2003 Oldsmobile Alero check engine

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ........................................................... -5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work ......................... 5.4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your
Vehicle
..................................................... -5-4
Fuel
............................................................... -5-5
Gasoline Octane ........................................... -5-5
Gasoline Specifications .................................... 5.5
California Fuel .............................................. -5-6
Additives
...................................................... -5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
.............................. -5-6
Filling Your Tank
..................................... 5-7
Fillins a Portable Fuel Container .. ...... 5.8
the Hood
...................................................... 5-9
Hood Release .............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview ....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
.................................................. -5-1 5
Au'romaiic Transaxie Fiuia A-LL
Manual Transaxle Fluid .................................. 5-22
Checking
Things Under
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-21 - ^^ .............................
Hydraulic Clutch ........................................... 5-22
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................................ 5-28
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid
............ ............ -5-36
Brakes
...................................................... -5-38
Battery
........................................................ 5-41
Jump Starting
.............................................. 5-42
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5-23
Headlamp Aiming
........................................... 5-47
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-49
Haloger;
!3L;lbs .............................................. 5-49
Headlamps .................. .... ......... 5-49
Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps
.......... ......... 5-50
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
.................................... 5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............ 5-50 n-.-~ n ..II-- nepmwzIIIe111 DUIU~ J-J 1 rc4 .......................................
5- 1

California Fuel
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If this fuel is not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may
turn on (see
Malfunction indicator Lamp on page 3-31 )
and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this
occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition is caused
by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to contribute to clean air.
General Motors recommends that you use these
gasolines, particularly
if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
Notices Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage wouldn’t be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
5-6

Checking Things Under
the HnDd
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.
I-
I Thi ,s thai urn can - t on hot engir parts
and start a fire. These include
liquids like fuel,
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.
5-9

Engine Oil
LOW
OIL I
If the LOW OIL light
appears on the instrument
cluster, it means you
need to check your engine
oil level right away.
L
3400 V6 Engine Only
For more information, see
Low Oil Level Light on
page 3-35.
YOU should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the
oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
2.2L L4
ECOTEC Engine
5-1 5

Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
3400 V6 Engine
The engine
oil dipstick handle is yellow. The dipstick on
the
2.2L L4 ECOTEC engine is located at the front of
the engine compartment. The dipstick on the
3400
V6 engine is located at the front of the engine, behind
the fan. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5-12 for more information on location.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
I
3400 V6 Engine
5-1 6

As in the chart shown previously, SAE 5W-30 is the
only viscosity grade recommended for your vehicle. You
should look for and use only oils which have the API
Starburst symbol and which are also identified as
SAE 5W-30.
If you cannot find such SAE 5W-30 oils,
you can use an SAE 1OW-30 oil which has the API
Starburst symbol,
if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C)
or above.
Do not use other viscosity grade oils, such as
SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
Nofice: Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below -20°F (-29”C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
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Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are all you will need for
good performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM
Oil Life SystemTM)
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based
on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE
OIL light will come on. Change
your oil as soon as possible within the next two
times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
%Est !x rcsd. It is a!sc irr?pcrtz??t ?e check ;‘QL!T Qi!
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
:vheneve: the ci! is changed.
5-1 9

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 3. Check or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
4. Put the cover back on tightly.
2.2L L4 ECOTEC Engine shown,
3400
V6 Engine similar
The engine air cleanedfilter is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side
of the vehicle.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5- i2 ior
more information on location.
To check or replace the engine air cleaner/filter, do the
following:
1. Remove the screws that hold the cover on.
2. Lift off the cover. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to replace the air filter.
See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on
page
6-4.
I--
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it stops
flame if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there
and the engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working
i on the engine with the air cleanerlfilter off.
Notice; If the air cleanerlfilter is off, a backfire can
cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter in place when
you’re driving.
5-2 1

When to Check and What to Use
Schedule to determine
how often you should
check the fluid level in your
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper
fluid. See
Part B: Owner
Checks and Services
on page 6-9 and Part D:
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
on
page 6- 15.
How to Check and Add Fluid
You do not need to check the fluid level unless you
suspect a clutch problem. To check the fluid level, take
the cap
off. If the fluid level reaches the top of the
reservoir, the fluid level is correct. It isn’t a good idea to
top
off your clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct a
leak. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem
Have the system inspected and repaired.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (1 29°C).
@ Protect against rust and corrosion.
@ Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
5-23