Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Oldsmobile
The air bag affects how your Oldsmobile should be
serviced. There are parts
of the air bag system in several
places around your vehicle. You don’t want the system
to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your Oldsmobile retailer and the Bravada Service
Manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual,
see “Service and Owner Publications”
in the Index.
A CAUTION:
-
For up to two minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape,
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your
Air Bag-Equipped Oldsmobile
If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the
front of my vehicle, will it keep the air bag from
working properly?
A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is
attached to your vehicle
so that the vehicle’s basic
structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep
the
air bags from working properly in a crash.
Is there anything I might add to the front of the
vehicle that could keep the air bag from
working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end sheet metal or
height, they may keep the air bag system from working properly. Also,
the air bag system may not
work properly
if you relocate any of the air bag
sensors. If you have any question about this, you
should contact Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. (The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are
in Step Two of
the Customer Satisfxtion Procedure
in this manual.
See “Customer Satisfaction Procedure’’
in the Index.)
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To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio; mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can add
what you want.
If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation
of your vehicle’s
engine, Delco radio or other systems, and even
damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation
of sound equipment
that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your retailer and
be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly
or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. If you notice a reduction in sound
quality, try a known good cassette
to see if the tape or
the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no
improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player.
Cleaning may be done
with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. It
is normal for the cassette to eject while cleaning. Insert
the cassette at least three times
to ensure thorough
cleaning.
A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is
available through your Oldsmobile retailer.
You may also choose
a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt
to clean
the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject. It may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing
type cleaner.
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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 from 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 raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody
of your vehicle. If you
can’t avoid deep puddles
or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
“Tires” in the Index.)
0 Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See
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I Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
Here you will find out how to contact Oldsmobile if you
need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and how to report any safety defects.
This section includes information on:
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The Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
Roadside Assistance
Courtesy Transportation
BBB Auto Line -- Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program
Reporting Safety Defects
Service and Owner Publications
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
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For prompt assistance, please have the following
information available
to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:
Your name, address, home and business
telephone numbers
0 Vehicle Identification Number (This is available
from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at
the top left
of the instrument panel and visible
through the windshield.)
Retail facility name and location
0 Vehicle delivery date and present mileage
0 Nature of concern
We encourage you to call us
so we can give your inquiry
prompt attention. However, if you wish to write
Oldsmobile, write
to:
Customer Assistance Representative
Oldsmobile Central Office
920 Townsend Street
P.O. Box 30095
Lansing,
MI 48909 Refer
to your Warranty and Owner Assistance
Information booklet for addresses of Canadian and
GM Overseas offices.
When contacting Oldsmobile, please remember that
your concern will likely be resolved in the retail facility,
using the retailer’s facilities, equipment and personnel.
That is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you
have a concern.
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),
Oldsmobile has TTY equipment available at its
Customer Assistance Center. Any TTY user
can communicate with Oldsmobile by dialing:
1-800-833-OLDS. (TTY users
in Canada can dial
1-800-263-3830.)
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Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Program Features and Benefits
The Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance program means help
is just a toll-free call away,-- 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
Courteous and capable Customer Assistance Advisors
are on-call to provide you
with prompt assistance.
24-Hour Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Telephone Number
1 -800-442-OLDS (6537) is the one number to call
for assistance
in the United States. Trained Customer
Assistance Advisors, on-call to render assistance to
Oldsmobile drivers, can dispatch roadside assistance
and towing service, locate the nearest Oldsmobile
retail facility, take your request for an Oldsmobile
computerized
trip routing or simply answer any
questions the Oldsmobile driver may have about
the
coverage provided by your Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Program. The Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance number
is fully staffed and operational
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Who Is Covered?
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance covers all
1996 Oldsmobile vehicles.
Coverage
is for the Oldsmobile vehicle, regardless qf
the driver, and is concurrent with the Bumper to Bumper
warranty period.
Oldsmobile reserves the right to limit services or
reimbursement
to an owner or driver when in
Oldsmobile’s judgement the claims become excessive in
frequency or type
of occurrence.
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GM Participation in BBB AUTO
LINE -- Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program*
*This program may not be available in all states,
depending on state law. Canadian owners refer to your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet.
General Motors reserves the right to change eligibility limitations and/or to discontinue its participation
in
this program.
Both Oldsmobile and your Oldsmobile retailer are
committed to making sure you are completely satisfied
with your new vehicle. Our experience has shown that, if a
situation arises where you feel your concern has not been
adequately addressed, the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
described earlier in this section is very successful.
There may be instances where an impartial third party
can assist
in arriving at a solution to a disagreement
regarding vehicle repairs or interpretation
of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. To assist
in resolving these
disagreements, Oldsmobile voluntarily participates
in
BBB AUTO LINE. BBB
AUTO LINE is
an out-of-court program
administered by the Better Business Bureau system to
settle disputes between customers and automobile
manufacturers. This program is available free
of charge
to customers who currently own or lease
a GM vehicle.
If you are not satisfied after following the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure,
you may contact the BBB using
the toll-free telephone number, or write them at the
following address:
BBB AUTO LINE
Council of Better Business Bureaus
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
Arlington,
VA 22203
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
To file
a claim, you will be asked to provide your name
and address, your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
and
a statement of the nature of your complaint.
Eligibility
is limited by vehicle age and mileage, and
other factors.
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Service and Owner Publications
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature are available for purchase for all
current and many past model General Motors vehicles.
Toll-free telephone numbers for ordering information:
United States
......... 1-800-55 1-4 123
Canada
.............. 1-800-668-5539
Service Manuals
Service manuals contain diagnostic and repair
information for all chassis and body systems. They
may be useful for owners who wish to get a greater
~
understanding of their vehicle. They are also useful for
owners with the appropriate skill level or training who
wish to perform “do-it-yourself’ service. These are
authentic General Motors service manuals meant for
professional, qualified technicians.
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