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Service & Appearance Care
232
3800 V6: Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace:
I,+ Loosen the four wing nuts.
Air Cleaner (CONT.)
3800 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner
Filter
2. Pull the top of the air cleaner toward
the front of the vehicle and remove
the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing nuts securely.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at an Oldsmobile dealership
Service Department. If you do it
yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
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;:-...Too much or too little fluid can
your transaxle.
Too much
that some of the fluid
out and fall on hot
..engine parts, starting a fire. Be
accurate reading if Wait
at least
30 minutes before checking
the transaxle fluid level
if you have been
driving:
When outside temperatures are above
90" F (32 " C) .
At high speed for quite awhile.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot
weather.
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 km) when outside
temperatures are above
50" F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may
have to drive longer.
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 shifi lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in P (Park).
five minutes.
Let the engine run at idle for three to
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Service & Appearance Care
234
Automatic mansaxle Fluid (CONK)
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
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be
in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should
be, push the dipstick back
in all the
way.
I
3.1L V6: Checking Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
I
3800 V6: Checking Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind
of transaxle fluid to
use. See the Index under Fluids &
Lubricants.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level into
the cross-hatched area on the dipstick.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint (0.5 L). Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use
only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids with that
label are made especially for your
automatic transaxle. Damage caused
by
fluid other than DEXRON -DE is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under
How to Check.
When the correct fluid level is obtained,
push
the dipstick back in all the way.
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Service & Appearance Care
Engine Coolant (CONT.)
I
fmIlTIfi I I
Adding only plain water to I
L L your cooling system can be
aangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
I
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water or the
wrong
mix, your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mi
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
I
I’
NOTICE
If you use an improper coolant
mix, your engine could overheat
and be badly damaged. The repail
cost wouldn’t
be covered by your
warranty. Too much water
in the
mix can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
I
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant:
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be
at COLD, or a little
higher. When
your engine is warm, the
level should be
up to mJLL HOT, or a
little higher.
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3.1L V6: Checking Coolant
3800 V6: Checking Coolant
To Add Coolant:
If you need more coolant, add the Add
coolant mix at the recovery tank,
r
proper mix at the coolant recovery but be careful not to spill it.
tank.
coolant on hot engine parts.
cap when the engine and Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
radiator are hot can allow steam and it will burn if the engine parts
and scalding liquids to blow out are hat enough. Don’t spill coolant
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
radiator are
hot
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Service & Appearance Care
238
Radiator Pressure Cap
(105 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
$3
coolant loss and possible engine +-
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
the overflow tube on
the radiator
filler neck.
When
you replace your radiator pressure
cap, an
AC@ cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat
in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow
of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
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 (Hot)
mark.
the level should be at the
C (Cold)
mark.
When the engine compartment is cool,
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Engine ldentification
The eighth character in your VIN is the
engine code for your
GM engine. This
code will help you identify your engine,
specifications, and replacement parts in
this section.
,* .
.-
Service Parts Identification Label
You'll find this label inside the glove
box door. It's very helpful if
you ever
need to order parts. On this label is:
Your VIN.
Its model designation.
Paint information.
A list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed
from the vehicle.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
Don't add anything electrical to
.: your Oldsmobile unless you check
: with your dealer first. Some
~% electrical equipment can damage
your vehicle and the damage
wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Some
of it can just keep
4 other things from working as they
3
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Service & Appearance Care
268
/njector 3365 Fuse
(3800 V6 ENGINE ONLY)
This 20-amp fuse is located underhood,
on a bracket just behind the passenger
side headlight.
It is mounted on the face
of the bracket in the position closest to
the passenger side of the vehicle. The
fuse services the injectors, fuel pump,
oil pressure sender and fuel pump
switch.
To access the fuse, pry back the latch
with a screwdriver,
then pull down on
the base of the unit. If you need to
replace the fuse, be sure to use a
20-amp fuse.
Push the base of the unit
firmly up into
the cover until
the latch snaps into the
locked position.
Head/ight Wiring
The headlight wiring is protected by a
circuit breaker in the light switch. An
electrical overload will cause the lights
to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain off.
If this happens, have your
headlight system checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected
by a circuit breaker and
a fuse. If the
motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc.
,
the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some
electrical problem, have it fixed.
Power Windows and Other
Power Options
Circuit breakers in the circuit
breakerhelay panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories.
When the current load is too heavy, the
circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem
is fixed.
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