light Oldsmobile Achieva 1998 s Repair Manual

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir 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 fxed, 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.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid will burn
if the engine is hot
enough.
You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only
when work
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
I
BRAKE
I
United States Canada
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light”
in the Index.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brake fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
6-28

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with
your brakes.
See “CaliperKnuckle Maintenance Inspection” in
Section
7 of this manual under Part C “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections.”
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM specifications.
Your rear drum brakes don’; have wear indicators, but if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected immediately. Also, the
rear
brake drums should be removed and inspected each time
the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. When
you have the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of this
manual under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections.”
Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel.
This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely make a moderate or
heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then
-- very carefully -- make
a few moderate brake stops about every
1,000 miles
(1 600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly.
If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your
rear drum brakes may need adjustment. Adjust them by
backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few times.
6-30

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades
are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver
or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a
half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course
as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.

Headlamp Wiring Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The
headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker
in the fuse block. An electrical overload will cause the
lamps to go on and off, or in some cases to remain off.
If this happens, have your headlamp wiring checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a
fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools.
If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the
current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and
closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed
or goes away. The
wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected
from short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit
breakers and fusible thermal links in the wiring itself.
This greatly reduces the chance
of fires caused by
electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have
a spare fuse,
you can “borrow” one that has the same
amperage. Just pick a feature of your vehicle that
you
can get along without -- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block and the engine
compartment fuse block.

Fuse
PWR ST
RDO IGN
HTR-A/C
CRUISE
TAIL LPS
LTR
WIPER
Usage
Power Seat
Radio
Heater/Air Conditioning Blower,
Daytime Running Lamps, Automatic
Lamp Control
Cruise Control
Parking Lamps, Taillamps, Sidemarker
Lamps, License Lamps, Instrument
Panel Lights, Underhood Lamp,
Headlamp Warning Alarm
Cigarette Lighter, Auxiliary Power
Outlet
Windshield Wipers/Washers
02 Heated Oxygen Sensors
DR UNLK Automatic Door Unlock
ALARM Automatic Transaxle, Automatic Door
Unlock, Alarm Module (Illuminated
Entry, Warning Chimes), Traction Telltale, Rear Window Defogger,
Remote Lock Control
Fuse
FOGLFTP
PRNDL
DR LK
2
AIR BAG
HORN
Usage
Fog Lamps
Instrument Cluster, Powertrain
Computer, Park-Lock Solenoid,
Electronic PRNDL
Door Locks
Air Bag-Power
Horn, Service Tool Power
INST Instrument Cluster
STOP HAZ Stoplamps, Hazard Lamps,
Anti-Lock Brakes
PCM
DR LK 1
INST LPS
RR DEF
HDLP
Powertrain Control Module
Door Locks, Remote Lock Control
Instrument Panel Lights, Fog Lamps
Rear Window Defogger
Headlamps, Daytime Running Lamps (Circuit Breaker)
6-55

Fuse Usage
HVAC BLO MOT Heater/ Air Conditioner-High
Blower, Generator-Voltage
Sense
PCM BATT
CLG
FAN
HDLP STOP LPS PWR
ACC
RR DEFG
ABS
IGN SW Powertrain Computer
Engine Cooling Fan
Lighting Circuits
Power
Accessory, Stoplamp
Circuits, Rear Window Defogger
Anti-Lock Brakes, Variable
Effort Steering
Ignition Switched Circuits
Replacement Bulbs
Outside Lamps Bulb
Headlamp .............................. 9004
Back-up
............................... 2057
High Level Stop .......................... 912
Tail/Stop/Turn
.......................... 3057
Inside Lamps Bulb
Dome .................................. 562

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If
you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have
it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace blade
inserts that appear worn or damaged or that streak or
miss areas of the windshield. Also see “Wiper Blades,
Cleaning” in the Index.
Automatic Transaxle Check
Check the transaxle fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transaxle” in the Index. A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
Hydraulic Clutch System Check
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 Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
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.
7-31

Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlet ......................... 2-45
AirBag
....................................... 1-21
Adding Equipment
............................ 6-52
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-25
How it Works
................................ 1-23
Location
.................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1.23. 2.5 1
Servicing ................................... 1-27
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-25
What Will You See After it Inflates
............... 1-25
When Should it Inflate ......................... 1-24
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-17
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-58
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-42
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-49
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-2 1
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.51. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti.Theft. Radio
.............................. 3- 16
Appearancecare
............................... 6- 44
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-5 1
Arbitration Program .............................. 8-7
Armrest. Storage
............................... 2-43 Ashtrays
...................................... 2-44
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-19
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-29
Automatic Transaxle Check
....................... 7-31
Automatic Transaxle Park Mechanism Check
......... 7-33
Automatic Door Locks
............................ 2-5
Automatic Light Control
......................... 2-39
Automatic Overdrive
............................ 2-21
Automatic Transaxle
............................ 2-18
Shifting
..................................... 2-18
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-14
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
........................ 6-18
Automatic Transaxle Operation
.................... 2-18
Backing
up with a Trailer ....................... 4-37
Battery
....................................... 6-31
Charging System Indicator Light
................. 2-51
Jumpstarting
................................. 5-3
Replacement, Remote Lock Control
............... 2-8
Saver
...................................... 2-41
Warnings
.................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-27
9-1

Center Console Cupholder ........................ 2-43
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-30
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Replacing System
Parts ........................ 6-3 1
System Warning Light
.................... 2-52, 6-28
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-32
Brake System Warning Light
................. 2-52, 6-31
Brake System Warning Light,
ABS ............ 2-53, 6-28
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking in Emergencies
.......................... 4- 10
Break-In, New Vehicle
.......................... 2-13
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-39
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-32
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-57
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-58
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2-10,2-27,4-28, 4-36
Care of Your Compact Disc Player
................. 3-20
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-3 1
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3-7, 3-11
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3- 19
Cassette Tape Player Errors ................... 3-9, 3-13
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3- 16
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-23
PedalTravel
................................. 6-30
Wear
....................................... 6-29
Braking
........................................ 4-6
BTSICheck
................................... 7-32 Center Console Storage
Area
...................... 2-43
Center Rear Passenger Position
.................... 1-34
Certification Label
.............................. 4-31
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-25
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-55
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-60
Check Oil Light
................................ 2-58
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-53
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-50
Child Restraints
................................ 1-39
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-44
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-46
Securing in the Passenger Seat Position
........... 1-48
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-48
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-44
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-53
Chains.
Tire
................................... 6-43
TopStrap
................................... 1-44
WheretoPut
................................ l-43
Cleaner, Air ................................... 6-17
Cleaning AluminumWheels
............................ 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-45
Glass
....................................... 6-47
Inside
of Your Oldsmobile ...................... 6-45
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-46
Outside
of Your Oldsmobile .................... 6-48
Special Problems
............................. 6-45
Leather ..................................... 6-46
Stains
...................................... 6-45
9-2

Tires ....................................... 6-49
Vinyl
....................................... 6-46
Wheels
..................................... 6-49
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-47
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
Clock. Setting the
................................ 3-6
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-2
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-20
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3- 1 1
Compact Disc Player Care ........................ 3-20
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-36
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 4-6
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-42
Coolant Heater. Engine
............................... 2-17
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
....................... 6-25
Cooling System
................................ 5-17
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-33
Cruise Light
................................... 2-59
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2
SurgeTank
.................................. 5-17
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone Users ......... 8-4
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-50
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-50
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-38
DeadBattery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety ..................... 8.8. 8.9 Defensive Driving
............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-5
Defogging
..................................... 3-4
Defrosting ..................................... 3-4
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-59
Dolby
B Noise Reduction ........................ 3-14
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-4
Driver Position
................................. 1 . 12
Driving
City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-27
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain .................................. 4-17
Night
...................................... 4-15
OnCurves
.................................. 4-10
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-38
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-23
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-19
WetRoads .................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
................................ 4-37
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Electrical Equipment. Adding
..... 2- 15. 2- 16. 3-19. 6-52
Electrical System
............................... 6-52
9-3