
, Ck -ITION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there.
If it is low, add water to take
care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
~~~ ~~ ~~ ~
~~ ~
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative (-), or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts, too.
once the engines are running.
5-4
r

it Fiy.
Engine Oil
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close
LOW OIL
LEVEL
,If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument
panel comes on, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see
“Low Oil Level Light” in the
Index. You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil after you get
fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be
hot and the vehicle must
be on level ground.
i
3.1L L82 Engine 3.4L LQ1 Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is- the yellow loop near
the front
of the engine.
6-10

How ,to Add Fluid Engine Coolant
I
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
~ kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended ,
1. Pull out the dipstick.
.2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@ZZ. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, ‘because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
6-20
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain
in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A
50/50 mixture of water and the proper.coolant for
your Oldsmobile will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

Hill and Mountain Roads ......................... 4-21
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-32
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-7
Ho~
......................................... 2-25
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4- 17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2. 10
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-34
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-42
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
.................. 2-36
Inspections
Brakesystem
................................. 7-40
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-40
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-40
Steering
.................................... 7-40
Suspension
.................................. 7-40
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-40
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-42
Brightness Control
............................ 2-33
Cluster
..................................... 2-43
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-61
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-33
Jack, Tire
.................................... 5-23
Jump Starting
.................................... 5-2
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53 Key
Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-37
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-11
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Labels
....................................... 4-27
Certification
................................. 4-27
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-59
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-27
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-59
Courtesy
..................................... 2-33
Dome
.I .................................... 2-35
Interior
..................................... 2-33
OnReminder
................................ 2-32
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-21
Lighter
....................................... 2-39
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1-20.2-46
Anti-Lock Brake System Active
............. 2-49, 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-48, 4-6
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-47
Charging System
............................. 2-46
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-49
Interior
..................................... 2-33
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-50
LowFuel
................................... 2-56
LowOilLevel
............................... 2-55
Oilwarning
................................. 2-53
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-7, 2-45
Security
.................................... 2-55
Service Engine
Soon .......................... 2-51
Lamps
........................................ 2-32
9-5

I Loading Your Vehicle- ........................... 4-27
Locks .......................................... 2-3
Automatic Door ................................ 2-4
Cylihders ................................... 7-37
DCJDT ......................................... 2-3
Key Lock Cylinder Service ...................... 7-37
POWU Door .................................. 2-3
Steering
. Column Lock Check ................... 7-39
Trunk ....................................... 2-7
Window .................................... 2-25
Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-50
Low Fuel Light .................................. 2-56
LOW Oil Level Light .............................. 2-55
Lubricants and HrJids ............................ 7-41
Lubrication Service,
Body ........................ 7-37
M~EO~S ......................................... 2-36
Convex Outside .............................. 2-37
Inside Day/Night Rearview ...................... 2-36
Power Outside ................................. .. 2-37,
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-40
"I' ......................................... 6-4
Mode Buttons. Automatic and Awriliary Temp Control . . 3-5
Mode
Knob, Climate Control System ................ 3-1
MountainRoads ................................. 4-21
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-26
Net. Convenience .............................. 2-38
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
New Vehicle "Break-In" .......................... 2-10
Nightvision ................................... 4-14
Maintenance. Normal Replacement parts
....... .' ... 6-70
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-43
Maintenanceschedule
............................ 7-1
Long TripMghway Definition
................... 7-5
Long Tripmighway Intervals
................ 7.5. 7.26
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-36
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-40
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-41
Scheduled Maintenance Services'
.................. 7-3
Short Trip/Citv Definition
....................... 7-4 Odometer
................
Odometer. Trip .............
Off-Road Recovery .........
Oil. Engine ................
Oil
Waffling Light ..........
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
Overheating Engine .........
Owner Checks and SerVices ...
Owner Publications. Ordering .
.................... 2.44,
.................... 2-44
.................... 4-1Q
.................... 6-10
.................... 2-53
...................... 2-16
.................... 5-13
.................... 7-36
.................... 8-10
Short Tr$CiG Intervals
.................... 7.4. 7.6
Maintenance. Underbody
.. '. ...................... 6-57 Paint spotting. chemical
Maintenance When Trailer Towing 4-35
Park 6-57
Malfunction Indicator .Lamp
....................... 2-5 1 Automatic Transaxle ........................... 2-14 ManualFrontSeat ............................... 1-1
Methanol
...................................... 6-4 ShifIing-Out of .. ............................ 2-22
........................ .................
Shifting Into ................................. 2.- 13
9-6