1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme engine overheat

I The 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme! Owner’s Manual
... How to Use this Manual ..................................... :.. ........................ .~II
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes sa\
fety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
This section tells you how to, use your seats and safety belt\
s properly. It also explains the “SRS’;.system.
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................................................... 1-1
Features and Controls ................................................................
This section explains how to start and operate .your Oldsmobile.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................
This’section tells you how to adjust the ‘ventilation and \
comfort conpols and how to operate your
audio system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ...........................................................
Here you’ll find information and tips about the road and ho\
w to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad ...............................................................
This section tells you what .to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running \
properly and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what \
fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance\
and how
to get service publications.
It also gives you infomation on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-4.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in th\
is manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Service.and Appearance Care ..........................................................
Maintenanceschedule... ............................................................
Customer Assistance Information .....................................................
Index ........................................................................\
......
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3- 1
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9-1

Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
the LOW TRAC light will
come on.
Slippery road conditions will exist if this light comes on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on
for a few seconds after the system stops adjusting brake
pressure.
The LOW TRAC light also comes on briefly, as a bulb
check, when the engine is started. If the light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to tell you
when the system is active.
‘ This light tells.you that
your engine coolant has
, overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road;stop’
your vehicle and turn.off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Coolant Can Burn You Badly!
In “Problems on the~Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.

2-50

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
APPLY BRAKE TO SHIF1
You have a gage that shows
the engine coolant
temperature.
If the gage
pointer moves into the red
area, your engine is too hot!
Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on, your
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat. See “Engine
Coolsint” in the Index and
have your vehicle serviced
as soon as you can.
i COOLANT
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Coolant Can Burn You Badly!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Ennine Overheatine” in the Index.

Making ’hrns When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
.~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned oat. Thus, you may think drivers
c e.. NOTICE: behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
, important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
Making very sharp turns while trailering could bulbs ‘be still w’orking.
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid Driving On Grades
I- making very sharp turns while trailering. I
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Avoid,jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
lhrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or,stop. Reduce
speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 kdh) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer, you may prefer to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a
lower gear).
4-33

Engine Overheating
You will find a,coolant temperature gage and a w&ng
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel.
See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index. You
also have a low’coolant light on your instrument panel.
See
“Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is, Coming From Your Engine
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.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
’ Tow a trailer.
5-13

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
tw this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
3. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
speed and open the window as necessary.
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving
--
DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
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.
3.1L L82 (Code M) Engine
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
B. Radiator pressure cap
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.
A. Coolant recovery tank ,
C. Electric engine fans
5-14

NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on check to
see if
the electric engine fan(s) are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(s) should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the’coolant level
isn’t at the
COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery ‘tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for more information about the proper coolant
mix
.)
5-16

NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack,,the ... , . i . ar
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.' Use
the recommended coolant.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there's one more
thing you can try.
You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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