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Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater)
(OPTION)
In very cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or
colder, the engine coolant heater can
help.
You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine
warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater
should be plugged in a minimum of four
hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-
electrical cord.
volt outlet.
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant
heater, be sure to store the cord as
it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you don’t, it
could be damaged. How long
should you keep the coolant
warmer plugged in? The answer
depends on the weather, the kind of oil
you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here,
we ask that you contact an Oldsmobile
dealer
in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The dealer can
give you the best advice for that
particular area. I
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NOTICE:
~~
Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Trying to start your
Oldsmobile by pushing or pulling it
won’t work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Oldsmobile:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt
system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other. If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start your
Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll.
Set the parking brake
firmly on each
vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in P (Park) or a manual transmission in
N (Neutral).
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could
be badly damaged. The repairs
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries. Find the positive
(+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each
battery.
II
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Problems on the Road
146
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral). If
you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes.
If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed.
Bring the engine speed back to normal
idle speed after two or three minutes.
Now see
if the warning stops. But then,
if you still have the warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
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
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down.
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Filling Your Tank
Fuel Capacity: 20 U.S. Gallons (76 L)
Use unleaded fuel only.
The cap is behind a hinged door on the
left side
of your vehicle.
To take
off the cap, turn it slowly to the
left (counterclockwise). Be
careful not to spill gasoline. Clean
gasoline from painted surfaces as soon
as possible. See
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Oldsmobile in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to
the right until you hear a clicking noise.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get
the right type.
Your dealer can get
one for you. If you get the wrong
type, it may not fit
or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and
emissions system might be damaged.
rn I IP I
I Checking fiings Under the
Hood
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants and important
parts under the hood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the HOOD
RELEASE handle inside the vehicle.
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Service &Appearance Care
Then go to the front of the vehicle and
pull up on the underhood release.
Lift the hood. The
prop rod may be hot due to
increased engine temperatures under
the hood. Use the prop rod sleeve when
handling the prop rod.
Press down on the prop rod to release it
from its storage clip. Then put the end
of the prop rod into the slot in the
underside of the hood. Before closing
the
hood, be sure all the
filler caps are on properly. Then lift the
hood to relieve pressure on the prop
rod. Remove the prop rod from the slot
in the hood and return the prop to its
retainer. Then just let the hood down
and close it firmly.
Underhood Light
Your underhood light will come on
whenever
you open the hood.
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4.3L V6 Engine (CODE w)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Air Cleaner
7. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
IO. Battery
a
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