1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Owners Manual

Using Solvent-‘l[iype Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have 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. Use very little cleaner, light pressure and clean cloths
(preferably cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the
outside of the stain, “feathering” toward the center.
3. Keep changing to a clean section of the cloth.
4. 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 spread,
Non-Greasy Stains
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice,
milk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
2. If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with a waterhaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
soiled area with
cool water.
described earlier.
4. If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry.
3. If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
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Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain
may have
to
do it more than once.
if you don’t get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and a vinylfleather cleaner. See your retailer for
this product.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a rnild soap or
saddle soap and wipe
dry with a soft cloth. Then, let the
leather dry naturally. Do not
use heat to dry.
0 For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner. See your
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
retailer
for this product.
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled or stained leather should be cleaned
immediately.
If dirt is allowed to work into the
finish,
it can harm the leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult
to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them.
In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean safety belts
only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
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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 on
interior glass.
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 chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade
or windshield. Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon Ami’ Powder (non-scratching
glass cleaning powder), GM Part
No. 105001 1. The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form when you rinse
it with water.
Grime from the windshield
will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by wiping
vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look 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.)
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Cleaning the Outside of
Your Oldsmobile
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is
to keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm
or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish
or car waslung (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that
are petroleum based, or
that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a liquid
hand, dish or vehicle washing (mild detergent) soap to
clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions
under “Washing Your Vehicle.’’
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your
Oldsmobile by hand may be necessary to remove
residue from the paint finish. You can get GM-approved
cleaning products from your retailer. (See “Appearance
Care
and Materials” in the Index.)
Your Oldsmobile has a “basecoatlclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoatlclearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatlclearcoat paint
finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
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Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your Oldsmobile garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly,
dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied. The
surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners
or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage the surface.
Don’t take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
I NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe
off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces
on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint finish.
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Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your retailer
or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your retailer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control
can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody
parts such
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust
system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frme should be loosened before being flushed.
Your retailer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes
this,
Oldsmobile will repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km)
of purchase, whichever occurs first.
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Appearance Care Materials Chart
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
ENGINE A7 f ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Oldsmobile. It appears
on a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on
the driver’s side. You can see it
if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The
VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and SerVice Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the bottom of your spare tire
cover. It’s very helpfbl
if you ever need to order parts.
On this label
is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
0 paint information and
a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
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