maintenance Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 Owner's Manuals

I The 1995 Oldsrnobile Achieva Owner’s Manual
~~ ... How to Use this Manual .............................................................. .111
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes safety \
and vehicle damage warnings
and symbols.
This section tells you how to use your
seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the ”SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Oldsmobile.\
This section tells
you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to \
operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find information and tips about the road and ho\
w to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do
if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care ......................................................... 6-1
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly \
and looking good.
Maintenanceschedule ............................................................... 7-1
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants t\
o use.
Customer Assistance Information ..................................................... 8-1
This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and how to get servic\
e publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-4.
Index ........................................................................\
..... 9-1
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Seats and Restraint Systems .......................................................... 1-1
Features and Controls
............................................................... 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .................................................. 3-1
YourDrivingandtheRoad
........................................................... 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad ............................................................... 5-1
i

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Oldsmobile
The air bag affects how your Oldsmobile should be
serviced. There are parts
of the air bag system in several
places around your vehicle. You don’t want the system
to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your Oldsmobile retailer and the
1995 Achieva Service
Manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual,
see “Service Publications’’ in the Index, The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.
1-24

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
-

1 Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your
Oldsmobile. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical infomation about
your vehicle, and
a part devoted to its appearance care.
Service
Your Oldsmobile retailer knows your vehicle best and
wants you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
retailer for all your service needs.
You’ll get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle
all GM.
Genuine
GM parts have one of these marks:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to get
the proper Oldsmobile Service Manual. It
tells you much more about how to service your
Oldsmobile than this manual can. To order the proper
service Inanual, see “Service Publications” in the Index.
Your vehicle
has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Oldsmobile”
in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record”
in the Index.
- 6-1

Air Cleaner
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
replace
the air filter. to determine when to
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which
will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
To Check or Replace the Air Filter
1. Unscrew the four Phillips-head screws, then pull the
cover back.
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter and replace the
cover tightly.
6-16

Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level
is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in the
Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose
to have this done at your Oldsmobile retailer
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading on the
dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90 OF (32 O C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
6-17

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level
is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it
to the proper 1evel.It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5L).
Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label
is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Manual Transaxle Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual transaxle
doesn’t require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Oldsmobile retailer
Service Department.
If you
do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get
a false reading on
the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
6-19

Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle
is parked on a level place and the transaxle is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the transaxle
case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and
clean
it with a rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way and remove it.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be between the ADD and
FULL marks. (Note: Fluid may appear at the bottom
of the dipstick even when the fluid level is several
pints low.)
4. If the fluid level is where it should be, push the
dipstick back in all the way and flip the handle
down.
If the fluid level is low, add more fluid as
described
in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule
to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’
in the Index.
1. Remove the dipstick by flipping the handle up and
then pulling the dipstick out.
2. Add fluid at the dipstick hole.
Add only enough fluid
to bring the fluid level up to
the FULL mark
on the dipstick.
3. Push the dipstick back in all the way; then flip the
handle down to lock the dipstick
in place.

Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir
is
filled with hydraulic clutch fluid.
It isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your clutch fluid. Adding
fluid won’t correct
a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine how
often you should check the
fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper fluid. See
“Owner Checks and
Services” and
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
How to Check
If you can see fluid in the reservoir, the level is
acceptable.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low.
If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating”
in the
Index.
The proper coolant for your Oldsmobile will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 262°F ( 128 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
6-21

Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches
a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
p .w ii
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with
a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the FULL COLD mark. Add
enough fluid to bring the level up to the mark.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
I NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid or making a
complete fluid change, always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
6-24