1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Section 8A

Your Oldsmobile has front disc brakes and rear
drum 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 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.
See “CaliperKnuckle Maintenance Inspection” in
Section
7 of this manual under Part C “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections.”
when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
I
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
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.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to prevent
brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake
pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM specifications.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires are removed
for rotation or changing. When you have the front brake
pads replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of this
manual under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections”.

Battery
Every new Oldsmobile has a Delco Freedom@ battery.
You never have to add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more,
take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This
will help keep your battery from running down.
I
A CAUTLN:
Contact your retailer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in the Index.
Bulb Replacement
This section describes bulb changing procedures for
some of your interior and exterior lamps. For bulb sizes,
see “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index. For any bulbs not
listed in this section, contact your Pontiac dealer service
department.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting”
in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs have pressuri,J gas inside and
can burst if
you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.

NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
0 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 Pa).
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.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
( 10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, 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.
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.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
6-42

Using Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask
surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the
directions on the container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge. Don’t
saturate the material and don’t rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
Rinse the section with a clean, wet sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with a slightly damp paper towel
or cloth.
Dry it immediately with
a blow dryer.
Wipe with a clean cloth.
Using Solvent-The Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you nave to use solvent-type cleaner at all.
Some spots and stains will clean off better with just
water and mild soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
1. Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with
a clean, dull knife or scraper.
2.
3.
4.
Use very little cleaner, light pressure and clean cloths
(preferably cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the
outside
of the stain, “feathering” toward the center.
Keep changing to a clean section
of the cloth.
When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately
dry the area with a blow dryer to help prevent
a
cleaning ring.
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Follow the solvent-type instructions
described earlier.
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left
on a vehicle’s seat fabric. They should be removed as
soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner will
dissolve them and may cause them to smead.

Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Oldsmobile. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
safety, dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-2
7-3 7-4
7-4 7-4
7-4
1
7-4 1
7-4 1
7-42
7-42 Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
How This Section is Organized
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Fill
At Least Once a Month
At Least Twice a Year
At Least Once a Year 7-45
7-45
Part
C: Periodic
Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
7-45 Exhaust System Inspection
7-45 Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
7-45 Throttle Linkage Inspection
7-46 Brake System Inspection
7-46 Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection
7-47 Part
D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
Part
E: Maintenance Record
7-49
7-1

How ~ ~ 1 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. “Part
B: Owner Checks and Services”
tells you what
should be checked and when. 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.
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.
7-3

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 drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
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.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
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:
7-4.
. ._

Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
Here you will find out how to contact Oldsmobile if you need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and how to report any safety defects.
8-2
8-4
8-5
8-7
8-8
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Customer Assistance
for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance Program
Features and Benefits GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program
Warranty Information 8-8
8-9
8-9
8-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United
States Government
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors Ordering Service and Owner Publications
in Canada