brake fluid Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 Owner's Manuals

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light (Standard Cluster) Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
(Gage Cluster)
This light tells you that
your engine coolant
has overheated or your
radiator cooling fan
is I
not working.
-
i you have been operating your vehicle under normal
~ driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In Problems on the Road, this manual shows what to do.
1 See“Engine Overheating” in the Index.
TEMP
BRAKE WASH
FLUID
HN
LOW
COOLANT
LEVEL AIR
BAG
280
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In
Problems on the Road, this manual shows what to do.
See“Engine Overheating” in the Index.

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mounta
driving in flat
or rolling terrain. .ins
is different
from
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning
to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0
0
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this:
let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift
to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
4-21

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.
4-38
-

b b d
2.3L Quad 4 Engine (CODE D)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Engine Oil Dipstick
Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
(if equipped)
Brake Fluid Reservoir
Air Cleaner
Hydraulic Clutch
Fluid Reservoir (if equipped)
Battery
Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
Engine Oil Fill Cap
Engine Coolant Surge Tank
6-9

P P P
3.1L V6 Engine (CODE M)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick (if equipped)
Brake Fluid Reservoir
Air Cleaner
Battery
Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
Engine Oil Dipstick
Engine Oil
Fill Cap
Engine Coolant Surge Tank
6-10

To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to
200°F (82°C
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than
50°F (1O"C), you may have
to drive longer.
to
93°C).
To check the fluid level
1.
2.
3.
4.
Park
your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK
(P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then,
without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
The automatic transaxle dipstick handle is red. Pull out
the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
1. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
2. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level.
The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched
area.
3. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.

Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder
is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid
level in
your master cylinder 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, you
should have your brake system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner
or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll 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.
6-26

What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part No.
1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed container
only, and always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
before removing it.
Brake Wear
Your Oldsmobile has front disc brakes and rear drum
brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal
firmly). NOTICE:
0 Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of
fluid. 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’ll have to be
replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful
not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle.
If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care” in the Index.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
6-27

At Least Twice a Year Starter Switch
Hydraulic Clutch System Inspection
Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir. See
“Hydraulic Clutch Fluid”
in the Index. A fluid loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired at once.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified
in Part D.
Body Lubrication
Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all hinges
and latches, including those for the hood, trunk lid,
glove box door and console door. Part
D tells you what
to use. More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
I move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be I
1.
2.
3.
Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
Firmly apply both the parlung brake (see “Parking
Brake”
in the Index if necessary) and the regular brake.
NOTE:
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to turn off the engine immediately
if it starts.
On automatic transaxle vehicles, try to start the
engine
in each gear. The starter should work only in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the starter works in
any other position, your vehicle needs service.
On manual transaxle vehicles, put
the shift lever in
NEUTRAL (N), push the clutch down halfway and
try to start the engine. The starter should work only
when the clutch is pushed down all the way to the
floor.
If the starter works when the clutch isn’t
pushed all the way down, your vehicle needs service.
7-37

Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should
be performed at least twice
a year (for instance, each
spring and fall). You should
let your GM retailer’s
service department or other qualified service center do
these jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, anchorages and reminder systems are
working properly. Look for any
loose parts or damage.
If you see anything that might keep a restraint system
from doing its job, have it repaired.
Steering, Suspension and Front-Wheel-Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear, or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines
and hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body near
the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing or
out-of-position parts
as well as open seams, holes, loose
connections, or other conditions which could cause a heat
build-up in the floor pan or could
let exhaust fumes into
the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding, and
for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Accelerator and cruise control cables should not be
lubricated.
Manual Transaxle
Check the transaxle fluid level; add if needed. See
“Manual Transaxle”
in the Index. A fluid loss may
indicate
a problem. Check the system and repair if needed.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and hoses
for proper hookup, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface
condition.
Also inspect drum brake linings for wear and
cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including drums, wheel
cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc. The parking brake is self-adjusting and
no manual adjustment is required. You
may need to have your brakes inspected more often if your
driving habits or conditions result
in frequent braking.
7-40