2003 Oldsmobile Alero checking oil

Low Oil Level Light
LOW
OIL
If your vehicle is equipped
with a
3400 V6 engine,
then you
will have a LOW
OIL light in your
instrument panel cluster.
This light will come on briefly when you start your
vehicle.
If the light stays on after starting your vehicle, or comes
on and chimes while you are driving, your engine
oil
level should be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut
off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on your dipstick and bring it
to the proper level. See
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between when the key is on and
the engine is cranking. It does not monitor engine oil level
when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level
check is only performed
if the engine has been turned off
for a considerable period of time allowing the oil normally
in circulation to drain back into the oil pan.
Change Engine Oil Light
CHANGE
OIL
The CHANGE OIL light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine. If the light
' doesn't come on, have it
~ serviced.
I I
If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on after
you start the engine, have the oil changed.
To reset the CHANGE
OIL light, see Engine Oil on
page 5- 15.
3-35

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

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

Checking Engine Oil ........................................ 5-15
Checking Things Under the Hood
....................... 5-9
Checking Your Restraint Systems
...................... 1-60
Chemical Paint Spotting
................................... 5-78
Child Restraints Child Restraint Systems
............................... 1-38
Infants and Young Children
........................... 1-34
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)
.......................... 1-43
Older Children
............................................. 1-32
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System
........................................ 1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position
........................................... 1-48
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat
Position ........................................... 1=45
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position
........................................... 1-50
Top Strap
................................................... 1-41
Where to Put the Restraint
........................... 1-41
Chime Level Adjustment
.................................. 3-67
wyC4i t;llt; Llyr ilGl 4- IO
Cleaning Inside of Your Vehicle
........................... 5-72
Outside of Your Vehicle
................................ 5-75
Underbody Maintenance
............................... 5-78
Weatherstrips
.............................................. 5-75
Cleaning Exterior LampdLenses ....................... 5-76
Top Strap Anchor Location ............................ 1-42
P: -.--- IL- I :-.LA-- A +n .............................................
Climate Control System ................................... 3-19
Outlet Adjustment
........................................ 3-22
Compact Disc Messages
................. 3-42, 3-52, 3-64
Compact Spare Tire
........................................ 5-71
Control of a Vehicle
.......................................... 4-5
Coolant Engine Temperature Gage
............................ 3-31
Heater, Engine
............................................ 2-20
Low Warning Light
....................................... 3-31
Cooling System
.............................................. 5-28
Cruise Control
................................................ 3-10
Cruise Control Light
........................................ 3-36
Current and Past Model Order Forms
................ 7-11
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation
.........
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
............................... 7-3
Customer Assistance Offices
........................... 7-3
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Proaram for Persons with
Disabilities
................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors
...... 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
................................ 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United
States Gzvernment .... ....... 7-9
Clutch, Hydraulic ............................................. 5-22
Cupholder(s)
.................................................. 2-34
.............. 7-7
3