Page 88 of 356
Windshield  Washer 
At  the  top of the  multifunction  lever,  there's a paddle 
with  the  word 
PUSH on  it. To spray  washer  fluid  on the 
windshield,  push  the  paddle.  The wipers  will  run  for 
several  sweeps  and  then  either  stop  or  return  to  your 
preset  speed. 
I 
In freezing  weather,  don't  use your washer until 
the  windshield  is warmed.  Otherwise  the  washer 
fluid 
can form  ice on the  windshield,  blocking 
your vision. 
Cruise  Control 
With  cruise  control,  you  can  maintain  a  speed  of  about 
25 mph (40km/h) or  more  without  keeping  your  foot on 
the  accelerator.  This  can  really  help 
on long  trips.  Cruise 
(40 km/h). % 
- control  does not  work  at  speeds  below  about 25 mph 
When  you  apply  your  brakes,  the  cruise  control  shuts 
off. 
2-28 ..  
     
        
        Page 168 of 356

Just before  you  leave  the  lane, glance  quickly  over  your 
shoulder  to make  sure  there  isn’t  another  vehicle  in  your 
“blind”  spot. 
Once  you  are moving  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. 
I ! 
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  retail facilities  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: 
0 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 Fluids: Have  you  checked 
all levels? 
0 Lamps: Are they  all  working?  Are  the  lenses  clean? 
0 Tires: They are vitally  important  to a  safe, 
trouble-free  trip. 
Is the  tread  good  enough  for 
long-distance  driving? 
Are the  tires  all inflated  to the 
recommended  pressure? 
along  your  route?  Should  you  delay  your  trip a  short 
time  to avoid  a  major  storm  system? 
0 Weather  Forecasts: What’s  the  weather  outlook 
Maps: Do you  have  up-to-date  maps? 
4-20  
     
        
        Page 171 of 356
You,may see highway  signs  on  mountains  that warn of 
special  problems.  Examples  are  long  gmdes,  passing  or 
no-passing  zones,  a  falling  rocks  area  or  winding 
roads.  Be  alert  to  these  and  take  appropriate  action. 
Winter Driving 
Here are some  tips for winter  driving: 
0 Have  your  Oldsmobile  in good  shape for  winter. 
You may  want  to  put  winter  emergency  supplies in 
your  trunk. 
Include  an  ice scraper, 
a small  brush  or broom,  a  supply 
of  windshield  washer  fluid,  a  rag,  some winter  outer 
clothing,  a  small  shovel,  a  flashlight,  a  red  cloth  and  a 
couple  of  reflective  warning  triangles.  And,  if  you  will 
be  driving  under  severe  conditions,  include  a  small  bag 
of  sand,  a  piece  of  old  carpet  or a couple  of burlap  bags 
to  help  provide  traction.  Be sure  you  properly  secure 
these  items  in  your  vehicle. 
4-23  
     
        
        Page 227 of 356
Checking Things Under  the  Hood Hood Release 
A CAUTION: 
I 
I 
An electric  fan  under  the  hood can start up  and 
injure  you  even  when  the engine 
is not running. 
Keep  hands,  clothing  and tools  away  from any 
underhood electric  fan. 
Things  that  burn  can get on hot  engine  parts  and 
start 
a fire.  These  include liquids  like  gasoline, 
oil,  coolant,  brake fluid,  windshield  washer and 
other  fluids,  and plastic  or rubber.  You or others 
could  be  burned. Be careful not  to  drop 
or spill 
things  that 
will burn onto a hot  engine. 
To open  the hood,  first 
pull  the handle inside 
the  vehicle. 
Then 
go to the  front  of  the 
vehicle  and release  the 
secondary  hood  release. 
Lift  the hood. 
6-7  
     
        
        Page 229 of 356
When  you  open the hood of the 3.4L LQ 1 engine,  you'll see: 
A.  Engine  Coolant  Reservoir 
B.  Radiator  Fill  Cap 
C.  Power  Steering  Fluid  Reservoir 
D.  Engine  Oil  Fill  Cap 
E. Engine Oil Dipstick 
F. Automatic  Transaxle  Dipstick 
G. Brake  Fluid  Reservoir 
H. Air  Cleaner 
I. Windshield  Washer  Fluid 
J. Battery  (located  under  Windshield  Reservoir 
Washer  Fluid  Reservoir) 
6-9  
     
        
        Page 245 of 356
How To Check  Power  Steering Fluid Windshield  Washer  Fluid 
What to  Use 
Refer  to  the  Maintenance Schedule to determine  what 
kind  of  fluid  to use. 
See “Recommended  Fluids  and 
Lubricants”  in  the  Index.  Always  use  the proper  fluid. 
Failure  to use the  proper  fluid  can cause leaks  and 
damage  hoses  and  seals. 
6-25  
     
        
        Page 246 of 356

Open  the cap labeled WASHER  FLUID ONLY. Add 
washer  fluid  until  the  tank  is full. Brakes 
Brake Fluid 
When  using  concentrated  washer  fluid, 
follow  the  manufacturer’s  instructions  for 
adding  water. 
Don’t  mix water  with  ready-to-use  washer 
fluid.  Water  can  cause  the  solution  to  freeze 
and  damage  your  washer  fluid  tank  and 
other  parts  of the  washer  system. 
Also, 
water doesn’t  clean as well as washer fluid. 
Fill  your  washer  fluid  tank  only 
three-quarters  full  when  it’s very  cold.  This 
allows  for expansion,  which  could  damage 
the  tank 
if it is completely  full. 
Don’t  use radiator  antifreeze  in  your 
windshield  washer. 
It can  damage  your 
washer  system and  paint. 
Yo bur brake  master  cylinder  resep 
with  DOT-3  brake  fluid. fair is here.  It  is  filled 
There  are  only  two  reasons  why  the  brake  fluid level  in 
the  reservoir  might  go down.  The first  is  that  the  brake 
fluid  goes  down  to  an  acceptable  level  during  normal 
brake  lining  wear.  When  new  linings  are put  in,  the  fluid 
level  goes  back  up.  The  other  reason  is that  fluid 
is 
leaking  out  of the  brake  system. If it is,  you  should  have  
     
        
        Page 274 of 356

Glass 
Glass  should  be  cleaned  often.  GM  Glass  Cleaner  (GM 
Part 
No. 1050427) or  a  liquid  household  glass  cleaner 
will  remove  normal  tobacco  smoke  and  dust  films. 
Don’t  use  abrasive  cleaners  on  glass,  because  they  may 
cause  scratches.  Avoid  placing  decals  on  the  inside  rear 
window,  since  they  may  have  to  be  scraped  off  later. 
If  abrasive  cleaners 
are used  on  the  inside  of  the rear 
window,  an  electric  defogger  element  may  be  damaged. 
Any  temporary  license  should  not  be  attached  across  the  defogger  grid. 
Cleaning  the  Outside of the 
Windshield  and  Wiper  Blades 
If  the  windshield  is not  clear  after  using  the  windshield 
washer,  or  if 
the wiper  blade  chatter?  when  running,  wax 
‘or  other  material  may  be  on the  blade  or windshield. 
6-54 
~ 
~ 
Clean  the  outside  of the  windshield  with GM 
Windshield  Cleaner,  Bon-Ami  Powder@  (GM  Part 
No. 105001  1). The  windshield  is  clean if beads  do  not 
form  when  you  rinse  it with  water. 
Clean  the  blade  by  wiping  vigorously  with  a  cloth 
soaked  in  full-strength  windshield  washer  solvent.  Then 
rinse  the  blade  with  water. 
Wiper  blades  should  be  checked 
on a  regular  basis  and 
replaced  when  worn. 
Weatherstrips 
Silicone  grease  on  weatherstrips  will  make  them  last 
longer,  seal  better,  and  not  stick  or  squeak.  Apply  silicone 
grease  with  a  clean  cloth  at  least  every  six  months.  During 
very  cold,  damp  weather  more  frequent  application  may  be 
required.  (See  “Recommended  Fluids  and  Lubricants”  in 
the  Index.)