
Problems on the Road
I62
10. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and run the engine for a
while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
dead battery. If it won’t start after a
few tries,
it probably needs service. w I
12. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don’t touch each
other or any other metal.
A
8
liowing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a
xofessional towing service tow your
3ldsmobile. The usual towing
:quipment
is:
[A) Sling-type tow truck
[B) Wheel-lift tow truck
:C) Car carrier
f your vehicle has been changed or
nodified since it was factory-new by
idding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
tero skirting, or special tires and
vheels, these instructions and
llustrations may not be correct.
3efore you do anything, turn on the
lazard warning flashers.
ProCarManuals.com

Here you will find information about
the care of
your Oldsmobile . This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it shows how
to check important fluid and
lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about
your
vehicle. and a section devoted to its
appearance care
.
Part 6
Service & Appearance Care
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 182
Fuel
........................................................................\
.................................................. 183
Hood Release ........................................................................\
................................... 186
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
........................................ 190
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
...................................... 194
Transaxle Fluid
........................................................................\
................................ 195
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
................................ 197
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
....................... 199
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
................ 200
Brakes
........................................................................\
.............................................. 201
Battery
........................................................................\
............................................. 203
Bulb Replacement
........................................................................\
........................... 203
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
................................................................... 205
Loading Your Vehicle
........................................................................\
..................... 206
Tires
........................................................................\
................................................. 207
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
............................. 212
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.................................................................... 218
Add-on Electrical Equipment
........................................................................\
........ 219
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 219
Capacities and Specifications
........................................................................\
......... 224
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................................................... 226
Fluids
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 227
Replacement
Bulbs ........................................................................\
.......................... 228
181
ProCarManuals.com

Service &Appearance Care
3100 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Air Cleaner
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoi
6. Battery r
7. Automatic
Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
ProCarManuals.com

P
3800 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
189
ProCarManuals.com

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern
vehicle is complex. Its many parts have
to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really
good braking. Vehicles we design and
test have top-quality
GM brake parts in
them, as your Oldsmobile does when it
is new. When you replace parts of your
braking system
- for example, when
your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put in
- be sure
you get new genuine
GM replacement
parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are
wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can
change,
for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone
puts in the wrong replacement brake
parts.
I Battery
Every new Oldsmobile has a Delco
Freedom@ battery.
You never have to
add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend a
Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that
has the catalog number shown on the
original battery‘s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle
for
25 days or more, take off the black,
negative
(-) cable from the battery. This
will help keep your battery from
running
down.
Contact your dealer to learn how to
prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
I Halogen Bulbs
203
ProCarManuals.com

lndex
Accessory Power Outlet ................... 84
Adding Brake Fluid
............................. 201. 227
Electrical Equipment
........ .60. 117 . 2 19
Engine Coolant
.......... 167.197.224. 227
Engine Oil
.............................. 190. 224
Power Steering Fluid
..... 199.225. 227
Sound Equipment
.......................... 11 7
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 195. 224. 227
Windshield Washer Fluid
...... 200. 227
Air Bag Readiness Light
..................... 27
Air Bags
............................................... 26
Air Cleaner
............................... 194. 226
Air Conditioner
................................ 11 1
Air Inflator System ............................. 85
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence
of ..................................... 132
Alcohol in Gasoline
.......................... 183
Aluminum Wheels .................... 21 1. 216
Antenna
............................................ 129
Anti-Lock
.......................................... 135
Anti-Lock Brake System
................... 135
Brake Master Cylinder ................... 201
Junction Block Fuse
...................... 222
Warning Light
................................ 104
Appearance Care
.............................. 212
Adjusting
Rear Seats
.......................... 17
Antifreeze
......................... 197. 224. 227
Ashtrays and Lighter
.................... 89. 90 Audio
Systems
.................................. 117
AM/FM Stereo Radio
.................... 1 19
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Compact
Disc Player
..................................... 124
Care
of Audio Systems .................. 128
Setting the Clock
........................... 117
Steering Wheel Touch Controls
.... 127
Adding Fluid
.................. 197. 225. 227
Checking Fluid
............................... 195
Shifting
............................................. 62
Battery
............................................ 203
Jump Starting
................................. 158
Battery Warning Gage ...................... 103
Blizzard
............................................. 149
Brake Cassette
Player
...................... 120. 122
Radio Reception. For the Best
...... 128
Automatic Transaxle
(( Blowout. .. Tire ................................ 172
Adjustment
.................................... 202
Anti-Lock Brakes
.......................... 135
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
............................................ 104
Fluid
....................................... 201. 227
Parking
............................................. 65
Pedal Travel
................................... 202
Rear
Drums .................................... 202
Junction
Block Fuse
...................... 222
Master Cylinder
............................. 201 Warning Light
................................ 103
Wear Indicators
............................. 202
Brake System Warning Light
........... 103
Braking
............................................. 134
Braking in Emergencies
................... 138
Braking Technique
........................... 134
“Break.1n.
.. New Vehicle ............. 57. 152
Bucket Seats. Removable Rear
.......... 15
Buckling Up (see
Safety Belts)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
....................................... 203
Taillight
.......................................... 204
Bulbs, Replacement
.......................... 228
Capacities
81 Specifications ............ 224
Carbon Monoxide in
Exhaust
...................... 57, 68. 150. 154
Cassette Tape Player
(see
Audio Systems )
Center Passenger Position
(see
Safety Belts)
Chains. Safety ................................... 154
Chains. Tire
.............................. 179, 212
Changing a Flat Tire
......................... 172
Checking
Brake Fluid
.................................... 201
Engine Coolant
.............................. 197
Engine Oil ...................................... 190
Power Steering Fluid
..................... 199
Safety Belt Systems
......................... 41
.
263
ProCarManuals.com

264
Things Under the Hood ................ 186
Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 195
Chemical Paint Spotting
.................. 217
Child Restraints
.................................. 35
How to Install
.................................. 35
Where to Put
.................................... 36
Children and Safety Belts
............ 34. 39
Child Security Lock
............................ 55
Circuit BrealtedRelay Panel ............ 222
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ................. 219
City Driving
...................................... 145
Cleaner, Air
.............................. 194, 226
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
......................... 216
Compact Discs
............................... 129
Fabric
..................................... 213, 214
Finish Care
..................................... 216
Foreign Material
............................ 2 16
Glass
.............................................. 215
Inside of Your Oldsmobile
............ 212
Leather and Vinyl
.......................... 214
Outside
of the Windshield and Wiper
Blades
............................................. 215
Outside
of Your Oldsmobile ......... 215
Safety Belts
.................................... 214
Special Problems
........................... 213
Stains. Removing
........................... 213
Cigarette Lighter
................................ 89
Cassette Tape Player
...................... 128
Top of the Instrument Panel
......... 214 Underbody
Maintenance
............... 217
Vinyl or Leather
............................. 214
Warnings
........................................ 2 12
Weatherstrips
................................. 216
Windshield
..................................... 215
Climate Control System
............ 11 1. 113
Clock. Setting the
............................. 117
Cluster. Instrument Panel .................. 98
Comfort Controls
............................. 11 1
Air Conditioner .............................. 11 1
Heater ............................................ 111
Rear ................................................ 113
Ventilation ..................................... 1 16
(see
Audio Systems )
Compact Disc Player
Compact Overhead Console
.............. 95
Compact Spare Tire
......................... 178
Compass Display
................................ 81
Console, Overhead ............................. 79
Control
of a Vehicle ......................... 134
Convenience Net
................................ 91
Convex Outside Mirror
...................... 87
Coolant ............................................. 197
Checking
& Adding ....................... 198
Proper Mixture to Use
............ 168, 197
Safety Warnings About
.................. 167, 168, 169, 198
Temperature Gage
......................... 103
Cruise Control
.................................... 72
Cup Holder/Ashtray, Front
............... 89 Curves. Driving
on
........................... 138
Customer Assistance Information
... 249
Dead Battery: What to
Do ............. 158
Defensive Driving
............................ 132
Defogger. Rear Window
................... 115
Defogging and Defrosting
................ 115
Delco LOC II@
................................. 126
Dome Lights
....................................... 84
Door Locks
............................. 45. 46. 52
Door. Power Sliding ................... 52. 107
Door. Sliding
...................................... 51
Driver Position
................................... 22
Driving At Night
......................................... 142
City
................................................. 145
Controlling a Skid
......................... 141
Defensively
.................................... 132
Drunlten
......................................... 132
Freeway
.......................................... 145
Hill and Mountain
......................... 147
In a Foreign Country ..................... 184
In Rain
........................................... 143
Long Distance
................................ 146
Loss
of Control .............................. 141
On Curves
...................................... 138
Passing ........................................... 140
Through Deep Standing Water
....... 60
Winter Driving
............................... 148
With a Trailer
................................. 151
ProCarManuals.com

Remote Control ................................ 48 .. Sliding Door ..................................... 52
Long Distance Driving
..................... 146
Low Battery
...................................... 158
Low Fuel Warning ............................ 101
Low Oil Pressure Warning
............... 102
Low Traction Light
........................... 105
Lubricants and Fluids ...................... 227
Luggage Carrier
.................................. 92
Maintenance Record
..................... 246
Maintenance Schedule
..................... 234
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
........... 106
Manual Front Seat
............................. 12
Manual Lap-Shoulder Safety Belt
..... 23
Methanol in Gasoline
....................... 183
Mileage Indicator
Mirrors (see
Odometer G. Speedometer)
Inside
Manual Day/Night ............... 86
Outside Convex
............................... 87
Power Remote Control
.................... 87
Mountain Driving
............................ 147
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Night Driving
................................... 142
Night Vision
..................................... 142
Visor Vanity
..................................... 88
Requirements ........................... 57.
152 Octane
Requirements
(see
Fuel Requirements)
Odometer & Speedometer ................. 99
Oil. Engine
........................................ 190
Pressure Gage
................................ 102
Pressure Indicator
......................... 101
Quality
........................................... 19 1
Thickness ....................................... 192
Used Oil
......................................... 194
When to Change
............................ 193
Oil Warning
...................................... 101
Outside Rearview Mirrors ................. 87
Overhead Console
........................ 79. 95
Overheated Engine
........................... 165
Warnings ................ 166. 187. 198. 199
Owner Checks
& Services ............... 240
Rrk. Shifting Into
............................. 66
Parking Over Things That Burn
................... 67
Parking Brake
..................................... 65
Passenger Belts (see
Safety Belts)
Passing .............................................. 140
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.. 243
Polishing and Waxing
With
the Engine Running
........... 67. 68
Payload
............................................. 206
(see
Appearance Care )
Power (Anti-Lock) Brakes ............... 135 Power
Door Locks
............................. 46
Power Mirrors
.................................... 87
Power Outlet. Accessory
.................... 84
Power Seat Controls
.......................... 13
Power Sliding Door .................... 52. 107
Power Steering
................................. 138
Power Steering Fluid ....... 199.225. 227
Power Windows
......................... 70. 223
During
.............................................. 30
Problems on the Road
...................... 157
Publications
...................................... 254
Pregnancy.
Use
of Safety Belts
Radiator Overheating
(see
Overheated Engine )
Radiator Pressure Cap ..................... 199
Radio (see
Audio Systems)
Reading Lights .................................... 80
Rear Climate Control
....................... 113
Rear Interior Lights ............................ 84
Rear Seats
........................................... 15
Removing ......................................... 16
Replacing
......................................... 18
Third Row Entry .............................. 15
Rear Window Defogger .................... 115
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
...... 79
Rearview Mirror
................................. 86
Reclining Seatbaclts
........................... 13
.. Ad~ustmg .......................................... 17
267
ProCarManuals.com