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1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 190

1997 Oldsmobile Achieva Manual

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Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with a 3 100 (Code M) engine and 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 part. In it are many this time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for safety and that of your 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 forcedto work harder against the dragof the added weight. The engineis required to operateat 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: 0 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 forthis information can be state orprovincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. (1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or otherparts could be damaged. 0 a Don't tow a trailer at all duringthe first 1,000 miles 0 Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't driveover SO 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. 0 4-36

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Seat Controls	10
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	15
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Driver Position	21
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	28
Right Front Passenger Position	29
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	29
Rear Seat Passengers	35
Center Passenger Position	40
Children	42
Child Restraints	44
Larger Children	52
Safety Belt Extender	55
Checking Your Restraint Systems	55
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	55
Features and Controls	57
Keys	58
Door Locks	60
Remote Lock Control	63
Trunk	66
Theft	68
Passlock	68
New Vehicle "Break-In"	69
Ignition Positions	70
Starting Your Engine	72
Engine Coolant Heater	75
Automatic Transaxle Operation	77
Manual Transaxle Operation	81
Parking Brake	84
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	85
Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle)	87
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle)	87
Parking Over Things That Burn	88
Engine Exhaust	88
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked (Automatic Transaxle)	89
Windows	90
Tilt Wheel	91
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	91
Exterior Lamps	99
Interior Lamps	102
Mirrors	105
Storage Compartments	106
Accessory Power Outlet	110
Sunroof	111
Instrument Panel	112
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	116
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	131
Comfort Controls	132
Climate Control System	132
Air Conditioning	133
Heating	134
Defogging and Defrosting	134
Rear Window Defogger	135
Audio Systems	136
Setting the Clock	136
AM-FM Stereo	137
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control	139
Theft-Deterrent Feature	149
Understanding Radio Reception	151
Tips About Your Audio System	151
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	152
Care of Your Compact Discs	153
Rear Window Defogger Antenna	153
Your Driving and the Road	155
Defensive Driving	156
Drunken Driving	157
Control of a Vehicle	160
Braking	160
Steering	165
Off-Road Recovery	167
Passing	167
Loss of Control	169
Driving at Night	170
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	172
City Driving	175
Freeway Driving	176
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	177
Highway Hypnosis	178
Hill and Mountain Roads	178
Winter Driving	180
Recreational Vehicle Towing	184
Loading Your Vehicle	187
Towing a Trailer	189
Problems on the Road	197
Hazard Warning Flashers	198
Other Warning Devices	199
Jump Starting	199
Towing Your Vehicle	204
Engine Overheating	209
If a Tire Goes Flat	217
Changing a Flat Tire	218
Compact Spare Tire	228
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	229
Service and Appearance Care	231
Fuel	233
Fuels in Foreign Countries	234
Filling Your Tank	235
Checking Things Under the Hood	238
Engine Oil	242
Air Cleaner	248
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	249
Manual Transaxle Fluid	252
Hydraulic Clutch	253
Engine Coolant	254
Surge Tank Pressure Cap	258
Thermostat	258
Power Steering Fluid	258
Windshield Washer Fluid	259
Brakes	260
Battery	265
Bulb Replacement	265
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	270
Appearance Care	278
Cleaning the Inside of Your Oldsmobile	278
Care of Safety Belts	281
Cleaning the Outside of Your Oldsmobile	282
Cleaning Tires	283
Appearance Care Materials Chart	285
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	286
Electrical System	286
Replacement Bulbs	291
Capacities and Specifications	292
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	292
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	293
Dimensions	293
Maintenance Schedule	295
Introduction	296
Your Vehicle and the Environment	296
How This Section is Organized	297
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	298
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	298
Selecting the Right Schedule	298
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	335
At Each Fuel Fill	335
At Least Once a Month	335
At Least Twice a Year	336
At Least Once a Year	336
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	339
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	339
Exhaust System Inspection	339
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection	339
Throttle Linkage Inspection	339
Brake System Inspection	340
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	340
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	341
Part E: Maintenance Record	343
Customer Assistance Information	347
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	348
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	350
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance Program Features and Benefits	351
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	353
Warranty Information	354
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	354
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	355
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	355
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada	355

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with a

100

(Code

engine and proper trailer towing

equipment.

identify what the vehicle trailering

capacity

for your vehicle, you should read the

information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears

later

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

are

many

time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.

Many of these

are

important

for

your safety and that of

your passengers.

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

dragof the added weight. The

engine

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.

You

Decide To

Pull

Trailer

you

do, here are some important points:

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.

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

trailer at all

during

the first

1,000

miles

600

km)

your new vehicle

driven. Your engine,

axle or

other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the first

500

miles

(800

km) that you

tow

trailer, don’t

drive over

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

mph

(90

km/h))

save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

4-36