2004 Oldsmobile Alero brake fluid

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-5
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-6
Windshield Wiper Lever...................................3-9
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-16
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-18
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-19
Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-23
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-24
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-25
Tachometer.................................................3-25
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-26
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-26
Charging System Light..................................3-27
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-28
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-28
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-29
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-30
Enhanced Traction System Active Light............3-31
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-31
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-32Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-32
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-35
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-36
Security Light...............................................3-37
Cruise Control Light......................................3-37
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-37
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-38
Fuel Gage...................................................3-38
Audio System(s).............................................3-39
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-39
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS).........................................3-40
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-40
Radio with CD (Up Level)..............................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-55
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(RDS Radios)...........................................3-67
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-67
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-67
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-68
Care of Your CD Player................................3-68
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-69
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System
(48 Contiguous US States).........................3-69
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-69
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-4
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood.....................5-9
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-22
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36Brakes........................................................5-38
Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-50
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-50
Headlamps..................................................5-50
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-53
Tires..............................................................5-54
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Tire Chains..................................................5-69
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-70
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-70
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-80
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-29.
B. Ground. SeeJump Starting on page 5-42.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” in
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
inEngine Oil on page 5-15.
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” inBrakes
on page 5-38.F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-35.
G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-90.
H. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
I. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-36.
5-13

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-29.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-35.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
inEngine Oil on page 5-15.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” in
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” inBrakes
on page 5-38.
F. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20.
G. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-36.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is 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.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
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.
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.
2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine
5-15

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3
brake fluid. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is
that fluid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, youshould have your brake system fixed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.
So, it is not a good idea to “top off” your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add (or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
5-38

When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-28.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-12.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake
uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system parts so
badly that they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake uid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. SeeAppearance
Care on page 5-81. United States
Canada
5-39

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part
number or specification may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets GM
Standard GM6094M and displays
the American Petroleum Institute
Certified for Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. To determine the
proper viscosity for your vehicle’s
engine, seeEngine Oil on
page 5-15.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only
DEX-COOL
®Coolant. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-23.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid.
Windshield
Washer SolventGM Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic
Clutch SystemHydraulic Clutch Fluid (GM Part No.
U.S. 12345347 in Canada
10953517) or equivalent DOT-3
brake fluid.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part
No. U.S. 89021184, in Canada
89021186).
Manual
TransaxleDEXRON
®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Automatic
TransaxleDEXRON
®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Hood Latch
Assembly,
Secondary
Latch, Pivots,
Spring Anchor
and Release
PawlLubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM
Part No. U.S. 12346293, in Canada
992723) or lubricant meeting
requirements of NLGI #2, Category
LB or GC-LB.
Hood and Door
HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningDielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part
No. U.S. 12345579, in Canada
992887).
6-12

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-18
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-36
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-5
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-89
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)............................3-42, 3-47, 3-58
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-26
Air Bag System, Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS).............................................1-54
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)....7-10
AM ...............................................................3-67
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-69
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . 3-69
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...............3-29
Appearance Care............................................5-81
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-84
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-87
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-82
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-85
Finish Damage............................................5-87
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-87
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-88
Weatherstrips..............................................5-84Ashtrays........................................................3-19
Audio System(s).............................................3-39
Backglass Antenna......................................3-69
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-67
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-68
Care of Your CDs........................................3-68
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-69
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-55
Radio with CD....................................3-40, 3-45
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS)........................................3-40
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-39
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-67
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-67
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-69
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transaxle........................................2-18
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-22
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-69
Backing Up....................................................4-43
Battery..........................................................5-41
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-17
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-23
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