1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS fuel cap

If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel
cap has been left
off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank
of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
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Fuel Gage
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Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator
nears EMPTY (E), the light
will come on and you will
hear a chime. You still have
a little fuel left, but you should get more
soon.
0 It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to
fill
the tank.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
The gage goes back to EMPTY (E) when you turn speed up.
off the ignition.
Here
are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
0 At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads
FULL (F).
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MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THiS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear
edge
of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle, called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle,
all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed the
GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don’t carry more
than 132 lbs. (60 kg) in your trunk.
Do not load your vehicle any neavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAM. If you do, parts on your vehicle can break,
or it can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could came you to lose
control. Also,
overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle.
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Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment.
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section.
But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling,
durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher
speeds^ and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
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e
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to
do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where
you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1,000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 krn) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Oldsmobile. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important fluid an\
d lubricant levels. There is also technical information
about your vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.\

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6-33 Doing
Your Own Service Work
What Kind of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine Oil
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid
Important Brake Information
Infomation on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement How and When to Check Tire Inflation When
it is
Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of the Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recornended Appearance Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
Normal Replacement Parts
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The cap is behind a hinged door on the right side of your
vehicle.
To open the door, insert your finger into the
finger depression
in the fuel door.
While refueling, hang the tethered cap inside the
‘fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring
in it; if you let
go
of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out
on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly fnll, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline
from
painted surfaces~ as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Oldsmobile” in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right (clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left
off or improperly
installed.
This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
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NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your retailer can get one
for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
Checking Things Under the Hood
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
OF spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
The following sections tell you how to check fluids,
lubricants and important parts under the hood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the hood release handle
inside the vehicle.
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Replacement Bulbs
High-Beam Headlamp .................... 9005
Outside Lamps Bulb
Low-Beam Headlamp .................... 9006
Front
Park/Turn ...................... 3 157 NA
Back-up
............................... 3057
Rear Turn Signal
........................ 3357
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp
(CHMSL) ... 921
TaiUStoplarnp
........................... 3057
Inside Lamps Bulb
Dome .................................. 561
Capacities and Specificatio,ns
Cooling System ............. 13.6 quarts (12.9 L)
Engine Crankcase ............ 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)
Refrigerant, Air Conditioning ..... See refrigerant
charge label under the hood.
Fuel Tank ................ ._ 15.2 gallons (57.5 L)
Tire Pressures, Sizes ........... See Tire-Loading
Information label on the driver’s
side rear passenger door.
Wheel Nut Torque .......... 100 lb-ft (140 N-m)
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be
sure to fill to the appropriate level or as recommended
in
this manual.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in
the Index.
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