
Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet.
You're driving safely. Suddenly
an animal juqps out in
front of you. '
You slam on the brakes. Here's what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels. The
anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any
driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most
of available tire and.road
conditions.
You' can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

Remember: Anti-iock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal.
If you get too
close to the .vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time
to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly. slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though
you have anti-lock brakes.
,_ Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops
or the system is not, functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
. ..
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal. When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake
pressure to help avoid a braking skid, the LOW TRAC
light will come’on., See “Anti-Lock Brake System
Active Light”
in the Index.
Braking .,in Emergencies
Usti your anti-lock braking system when you’need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
.‘
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of us is subject to
the samelaws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you
turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, $the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can
control.

!
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t .happen often. But
it can if your
tires haven’t much tread or
if the pressure in one or
more
is low. It can happen if a lot, of water is standing on
the road. If you can see reflections froin trees, telephone
poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice
is to slow down when it is iaining.
Some Other Rainy weather Tips
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,Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your
parking lights
-- to help make you ,more visible to
others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially carefbl when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and, be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)

3 Once you are m,oving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance.
If you-miss your exit do not, under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually. posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower’than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long- Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must
start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
.-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready
for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go.
If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retailers all across North America. They’ll
be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
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,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 FZuids: Have you checked
all levels?
,
Lights: Are .they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread gaod 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?
,

( @ TIRE-LOADING
OCCUPANTS VE’HICLE CAP., WT.
INFORMATION
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG~
I
MAX. LOADING-& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT
.XXX’. COLD TIRE
TIRE
SIZE SPEED PRESSURE RTG
PSI/KPa
I
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSI/28KPa
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
4-26
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
’ SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON.THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
Two labelspn your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
is inside the trunk lid. The label 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 you can carry. This
includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
--
nonfactory-installed options. The
other 1abel.is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door.
It tells you the gross.’
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the
GVWR . .
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the
GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or re*
axle.
If you do have a heavy load, spread it out. Don’t carry
mop than 167 pounds (75 kg) in your trunk.

10. Then replace the
’ pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure if coolant
begins to flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the
pressure cap line up
like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine
is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine
is cold.
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.

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new,
it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 Pa). After installing the compact spare on your
vehicle, you should stop as soon as possible and make
sure your spare ‘tire is correctly inflated. The compact
spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so,you can
finish your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or
’ replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your
spare will last longer and be
in good shape in case you
need it again.
NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails. That
can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other
parts
,of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spire on some other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or wheel with other
wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare and its
wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them
will damage your vehicle and destroy the
chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your compact
spare.
5-31

Tire Inspection and Rotqtion
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(IO 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When it’s Time for New
Tires” and ‘‘Fheel Replacement” later
in this section for
more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation isto achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index for scheduled rotation intervals.
I 1 I I
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
f
tire
ront and
’,
rear idlation pressures as shown. on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that
all wheeI nuts are,
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the
Index.
When rotating
your tires, always, use the correct rotation
pattern sho.wn here.’
6-42
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