
The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems .............................................................
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to
start and operate your Oldsmobile.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do
if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule ..................................................................
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................
This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and \
how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information.on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page\
8-7.
Index ........................................................................\
..........
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
FeaturesandControls ..................................................................
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .................. ’. ..................................
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule
for more
on
this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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1. Air Cleaner
To check or replace the air filter, remove the four screws
and pull
off the cover. Pull
out the filter. Be sure to install the air filter and
install the cover tightly when you are finished.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Operating the.engine wi4.h the air cleaner oi’fcan
cause you or .others to be burned. The
air cleaner
not only cleans the
air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires. Hit isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could
be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the
air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfii can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into
your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the
air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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Automatk Transaxle’ Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automaticdransaxle fiui,d
level is when the engine
oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and. filter ,every
30,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the, vehicle is mainly ‘driven under one or
more of these conditions:
’
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher;.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in :taxi, polide or delivery service. ,.,
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter
.. do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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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.
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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.)
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llill Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
I IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
I
This section covers the maintenance required for your
Oldsmobile. Your vehicle needs these services
to retain its
safety, dependability and emission control performance.
I
pf*tection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your
Oldsmobile retailer for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your retailer’s service department or another
qualified service center do these jobs.
Performing maintenance work on
a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if ;you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have
a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough
to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want
to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked whenever you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle in good condition.
“Part C
: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your Oldsmobile retailer’s service department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products,
or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part
E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed
on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it. You may drive
very short
distances only a few times
a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or
you may drive it to work, to do errands or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section.
So please read this
section and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle
in good
condition, see your Oldsmobile retailer.
This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them. If you
go to your retailer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will
perform the work using genuine GM parts. The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part D.
Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these. All
parts should be replaced and all necessary repairs done
before you or anyone else dnves the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
0 carry passengers and.cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading Your
Vehicle’’ in the Index.
0 are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal-
0 use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
driving limits.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll
need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule to follow:
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