lock Brakes Horn
Speaker
Hood Release
b

3. Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end of each lower
control
arm.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
gage or the warning light about a hot
engine
on your Oldsmobile’s instrument
panel.
You also have a low coolant
warning light on your instrument panel.
See the
Index under Coolant
Temperature Gage for the gage cluster.
r
If Steam is Coming from Your Engine:
CAUTION
A
Steam from an overheated
engine can burn you badly,
even if you just open the hood. Stay
away
from the engine if you see or
hear steam coming
from it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of steam
or coolant before opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids in
it can catch fire.
You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of
the vehicle until the engine is cool.
197

ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5
6
7
Engine Accessory Drive Belt (s) Inspection
(California
3.1L Code T engine”)-Inspect the
belt for cracks, fraying, wear and proper tension.
Replace as needed.
Camshaft Timing Belt Inspection
(3.4L Code X
engine only)*-Inspect for cracks, wear or oiliness.
Check tensioner for proper operation. See the
service manual. (To purchase a service manual,
see the
Index under Publications.) Replace parts
as needed.
Cooling System Service*-Drain, flush, and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See the
Index under Coolant. This provides proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level, and engine
operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they are cracked,
swollen or deteriorated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser. Wash the pressure cap
and neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a
pressure test of both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
8 Transaxle Service-Change both the fluid and
filter every 15,000 miles (25 000 ltm) if the vehicle
is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing. (With some
models, you shouldn’t ever tow a trailer. See the
Index under Towing a Trailer.)
Uses such as found in taxi, police car, or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any
of these
conditions, change both the fluid and filter every
100,000 miles (160 000 lun) .
Spark Plug Replacement*-Replace spark plugs
with the proper type. See the
Index under
Replacement Parts.
burns, cracks or other damage. Check the boot fit
at the coils and at the spark plugs. Replace wires
as needed.
10 Spark Plug Wire Inspection**-Inspect for
9
297

Console. Rear Seat ............................. 84
Control of
a Vehicle .......................... 147
Convenience Net
............................... 53
Convex Outside Mirror
...................... 81
Coolant (see Engine Coolant)
Cruise Control .................................... 70
Cup Holder
......................................... 83
Curves. Driving on ........................... 154
Customer Assistance Information
... 309
Daytime Running Lights
............... 77
Dead Battery: What to Do
.............. 189
Defects, Reporting Safety
................. 314
Defensive Driving
............................ 144
Defogger, Rear Window
........... 112, 116
Defrosting Windows
......................... 11 1
Disc Brake Wear Indicators ............. 151
Door Locks ........................................ 47
Defogging Your Windows
....... 11 1, 115
Downshifting
........................... 170, 182
Driver Information System
................ 89
Driver Position
.................................. 22
Driving
............................................. 139
At Night
.......................................... 159
City
................................................ 165 Controlling a Skid
.......................... 158
Defensively .................................... 144
Drunken
........................................ 145
Freeway
......................................... 166
Hill and Mountain
........................ 170
In a Foreign Country
..................... 220
In Fog. Mist and Haze
.................. 164
In the Rain
...................................... 161
Long Distance
............................... 168
Loss of Control
.............................. 158
On Curves ..................................... 154
Passing
........................................... 156
Through Deep Standing Water
....... 57
Winter Driving
.............................. 173
With
a Trailer ................................ 181
Drunken Driving ............................. 145
Electric Outside Mirror Control
...... 82
Electrical Equipment. Adding
......... 269
Electronic Climate Control
.............. 1 13
Emergencies. Braking in
.................. 153
Emergencies on the Road ................. 187
Emergencies. Steering in
.................. 155
Emergency Starting ......................... 189 Emergency Towing
.......................... 193
Engine Block Heater
.................. 57. 229
Engine Coolant
................................. 234
Checking
& Adding .............. 235. 278
Proper Mixture to Use
................... 234
Safety Warnings
Temperature Gage
........................... 95
Temperature Warning Light
........... 95
Engine Exhaust
.................................. 66
Engine Identification
........................ 269
Engine Oil
........................................ 226
Additives
........................................ 228
Capacity
.......................................... 276
Checking
& Adding ............... 226, 278
Energy Conserving
......................... 228
Filter
....................................... 229, 283
Temperature Warning Light
........... 96
Engine Overheating
......................... 197
Engine Specifications
...................... 282
Engine, Starting
................................... 55
Ethanol in Gasoline .......................... 219
About
.......................... 200. 234. 236
Disposing of Used Oil
.................... 229
Pressure Gage
................................. 97
When to Change
............................ 229
327

Exhaust Dangerous Gas
in ........................... 66
Parking with the Engine Running
.. 67
Expectant Mothers, Use
of
Safety Belts ....................................... 25
Expressway Driving
......................... 166
Exterior Appearance
Exteder,
Safety Belt
.......................... 41
(see
Appearance Care)
Fabric Cleaning
Fan Warnings ................... 190. 191. 198
Filling the Fuel Tank
............... 221. 277
Filter Air
........................................... 230. 283
Fuel
................................................. 283
Oil ........................................... 229. 283
Flash-to-Pass
...................................... 78
Flashers. Hazard Warning
............... 188
Flat Tire ............................................ 204
Flooded Engine
.................................. 56
(see Appearance Care)
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle
..................... 23 1
Brake ..................................... 238. 278
Capacities
...................................... 276
Power Steering
...................... 237. 279
Windshield Washer
................ 237. 279
Fluids
& Lubricants ........................ 278
Fog, Driving
in ................................. 164
Fog Lights
........................................... 79
Four-Way Power Articulation Control
............................................ 14
Freeway Driving
.............................. 166
French Language Manual
.................... 2
Fuel
.................................................. 219
Alcohol
in Fuel .............................. 219
Capacity
................................ 219, 277
Exhaust Warnings
........................... 66
Filling
Your Tank .................. 221, 277
Fuels with Alcohol
......................... 219
Gage
................................................ 94
In Foreign
Countries ...................... 220
Low Fuel Warning Light
.................. 95
Requirements
................................ 2 19
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ................ 270 Gages
Coolant Temperature
...................... 95
Fuel
................................................... 94
Voltmeter
.......................................... 98
Gas Station Information ................. 336
Gasoline
............................................ 219
Gasoline Tank,
Filling
Your ........................... 221, 277
Gear Positions (see
Shifting the Transaxle)
Gearshift Lever
(see
Shifting the Transaxle)
Glove Box ........................................... 54
Graphic Equalizer (see
Audio Systems)
Halogen Bulbs ..................... 240. 280
Hazard-Warning Flashers
............... :188
Headlight & Taillight.
Removing and Replacing
...... 243. 280
Headlights
........................................... 76
Aim ofthe, Checking
..................... 241
Aiming
............................................ 242
Flash-to-Pass
.................................... 78
..

Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
.......................................... 268
Temperature Warning Light
.............. 95
Theft
.................................................... 51
Thermostat
........................................ 236
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 68
Time, Setting the .............................. 118
Tires ................................................. 252
Buying New
................................... 255
Chains
................................... 212, 258
Flat, Changing
............................... 205
Inflation
.......................................... 253
Inspection
& Rotation ................... 254
Loading
.................................. 250, 254
Pressure
......................................... 253
Quality Grading
............................ 256
Spare, Compact
............................. 211
Wear Indicators
............................. 255
Wheel Alignment
& Tire
Balance
....................................... 257
Wheel Replacement
...................... 257
When to Replace Wheels
............... 257
Winter Driving,
and Tires
..................... 173, 174, 258
Top Strap
........................................... 32
Torque Lock
..................................... 173 Towing a Trailer
.............................. 176
Traffic Lights
................................... 142
Trailer Towing
................................. 176
Driving with a Trailer
.................... 18 1
Maintenance ................................... 183
Trailer Brakes
................................ 180
Turn Signals
................................... 182
(see
Automatic Transaxle)
(see Automatic Trmsaxle)
Towing Your Oldsmobile ................ 193
Parking on Hills
............................ 183
Transaxle, Automatic
Transmission. Automatic
Trip Odometer
............................. 92. 93
Trunk
.................................................. 52
Trunk. Remote Release
...................... 53
Turn Signal Indicator ........................ 69
Turn SignaVHeadlight Beam Lever
.. 69
Cruise Control
.................................. 70
Flash-to-Pass
.................................... 78
HigWLow Beam Changer
............... 78
Pulse Windshield Wipers ................. 75
Turn
& Lane Change Indicator ....... 69
Turn Signal Indicator
..................... 69
Windshield Washer
.......................... 75
Windshield Wipers
.......................... 74 Underhood
Light. Retractable
....... 226
Unleaded Gasoline
........................... 219
Urban Driving
.................................. 165
Upholstery Care
................................ 260
Khicle Identification Number
(VIN)
............................................. 268
Vehicle Storage
................................. 240
Ventilation
................................ 111. 117
VIN
................................................... 268
Voltmeter
........................................... 98
Vehicle Loading ................................ 250
Visor Vanity Mirrors
.......................... 82
Warning Flashers. Hazard
............ 188
Warning lights
Anti-Lock Brake System
................ 99
Battery
.............................................. 98
Brake
............................................... 98
Coolant Temperature ...................... 95
Fasten Belts ...................................... 21
Low Coolant .................................... 96
333