2004 Oldsmobile Alero tow

GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
This program, available to
qualified applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000
toward eligible aftermarket
driver or passenger
adaptive equipment you
may require for your vehicle
(hand controls, wheelchair/
scooter lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The offer is available for
a limited period of time from the date of vehicle
purchase/lease. For more details, or to determine your
vehicle’s eligibility, see your GM dealer or call the
GM Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text
telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. All TTY users
call 1-800-263-3830.
Roadside Assistance Program
Security While You Travel
1-800-442-OLDS (6537)
As the proud owner of a new Oldsmobile vehicle, you
are automatically enrolled in the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance program. This value-added service is
intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive
in the city or travel the open road.
Oldsmobile’s Roadside Assistance toll-free number is
staffed by courteous and capable Roadside Assistance
Representatives who are available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
We will provide the following services during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expense
to you:
•Fuel delivery
•Lock-out service (identification required)
•Tow to the nearest dealership for warranty service or
in the event of a vehicle-disabling accident
•Flat tire change
•Jump starts
•Minor repairs to disabled vehicles
7-6

Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to
the special equipment that can read the information
if they have access to the vehicle or SDM.
If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar, please check
the OnStar subscription service agreement or manual for
information on its operations and data collection.
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying
General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer or
General Motors.To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the hotline.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
7-11

Customizing the Automatic Door Locks for
Automatic Transaxle Vehicles.......................... 2-9
Customizing the Automatic Door Locks for
Manual Transaxle Vehicles............................. 2-9
D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-21
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-16
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-8
Dinghy Towing................................................4-32
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dolly Towing..................................................4-33
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
Door
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-8
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-15
Six-Way Power Seat...................................... 1-3
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-21
Defensive..................................................... 4-2Driving (cont.)
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Winter........................................................4-26
Driving On Grades..........................................4-44
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-27
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-19
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-43
E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-6
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-89
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-90
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-90
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-90
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-13
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-35
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-41
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-36
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-32
Coolant......................................................5-23
4

Engine (cont.)
Coolant Heater............................................2-20
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-31
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-31
Oil .............................................................5-15
Overheating................................................5-26
Starting......................................................2-18
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-93
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-45
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-18
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Active Light................................................3-31
Warning Light.............................................3-30
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-17
Event Data Records (EDR)..............................7-10
Express Down Window....................................2-15
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).................................3-48, 3-58Finding a Station............................3-41, 3-46, 3-56
Finish Care....................................................5-85
Finish Damage...............................................5-87
Flat Tire........................................................5-70
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-70
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-21
Manual Transaxle........................................5-22
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM Stereo.....................................................3-67
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Folding the Seatback........................................ 1-8
Following Distance..........................................4-43
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-5
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-38
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-4
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-90
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-90
5

Locks
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-8
Door........................................................... 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-12
Lockout Protection.......................................2-11
Power Door.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Loss of Control...............................................4-15
Low Coolant Warning Light..............................3-32
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.......................3-37
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-8
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year.................................... 6-9
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-14
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-8
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Using Your................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-45
Making Turns.................................................4-43
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-32
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Manual Transaxle............................................2-18
Fluid..........................................................5-22
Operation...................................................2-25
Manual Windows............................................2-14
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-5
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) – Customer Assistance....................... 7-5
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-33
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-34
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-33
Outside Remote Control Mirror......................2-33
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-16
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-13
8

Radios (cont.)
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-68
Care of Your CDs........................................3-68
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............................................3-67
Understanding Reception..............................3-67
RDS Messages......................................3-49, 3-59
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-29
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-8
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions.............1-23
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-23
Rear Window Defogger....................................3-22
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-33
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-3
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-31
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation............. 2-4
Remote Trunk Release....................................2-13
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-73
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-72
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-52
Replacing Brake System Parts..........................5-41
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash.....1-61Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-11
General Motors...........................................7-12
United States Government............................7-11
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-60
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash.....................................................1-61
Restraint Systems
Checking....................................................1-60
Replacing Parts...........................................1-61
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-18
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-23
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-6
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out...................4-31
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-32
S
Safety Belt
Reminder Light............................................3-26
Safety Belts
Care of......................................................5-84
Center Rear Passenger Position....................1-27
Driver Position............................................1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.....1-13
10

Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine...........................2-19
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-18
Steering........................................................4-11
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-12
Steering Tips..................................................4-11
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area........................2-35
Cupholder(s)...............................................2-34
Glove Box..................................................2-34
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools..........................5-79
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools.......................5-80
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-30
Sun Visors.....................................................2-15
Sunroof.........................................................2-35
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)...............1-54
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-58
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-60
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-58
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?......1-58
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-57
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-56
T
Tachometer....................................................3-25
Taillamps
Turn Signal, and Stoplamps..........................5-52
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-67
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-16Passlock
®...................................................2-16
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire Inflation Check........................................... 6-9
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-54
Tire Size.......................................................5-58
Tire Terminology and Definitions........................5-59
Tires.............................................................5-54
Buying New Tires........................................5-65
Chains.......................................................5-69
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-70
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-80
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-70
Inflation - Tire Pressure................................5-61
Inspection and Rotation................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-67
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-64
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-21
Top Strap......................................................1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-43
Torque Lock...................................................2-29
Total Weight of Your Vehicle’s Tires...................4-42
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-39
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).................... 4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light....3-31
12

Traction (cont.)
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning
Light......................................................3-30
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-42
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-21
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-22
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-22
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-25
Transmission
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-28
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-12
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit...................................2-14
Trip Odometer................................................3-25
Trunk............................................................2-12
Trunk Lamp...................................................3-17
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-44
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-67
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-66
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-5
Up-Shift Light.................................................3-28Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-68
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-82
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-34
Parking Your...............................................2-30
Service Soon Light......................................3-38
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Records....7-10
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).............................................5-89
Service Parts Identification Label...................5-89
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-42
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-22
Visor Vanity Mirror..........................................2-15
Visors...........................................................2-15
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-23
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-5
13