Page 143 of 340
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged.
If the mast should ever become
slightly bent,
you can straighten it out by hand. If the
mast
is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should
replace it.
Check every once in
a while to be sure the mast is still
tightened to the fender.
Rear Window Defogger Antenna (Option)
This particular rear window defogger also serves as a
radio antenna. If you have this option, do not apply
aftermarket glass tinting. The metallic film in some
tinting materials will interfere with or distort the
incoming radio reception.
3-17
Page 164 of 340

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis?” Or
is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call
it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in
less than a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you
do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise,
or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
4-20
Page 170 of 340

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than
just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way
to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour
or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your
Oldsmobile behind another vehicle for use at your
destination. Be sure to use the proper towing equipment
designed for recreational towing. Follow the instructions
for the towing equipment.
4-26
Page 195 of 340

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.
0 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. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
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 NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving --
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (03) or DRIVE (D) for
automatic transaxles.
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, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to 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.
5-13
Page 251 of 340

Tire Chains
NOTICE:
If your Oldsmobile has P195/65R15 or
P205/55R16 size tires, don’t use tire chains; they
can damage your vehicle.
If you have other tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when you must. Use only
SAE
Class “S” type chains that are the proper size for
your tires. Install them on the front tires and
tighten them
as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop and
retighten them.
If the contact continues, slow
down until
it stops. Driving too fast or spinning
the wheels with chains on will damage your
vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot
part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Oldsmobile, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. And always open your doors
or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
0 Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can
all be hazardous -- some more than others -- and
they can all damage your vehicle, too.
6-41
-
Page 255 of 340

Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don't use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals
on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later.
If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper
Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer,
or if the wiper- blade chatters when running, wax
or- other nuterial may be 011 the blade 01- windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder"." (GM Part No.
105001 1). 'The wir~dshield is clean if beads do not for111
when yo~t rinse it with watel.
Clean the blade
by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked
in full strength windshield washer solvent. 'rhen
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked
011 a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will tnake the111 last
longer, seal better,
and not stick 01' squeak. Apply
silicone grease
with a clean cloth at Ica~t ever-y six
months. During very cold,
darnp weather 11w-e frequent
application
may be required. (See "Kttco~nnletlded
Fluids
and Lubricants" in the I~ldex.)
Page 262 of 340

-L- El
F/P IN.1 e,
iNST LPS GAUGES
I I
H3LP CIRCUIT BREAKER
~ CIRCUIT PWR WDO
BREAKER
PWA ACC
BREAKEI? - CIRCUIT
Fuse Usage
PRNDL
F/P INJ
STOP HAZ
AIR BAG
INST. LPS Circuitry
Electronic PRNDL display (automatic transaxle)
Fuel
Pump, Fuel Injectors
Hazard/Stop Lamps
Power Door Locks, Power Mirrors, Cigar Lighter
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
Interior Lamps Dimming
Fuse
GAUGES
HORN
ALARM
HTR-A/C
RDO
TURN DR
LK
TAIL LPS
WDO
WIPER
ERLS DR UNLK
FTP
ACC
AIR BAG PCM CRUISE
HDLP Circuitry
Rear Window Defogger,
Gauges, Warning
Lights
Horn, Fog Lamps
Chime, Interior Lamps, Automatic Door
Locks, Remote Lock Control
Heater, Air Conditioning, Anti-Lock Brakes
(ABS), Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
(Canada)
Radio
Turn Signals
Automatic Door Locks
Fog Lamps, Tail Lamps, Marker Lamps,
License Lamp
Power Windows, Sunroof (Circuit Breaker)
Windshield Wipersmashers
Engine Controls, Back-up Lamps
Automatic Door Unlock (Remove
to Disable)
Flash-to-Pass
(U.S.)
Rear Window Antenna, Power Seats, Rear
Window Defogger, Power Sunroof (Circuit
Breaker)
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
Powertrain Control Module, Ignition System
Cruise Control
Headlamps (Circuit Breaker)
6-52
Page 263 of 340
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the fuse block. An electrical overload will cause the
lights to go on and off or,
in some cases, to remain off. If
this happens, have your headlamp 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 fuse 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.
6-53