
Service  &Appearance  Care 
190 
Underhood  Light 
Your underhood  light  will  go  on when 
you  open  the  hood. 
Engine Oil 
It’s  a  good idea to check your engine  oil 
every  time you  get  fuel. In order to get 
an  accurate  reading, the oil must  be 
warm  and  the  vehicle must be on  level 
ground. 
Turn  off the  engine  and give  the oil a 
few  minutes  to drain  back into  the  oil 
pan. 
If you  don’t,  the  oil dipstick  might 
not  show  the actual  level. 
To Check  Engine  Oil 
Pull out the dipstick and clean  it with  a 
paper towel  or cloth,  then  push  it back 
in all  the  way.  Remove it again, keeping 
the  tip  lower, and check  the level. 
3100 V6: Checking  Engine  Oil 
3800 V6: Checking  Engine Oil 
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3100 V6: Replacing  Air  Cleaner  Filter 
2. Remove the air cleaner filter. 
3. Be sure  to  install the air cleaner filter, 
replace  the cover  and  tighten  the 
wing  nut securely. 
3800 V6 Checking Air Cleaner  Filter 
To Check  or  Replace: . 
1. Loosen  the four wing  nuts. 
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 
Scheduled Maintenance 
Services 
in  the Index. 
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. 
NOTICE: 
Too much or  too  little fluid  can 
damage your  transaxle. 
Too much 
can  mean  that some  of the  fluid 
could come  out  and fall on  hot 
engine  parts  or  exhaust  system, 
starting  a  fire. Be sure  to  get an 
accurate  reading if you  check your 
transaxle  fluid. 
Wait  at least 
30 minutes  before 
checking  the transaxle  fluid  level 
if you 
have  been  driving: 
When  outside  temperatures  are  above 
At high speed for  quite  a while. 
In heavy  traffic-especially  in hot 
While  pulling  a trailer. 
90°F (32°C). 
weather. 
195 
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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 
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Drunken Driving .............................. 132 
Electric  Outside Mirror Control 
...... 87 
Electrical  Equipment. 
Adding 
............................. 60.  117. 219 
Electronic  Level Control 
............ 94. 206 
Emergencies.  Braking  in 
.................. 138 
Emergencies  on the  Road 
................ 157 
Emergencies.  Steering in 
.................. 139 
Emergency  Starting 
.......................... 158 
Emergency  Towing ........................... 162 
Engine  Coolant 
................ 197,  224,  227 
Engine  Coolant  Heater 
....................... 61 
Engine  Coolant Temperature 
Gage 
............................................... 103 
Engine  Exhaust 
............ 57. 68,  150,  154 
Engine  Identification 
........................ 218 
Engine  Oil 
......................................... 190 
Additives 
........................................ 193 
Checking 
& Adding ............... 190. 191 
Disposing  of Used  Oil 
................... 194 
Energy  Conserving 
......................... 193 
Pressure  Gage 
................................ 102 
Pressure Indicator 
......................... 101 
Warning 
.......................................... 193 
When  to Change 
............................ 193 
Engine  Overheating 
......................... 165 
Engine  Specifications 
....................... 226 
Engine.  Starting 
.................................. 58 
Ethanol  in Gasoline .......................... 183 
Exhaust 
Dangerous  Gas 
Parking with  the Engine 
in 
............................. 57. 
68. 150. 154 
Running 
................................... 67.  68 
Expectant Mothers.  Use 
of Safety 
Belts 
................................................. 30 
Expressway  Driving 
......................... 145 
Extender.  Safety  Belt 
......................... 41 
Exterior Appearance 
Fabric  Cleaning 
Fan  Warnings 
............ 159. 160. 167. 187 
Filling  the Fuel  Tank ................ 185. 272 
Filter  Air  Cleaner 
............................ 194. 226 
Oil 
.......................................... 193. 226 
Finish Care 
....................................... 216 
Flat  Tire 
............................................ 172 
Flooded  Engine 
................................... 59 
Fluid  (see 
Appearance 
Care ) 
(see Appearance Care ) 
Flashers. Hazard Warning ............... 158 
Flow-Through Ventilation 
............... 116 
Brake 
...................................... 200. 227 
Capacities 
....................................... 224 
Power  Steering 
.............. 199. 225. 227 
Transaxle 
....................... 195.  224.  227 
Windshield  Washer 
................ 200.  227 Fluids 
& Lubricants ......................... 227 
Fog  Lights 
............................................ 76 
Freeway  Driving 
............................... 145 
Fuel 
................................................... 183 
Alcohol  in  Fuel 
.............................. 183 
Capacity 
......................................... 185 
Exhaust Warnings ..... 57. 68. 150. 154 
Filling 
Your Tank .......................... 185 
Fuels  with Alcohol 
......................... 183 
Gage 
............................................... 100 
In  Foreign  Countries ..................... 184 
Low.  Warning 
................................ 101 
Methanol  in  Fuel 
........................... 183 
Requirements ................................. 183 
Fuse Panel  and Usage .............. 220.  221 
Fuses 
& Circuit Breakers ................. 219 
Anti-Lock  Brakes Fuse 
.................. 222 
Injector Fuse 
.................................. 223 
Gages  Coolant Temperature 
.................... 103 
Fuel 
................................................ 100 
Oil  Pressure ................................... 102 
Oil  Pressure Indicator 
................... 101 
Tachometer 
...................................... 99 
Voltmeter 
....................................... 103 
Garage Door  Opener Compartment 
.. 80 
Gasoline 
............................................ 183 
Gasoline  Tank, Filling  Your 
............ 185 
Gas Station  Information .................. 272 265 
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