1997 Oldsmobile Achieva flat tire

Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation. [t’s Time for New
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.
I
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.)
kc
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.
0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
tire’s rubber.
enough to show cord
or fabric.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
6-43

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
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,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
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 minimum required by law.
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.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. 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.
6-45

Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should
be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
Oldsmobile retailer if any of these conditions exist.
Your retailer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need
to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your
Oldsmobile model.
c
a CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air
and make you lose control. You could have a
collision in which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts for replacement.
I NOTICE:
~~
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
6-46

--” IMPORTANT.
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL
AND CHANGE
RECOMMENDED
AS
I
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your
new vehicle warranties. See your-
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or
yoru-
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.
7-2

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants
are added to your
vehicle, make sure
they are the proper ones, as shown in
Part
D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mix if necessary. See “Engine Coolant’’ in the
Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add
the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid”
in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the Index
for further details.
7-41

Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlet ......... ....... 2-54
AirBag
..................................... 1-21
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-25
How it Works
...... ... ............ 1-23
Location
.................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1-22, 2-6 1
Servicing
................................... 1-26
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-24
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-25
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-24
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-18
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-62
Alignment and Balance, Tire
... ................ 6-46
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
... .............. 6-53
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-24
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-63, 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti-Theft, Radio
.............................. 3-19
Appearancecare
............................... 6-48
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-55
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Armrest, Storage
............................... 2-51
Ashtrays
....... .. ................... 2-53 Audio Equipment. Adding
. . ...... 3-21
Audio Systems
........... ........... 3-6
Auto-Down Window
... ...... 2-34
Automatic DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Overdrive
................................... 2-23
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-16
Transaxle
................................... 2-16
Transaxle Check
.................. ........ 7-42
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 6-19
Transaxle Park Mechanism Check
................ 7-44
Automatic Transaxle Operation
.................... 2-21
Shifting
..................................... 2-21
Backing up with a Trailer
..................... 4-40
Battery
..................................... 6-35
Charging System Indicator Light
. . .......... 2-62
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement. Remote Lock Control
............... 2-9
Saver
...................................... 2-48
Warnings
.................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-28
9-1

Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-34
Fluid
....................................... 6-30
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-30
Parking
..................................... 2-28
PedalTravel
................................. 6-34
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-34
System Warning Light
.................... 2-62. 6.31
Trailer
...................................... 4-39
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-43
Wear
....................................... 6-33
Brake System Warning Light
................. 2.62. 6.31
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Bralung
in Emergencies .......................... 4-1 1
Break.In. New Vehicle .......................... 2- I3
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-46
BTSICheck
................................... 7-43
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-35
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-62
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2.10.2.32.2.33.4.29. 4.38
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-41
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3.9. 3. 13
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-22
Cassette Tape Player Errors
.................. 3- 11. 3.15
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3- 19
Center Console Cupholder
........................ 2-5 1
Center Console Storage Area ...................... 2-5 I
Center Rear Passenger Position .................... 1-32
Certification Label
.............................. 4-33 Chains. Safety
................................. 4-39
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-47
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-22
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-66
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-71
CheckOilLight
................................ 2-70
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-47
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-54
Child Restraints
................................ 1-36
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-37
Securing
in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-39
Securing
in the Passenger Seat Position ........... 1-41
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-41
WheretoPut
................................ 1-36
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-53
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-57
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-18
Cleaning Alumlnum Wheels
............................ 6-53
Fabric
...................................... 6-49
Glass
....................................... 6-51
Inside of Your Oldsmobile
...................... 6-48
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-50
Leather
..................................... 6-50
Outside of Your Oldsmobile
.................... 6-52
Special Problems
............................. 6-49
Stains
...................................... 6-49
Tires
....................................... 6-53
Vinyl
....................................... 6-50
Wheels
..................................... 6-53
Windshield
and Wiper Blades ................... 6-51
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
TopStrap
................................... 1-37
9-2

Easy Entry Seat ................................ 1-6
Electrical Equipment. Adding
...... 2.17.2.18. 3.21. 6-56
Electrical System
............................... 6-56
Engine
.................................. 6.10. 6.11
Coolant ..................................... 6-24
Coolant Heater
............................... 2- 19
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-41
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-65
Exhaust
................. 2.10.2.32.2.33.4.29. 4.38
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-60
Identification
................................ 6-56
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-41
Running While Parked
......................... 2-33
Specifications
................................ 6-62
Starting Your
...................... 2.16.247. 2.18
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
..................................... 6-14
Additives
................................... 6- 17
Checking
................................... 6-13
Pressure Warning Light
........................ 2-69
Used
....................................... 6-17
Whentochange
.............................. 6-17
Enhanced Traction System Active Light ......... 2.65. 4.9
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
...... 2.64. 4.10
Ethanol
........................................ 6-4
Exhaust. Engine
............ 2.10.2.32.2.33.4.29. 4.38
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Warning
Light ............................ 2- . 4.9
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-49
Fifth Gear. Manual Transaxle
..................... 2-26
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5 Filter. Air
..................................... 6-18
Finish Care
.................................... 6-52
Finish Damage
................................. 6-54
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-24
First Gear. Manual Transaxle
...................... 2-25
Flashers. Hazard Warning ......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-22
Fluids and Lubricants ............................ 7-47
FogLamps
.................................... 2-45
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
Fourth Gear. Manual Transaxle .................... 2-26
Four-Way Manual Seat
........................... 1-3
French Language Manual
11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-10
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage ....................................... 2-72
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-57
.. ...........................
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-65
Fuel
....................................... 2-72
Speedometer
................................. 2-59
Tachometer .................................. 2-60
GarmentHook
................................. 2-54
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-21
Gear Positions. Manual Transaxle
.................. 2-25
GloveBox
.................................... 2-50
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-33
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-33
GAWR
....................................... 4-33
9-4