Service & Appearance Care
248
Inflation-Tire Pressure
The CertificatiodTire label which is on
the rear edge of the driver’s door 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. Don’t
let anyone tell you that
underinflation
or overinflation is
all right. It’s not. If your tires don’t
have enough air (underinflation),
you can get:
Too much flexin1
Too much heat
Tire overloadine
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air
(overinflation), you can get:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road
I
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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Tire lnspection and Rotation
ro make your tires last longer, have them
[nspected and rotated at the mileages
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See the
Index under
Ycheduled Maintenance Services.
Use this rotation pattern. After the tires
nave been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressure
as shown on the
Zertification/Tire label. Make certain
:hat all wheel nuts are properly
ightened. See the
Index under Wheel
Vut Torque.
1
b the parts to which it i
astened, can make wheel
3ecome loose after a time.
wheel could come off and cause an
dccident. When you change a
wheel, remove any
rust or dirl
from places where the wheel
ttaches
to the vehicle. In ar
ergency, you can use a clot1
L paper towel to do this; but b
sure
to use a scraper or wire 1:
later, if you need to, to get all the '
rust or die off. (See the Idex
under Changing a Flat Tire).
When lt's Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it's time for new
tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear when your
tires have only
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or
less
of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if:
You can see the indicators at three
You can see cord or fabric showing
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
places
around the tire,
through the tire's rubber.
or snagged deep enough to show cord
or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can't be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
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Service & Appearance Care
252
Temperature-A, B, C (CONT)
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the
sidewalls of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have
been approved for use on General Motors vehicles.
All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal
safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However,
if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked
or badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep
coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced. If
the wheel leaks air out, replace it
(except some aluminum wheels, which
can sometimes be repaired). See your
Oldsmobile dealer
if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need
to replace any of your
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with
new GM
original equipment parts.
This way, you
will be sure you have the right wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Oldsmobile model.
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Maintenance Schedule
lnfroducfion
276
A Word About Maintenance
We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle in
good working condition. But we don’t know exactly how
you’ll drive
it. You may drive very short distances only a
few times a week. Or
you may drive long distances all the
time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in
making deliveries.
Or you may drive it to work, to do
errands or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
GM vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. You may even need more frequent
checks and replacements than you will find in the schedules
in this part. So please read this part and note how you drive.
If you have any questions on how to keep your vehicle in
good condition, see your Oldsmobile dealer, the place many
GM owners choose to have their maintenance work done.
Your dealer can be relied upon to use proper parts and
practices.
your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures are
important. Improper vehicle maintenance or the removal of
important components can significantly affect the quality of
the air we breathe. Improper fluid levels or even the wrong
tire inflation can increase the level of emissions from your
vehicle.
To help protect our environment, and to help keep
your vehicle
in good condition, please maintain your vehicle
properly.
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Section B: Owner Checks & Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should
be performed at
the intervals specified to help ensure the
safety, dependability and emission control performance of
your vehicle. Be
sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in
Section D.
At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood check\
s at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
I OR SERVICE I
Engine Oil Level
Engine Coolant Level
I
Windshield Washer
Fluid Level
WHAT TO DO
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See the Index under Engine Oil for
further details.
Check the engine coolant level in the coolant recovery
tank and add the proper coolant mix if
necessary. See the Index under Coolant for further details.
Check the windshield washer fluid level
in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid
if necessary. See the
Index under Windshield Washer Fluid for further details.
At Least Once a Month
CHECK
I I OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO 1
Tire Inflation
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Certification/
Tire label located
on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See the Index under Eres for further details.
287
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Index
Accessory Power Outlet .......... 89
Adding Brake Fluid
............. .240. 272
Engine Coolant
.. .198. 236. 269. 272
Engine Oil
............. .225. 269
Power Steering Fluid
.. .239. 270. 272
Sound Equipment
............. 121
Transaxle Fluid
..... .234. 269. 272
Adjusting Rear Seats
............. 19
Air Cleaner
.............. .230. 271
Air Conditioner
................ 114
Air Inflator System
.............. 90
Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence
of ......................... 145
Alcohol in Gasoline
............. 217
Aluminum Wheels
........ .252. 260
Antenna
...................... 136
Antifreeze
........... .235. 269. 272
Anti-Lock Brake System
......... 149
Brake Master Cylinder
........ 240
Junction Block Fuse
.......... 267
Warning Light
............... 109
Appearance Care ............... 254
Ashtrays and Lighter
..... .94. 95. 96
Electrical Equipment
.. .63.
121. 263
Windshield Washer Fluid
.. .239. 292 Audio Systems
................. 121
AM/FM Stereo Radio
......... 123
Cassette Player
........ .125. 127
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player
........ 129
Care of Audio Systems
......... 135
Radio Reception. For the Best
... 134
Setting the Clock
............. 122
Steering Wheel Touch Controls
. . 134
Adding Fluid
....... .234. 269. 272
Checking Fluid
.............. 232
Shifting
..................... 65
Automatic Transaxle
Battery
...................... 242
Jump Starting
................ 187
Battery Warning Gage
........... 107
Blizzard
...................... 175
Block Heater. Engine ........ .63. 229
“Blowout
,” Tire ................ 203
Brake Adjustment
.................. 153
Anti-Lock Brakes
............. 149
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
..................... 109 Junction Block
Fuse
........... 267
Fluid
.................. .240. 272
Master Cylinder
.............. 240
Parking
..................... -68
Pedal Travel
................. 152
Rear Drums
................. 152
Warning Light
................ 108
Wear Indicators
............... 151
Brake System Warning Light
...... 108
Braking
....................... 148
Braking in Emergencies
.......... 153
Braking Technique .............. 148
“Break-In,” New Vehicle
..... .60, 178
Bucket Seats, Removable Rear
...... 17
Buckling Up (see Safety Belts)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
................... 243
Taillight
.................... 244
Bulbs, Replacement
............. 273
Capacities
& Specifications ...... 269
Carbon Monoxide in
Cassette Tape Player Exhaust
.... .60, 71, 72,
111, 175, 181
(see
Audio Systems)
311
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312
Center Passenger Position (see Safety
Chains. Safety ................. 180
Chains. Tire
.............. .2l2. 253
Changing a Flat Tire
............ 204
Checking Brake Fluid
.................. 240
Engine Coolant
............... 236
Engine Oil
.................. 225
Power Steering Fluid
.......... 238
Things Under the Hood
........ 220
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 232
Child Restraints
................. 35
How to Install ................. 35
Where to Put
................. 36
Children and Safety Belts
..... .34, 40
Cigarette Lighter ................ 94
Circuit BreakerIRelay Panel
....... 267
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ......... 264
City Driving
................... 165
Cleaner. Air
.............. .230. 271
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............ 260
Cassette Tape Player
........... 135
Belts)
Safety Belt Systems ............ 42
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......... 262 Compact Discs
............... 136
Finish Care
.................. 259
Foreign Material
.............. 261
Glass
...................... 258
Inside of Your Vehicle
......... 255
Leather or Vinyl
.............. 257
Outside of the Windshield
and Wiper Blades
........... 259
Outside
of Your Vehicle ....... -259
Safety Belts
.................. 258
Special Problems
............. 257
Stains. Removing
............. 257
Top of the Instrument Panel
..... 258
Underbody Maintenance
........ 261
Vinyl or Leather
.............. 257
Warnings
................... 254
Weatherstrips
................ 260
White Sidewall Tires
.......... 260
Windshield
.................. 259
Climate Control System
...... .114, 117
Clock, Setting the
............... 122
Cluster, Instrument Panel
......... 102
Comfort Controls
............... 113
Air Conditioner
............... 114
Heater
...................... 115
Fabric .................. .255. 256 Rear
........................ 116
Ventilation
................... 120
Compact Disc Player (seeAudio Systems)
Compact Overhead Console ....... 99
Compact Spare Tire
............. 212
Compass Display
................ 87
Console, Overhead
.............. 85
Control of a Vehicle
............ -147
Convenience Net
................ 96
Convex Outside Mirror
........... 92
Coolant
...................... 235
Checking
& Adding ........... 236
Proper Mixture to Use
......... 198
Safety Warnings About
.. .199. 200, 236
Temperature Gage
............. 108
Cruise Control
.................. 75
Cup HoldedAshtray, Front ......... 94
Curves. Driving on
.............. 154
Customer Assistance Information
. . 297
Dead Battery: What
to Do ....... 187
Defensive Driving
.............. 144
Defogger. Rear Window
.......... 119
Defogging and Defrosting
......... 118
Delco LOC
II@ ................. 132
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Dome Lights ................... 89
Door Locks
............. .47.48. 54
Door. Power Sliding
......... .54. 111
Door. Sliding
................... 53
Driver Position .................. 25
Driving
....................... 139
AtNight
.................... 159
City
........................ 165
Controlling a Skid
............. 158
Defensively
.................. 144
Drunken
.................... 145
Freeway
.................... 166
Hill and Mountain
............ 170
In a Foreign Country
........... 218
In Fog. Mist and Haze
......... 164
In Rain
..................... 161
Long Distance
................ 168
Loss
of Control ............... 158
On Curves
................... 154
Passing
..................... 156
Through Deep Standing Water
.............. 63
Winter Driving
............... 173
With a Trailer
................ 181
Drunken Driving
............... 145
- .
Electric Outside Mirror Control ... 92
Electrical Equipment.
Adding
............. .63. 121. 263
Electronic Level Control
..... .99. 245
Emergencies. Braking in ......... 153
Emergencies on the Road
......... 185
Emergencies. Steering in
......... 155
Emergency Starting
............. 187
Emergency Towing
.............. 191
Engine Block Heater
........ .63. 229
Engine Coolant
....... .235. 269. 272
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
............. 108
Engine Exhaust
.... .60. 71. 72. 111. 175. 181
Engine Identification
............ 263
Engine Oil
.................... 225
Additives
................... 229
Checking
& Adding ...... .225. 226
Disposing
of Used Oil ......... 230
Energy Conserving
............ 228
Pressure Gage
................ 106
Pressure Indicator
............ -106
Warning
.................... 230
When to Change
.............. 229
Engine Overheating
............. 195 Engine Specifications
............ 271
Engine. Starting
................. 61
Ethanol in Gasoline
............. 217
Exhaust
Dangerous Gas
Parking with the in
......... .60.71.72.111.175. 181
Engine Running
......... .70. 72
Expectant Mothers.
Use of
Safety Belts .................. 29
Expressway Driving
............. 166
Extender. Safety Belt
............. 42
Exterior Appearance (see
Appearance Care)
n
&bric Cleaning (see Appearance Care)
Fan Warnings ...... .188. 189. 197. 222
Filling
the Fuel Tank ............ 219
Filter Air Cleaner
............. .230. 271
Oil
.................... .229. 271
Finish Care
................... 259
Flashers. Hazard Warning
........ 186
Flat Tire
...................... 203
Flooded Engine
................. 62
313
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