service Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 s User Guide

Brake System Warning Light
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BELTS #e*
BRAKE
Your Oldsmobile’s
hydraulic brake system is
divided into two parts. If
one part isn’t working, the
other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need
both parts working well. If the light comes
on while you are driving, pull off the
road
and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briefly as you start the
vehicle. If
it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
The brake system warning light will also come
on when
you set your parking brake, and it will stay on
if your
parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
‘A CHECK
OAQES
With the anti-lock
brake system,
this
light will come on
when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for
three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the
light doesn’t come
on, have it fiied
so it
will be ready to warn
you
if there is a
problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. Pull
off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine,
turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Oldsmobile needs service.
If
the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
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Low Coolant Level Warning Light
LOW
WASH
FLUID
LOW
COOLANT
1
If this light comes on and
stays on, the vehicle should
promptly be pulled off the
road and the coolant level
checked.
See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index. If there are visible
signs of steam, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index
before opening the hood. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as you can.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon
Light)
I
LY
SERVICE
ENOINE
SOON
A computer monitors
operation of your fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems.
This light should come on when the ignition
is on, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show you it is
working. If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right
away. If
it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle in for service
soon.
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NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
Check Gages Light (Gage Cluster)
9 ANTI-
CHECK
Q
OAOES
UI
E 4
This light will come
on briefly when you
are starting the engine.
If it stays on, or if
it
comes on and stays on
while you are driving,
check your various
gages to see if they are
in the warning zones.
Oil Pressure Gage (Gage Cluster)
UP
SHIFT
CHECK
OIL
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa. Oil pressure
may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the red warning zone
indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the red zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low
oil pressure. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
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Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
0 At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
the
gage reads
F (FULL).
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill
the tank.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed
up.
The gage doesn’t go back to E (EMPTY) when you
turn
off the ignition.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
1 CHAROE I
I3
LOW
WASH
LEVEL
COOLANT
The LOW WASH
FLUID light will come
on when you turn on
the ignition, and the
fluid container is less
than one-third full.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad
mud splash can block your vision. You could hit another
vehicle or
go off the road. Check your washer fluid level
often.

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassette, or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned after every
50 hours
of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at
fault.
If this other cassette has no improvement in sound
quality, clean the tape player.
Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action
non-abrasive cleaning cassette. This system uses a
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as
the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
It is normal for the
cartridge to eject while cleaning. Insert the cassette at
least three times to ensure a thorough cleaning.
A
scrubbing action cleaning cassette is available through
your Oldsmobile retail facility. You
may use a non-scrubbing action wet-type cleaner
which uses a cassette with
a fabric belt to clean the tape
head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject. It may
not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.
Cassettes are subject
to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette
tape is in good condition before
you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges
or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow
a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move
to the proper
lane well in advance. If
you miss your exit do not, under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re
not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs
service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retail Fdcilities all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
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Here are some things you can check before a trip:
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Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis?” Or
is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call
it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in
less than a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you
do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise,
or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine
oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a
good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
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11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs
service. 12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
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GOOD BAlTERY
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DEAD BAlTERY
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