Page 3 of 340

I The 1995 Oldsrnobile  Achieva Owner’s Manual 
~~ ... How to Use  this  Manual .............................................................. .111 
This section  tells  you  how  to  use  your  manual  and  includes  safety  \
and  vehicle  damage  warnings 
and  symbols. 
This  section  tells  you  how  to  use  your 
seats and  safety  belts  properly.  It also explains  the ”SRS” system. 
This  section  explains  how  to  start  and  operate  your  Oldsmobile.\
  This  section  tells 
you how  to  adjust  the  ventilation  and  comfort  controls  and  how  to \
 operate  your 
audio  system. 
Here  you’ll  find  information  and  tips  about  the  road  and  ho\
w  to  drive  under  different  conditions. 
This  section  tells  you  what  to  do 
if you  have  a  problem  while  driving,  such  as a flat  tire  or 
overheated  engine,  etc. 
Service  and  Appearance  Care ......................................................... 6-1 
Here the manual  tells  you  how  to  keep  your  Oldsmobile  running  properly  \
and  looking  good. 
Maintenanceschedule ............................................................... 7-1 
This  section  tells  you when to  perform  vehicle  maintenance  and  what  fluids  and  lubricants  t\
o  use. 
Customer  Assistance  Information ..................................................... 8-1 
This  section  tells you how  to  contact  Oldsmobile  for  assistance  and  how  to  get  servic\
e  publications. 
It also gives  you  information  on  “Reporting  Safety  Defects”  on page 8-4. 
Index ........................................................................\
..... 9-1 
Here’s  an  alphabetical  listing of almost  every  subject in this  manual. You can  use it to  quickly  find 
something  you  want  to  read. 
Seats  and  Restraint  Systems .......................................................... 1-1 
Features  and  Controls 
............................................................... 2-1 
Comfort  Controls  and  Audio  Systems .................................................. 3-1 
YourDrivingandtheRoad 
........................................................... 4-1 
ProblemsontheRoad ............................................................... 5-1 
i  
     
        
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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. 
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Hill and  Mountain  Roads 
Driving  on  steep hills or mounta 
driving  in flat 
or rolling terrain.  .ins 
is different 
from 
If you drive  regularly  in steep  country,  or if you’re 
planning 
to visit there, here  are  some tips that can  make 
your trips  safer and more  enjoyable. 
0 
0 
Keep  your vehicle  in good  shape.  Check  all fluid 
levels and  also the brakes, tires,  cooling system and 
transaxle.  These  parts  can  work hard on mountain 
roads. 
Know how  to  go down hills.  The most  important 
thing  to know is this: 
let your  engine  do some of the 
slowing  down.  Shift 
to a lower gear when you go 
down  a  steep  or long  hill. 
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        Page 173 of 340

Towing Your Vehicle from the  Rear Loading Your Vehicle 
8 
I NOTICE: 
Do not  tow  your  vehicle  from  the  rear.  Your 
vehicle  could  be  badly  damaged  and  the  repairs 
would  not  be  covered  by  your  warranty. 
Fm OCCUPANTS  VEHICLE  CAP. WT. 
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION 
FRT.  CTR. 
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG 
MAX.  LOADING & GVWR  SAME AS VEHICLE 
CAPACITY  WEIGHT  XXX COLD  TIRE 
TIRE 
SIZE SPEED  PRESSURE 
RTG PSI/KPa 
FRT. 
RR. 
SPA. 
IF TIRES  ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1128KPa 
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL  FOR ADDITIONAL 
INFORMATION 
Two labels on your  vehicle show how much weight it 
may properly  carry.  The Tire-Loading  Information  label 
found  on  the  rear  edge 
of the  driver’s  door tells you the 
proper  size,  speed  rating and recommended  inflation 
pressures  for  the tires 
on your vehicle.  It also  gives  you 
important  information  about the number  of people that 
can  be in your  vehicle and the total weight that  you can 
carry.  This weight 
is called  the Vehicle  Capacity  Weight 
and  includes  the weight  of all  occupants,  cargo,  and all 
nonfdctory-installed  options. 
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        Page 178 of 340

If you’re using a “dead-weight”  hitch, the trailer tongue 
(A) should  weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight 
(B). If you have a “weight-distributing”  hitch, the trailer 
tongue 
(A) should  weigh 12% of the total loaded trailer 
weight 
(B). 
After you’ve  loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and 
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are 
proper.  If they aren’t,  you  may be able to  get them right 
simply  by moving  some  items  around in the trailer. 
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires 
Be  sure  your vehicle’s tires  are inflated  to the 
recommended pressure  for cold tires.  You’ll find these 
numbers  on 
the Certification label  at the  rear  edge of the 
driver’s door  or  see  “Loading  Your Vehicle” 
in the 
Index. Then be sure 
you don’t go  over the GVW limit 
for your vehicle. including the weight  of the trailer 
tongue. 
Hitches 
It’s  important to have the correct hitch equipment. 
Crosswinds, large trucks going  by, and rough roads  are  a 
few reasons  why you’ll  need the right hitch. Here  are 
some  rules to  follow: 
0 
0 
Will  you  have to maKe  any holes  in the body of your 
vehicle when  you install  a trailer hitch?  If  you do, 
then  be sure  to seal the holes later  when  you remove 
the hitch. 
If you  don’t  seal them, deadly carbon 
monoxide (CO) from your  exhaust can get into your 
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”  in the Index). 
Dirt 
and  water  can, too. 
The  bumpers 
on your vehicle  are not  intended for 
hitches. 
Do not  attach rental hitches  or other 
bumper-type  hitches to them. Use only 
a 
frame-mounted  hitch that  does not attach to the 
bumper. 
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        Page 202 of 340

If a Tire  Goes Flat 
It’s unusual  for  a tire to “blow  out” while you’re  driving, 
especially  if you  maintain  your tires properly.  If air  goes 
out  of a tire,  it’s much more likely  to leak  out slowly. 
But  if you  should  ever  have  a  “blowout,” here  are  a few 
tips  about  what 
to expect and what to  do: 
If  a  front  tire  fails, the  flat  tire  will create  a  drag that 
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take  your  foot off the 
accelerator  pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. 
Steer  to  maintain  lane  position,  then gently brake  to  a 
stop  well  out of the traffic  lane. 
A rear blowout, particularly  on  a  curve, acts much  like  a 
skid and  may require the  same correction  you’d use 
in a 
skid.  In any rear blowout,  remove your foot  from  the 
accelerator pedal. Get the  vehicle under control  by 
steering the  way  you want 
the vehicle to go. It may be 
very bumpy and  noisy, but you  can still steer. Gently 
brake to  a stop,  well  off  the road  if possible. 
If  a tire goes  flat, the next  part shows  how 
to use your 
jacking  equipment  to  change a  flat tire safely. 
Changing  a  Flat Tire 
If a tire goes  flat,  avoid  further  tire and  wheel  damage 
by  driving slowly  to  a level place. Turn on your hazard 
warning flashers. 
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        Page 204 of 340
I 18 (46cm) 1 8” (46cm) 
5. 
6. 
Near each wheel  well is  a notch  in the  frame  which 
the  jack  head fits in. 
Position the  jack under 
the vehicle. Raise the jack 
head 
until it fits firmly  into  the  notch in the vehicle’s 
frame  nearest the 
flat tire. Do not raise  the vehicle 
yet. Put the compact  spare tire near you. 
I NOTICE: 
Raising  your vehicle  with  the  jack improperly 
positioned  will damage  the  vehicle or may  allow 
the  vehicle  to fall  off the  jack.  Be sure  to  fit  the 
jack  lift head  into  the proper location before 
raising  your vehicle. 
NOTICE: 
Do not jack or lift the  vehicle  using the oil  pan. 
Pans  could  crack  and  begin to leak  fluid. 
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        Page 205 of 340
7. 
8. 
Raise the vehicle  by rotating  the jack handle 
clockwise.  Raise  the vehicle 
far enough off the 
ground 
so there  is enough  room for the spare  tire to 
fit. 
Remove  all the  wheel  nuts,  and carefully pry the 
wheel  cover  from  the  wheel, if your  flat  tire  has one. 
Then  take 
off the flat tire. 
9. Kernove  any rust or  dirt  from  the  wheel bolts, 
mounting  surfaces and spare  wheel.  Place the spare 
on the wheel  mounting  surface. 
5-23