
NOTICE:
0
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
*-,,. -Em;.- ,‘ -,.. . , .-; .*,--. r... - .,. .. ,,.-4--, , ., ,. ..
Your Oldsmobile has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning.
sound when the brake pads are worn
and new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard
all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
..
The brake wear warning sound means’that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.
Free movement
of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to
GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete
axle sets.
6-28 . ’

I
Your vehicle has the 55 x 135 mini-quad headlamp
system. These headlamps have horizontal and vertical
aim indicators. The aim has been pre-set at the factory
and should need no further adjustment.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident and the
headlamp aim seems to be affected, see your
Oldsmobile retailer. Headlamps on damaged vehicles
may require recalibration of the horizontal aim by your
Oldsmobile retailer.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
0 The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface.
0 The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to it.
0 There should not be any cargo or loading of the
vehicle, except it should have a full tank of gas and
one person or 160 lbs.
(75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
0 Tires should be properly inflated.
I 0 The horizontal
indicator should
read
“0.”
I NOTICE: .
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before
beginning. Failure to Eollow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
State inspection stations will allow a vertical reading of
plus 0.76 degrees or minus
0.76 degrees from the center
of the bubble.
6-34

' We don't make tires. Your new Oldsmobile comes with
high-quality tires made
by a leading tire manufacturer.
If
you ever have questions about your tire warranty and'
where to obtain service, see your ;Oldsmobile Warranty.
booklet for details..
Poorly maintained and,jmpbpe$ly used tires '
..are dangerous..
'0 0verloading.your tires can awe ' I
-. You codd have an aimut and a serious
accident. See "Loading Your Vehicle" in
the Index.
.. , 7' 1.
' Nov&heating as a result oft& much.friction. .. I_
CAUTION: (Continued)
0
0
Underinflated tires pose the.same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check
all .tires '
'frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire press& .should be checked
'.
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by
a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old. tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or
if your tires have
,been damaged, replace them. ,.

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, located on
the inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough
air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued) NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much
air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t ‘forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put
the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
6-43

~ - ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~
~ ~
~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~ -
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10
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 “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
- ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
The purpose of regular rotation is to 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.
A CAUTI, :
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use
a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt
off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
6-44

When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any
of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
-To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tiies with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial)
as your original tires.
6-45

, .. .. .. .. I I
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial .and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly,'and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It's all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use
on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United',States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls
of most passenger
I 6-46

Traction --,A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions
’
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the rriinimum required by law.
. representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of Warning:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall Performance.
In most cases, you will not.need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
6-47