cooling Oldsmobile Achieva 1998 Owner's Manuals

Trunk
’
i To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the door key
and
turn the trunk lock cylinder.
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:
Make sure all windows are shut.
’hrn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to
its highest speed with the setting on
VENT. That
will force outside air into your
vehicle. See
“Comfort Controls” in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Remote Trunk Release
Pull up on the remote release handle, located on the
floor near the left side of the driver’s seat, to release the
trunk lid. Make sure the lockout feature is not activated.
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Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the ventilation and
heating in your vehicle.
Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation
system described later in this section.
Climate Control System
sf Fan Knob
The left control knob sets the fan speed. To select the
force
of air you want, turn the knob. The fan is always
running unless the mode knob is moved to
OFF.
Temperature Knob
The center control knob regulates the temperature of the
air coming through the system.
Turn the knob toward
the red to increase the temperature and toward the blue
to decrease the temperature.
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of
your system.
MAX: Use for maximum cooling. This setting
recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle
so it
maximizes your air conditioner’s performance and your
vehicle’s fuel economy.
NORM: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This
setting cools outside air and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
3-2

BI-LEV: Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting
brings in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. The
cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body
through the instrument panel outlets, but slightly
warmer air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times this temperature difference
may be more apparent than others.
The air conditioner compressor is enabled in all three
air conditioning positions.
VENT: Use when outside temperatures are mild, and
little heating or cooling is needed. Airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets. Set the center
control knob to the temperature desired.
HEAT This setting brings heated air through the heater
ducts, and some through the windshield defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater) and use it during cold weather,
0 “F (- 18 O C)
or lower, your heating system will more quickly provide
heat because the engine coolant
is already warmed. See
“Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
DEFOG: This setting divides airflow equally between
the heater ducts and the windshield defroster vents.
DEF: This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents located
on top of the
instrument panel.
Air Conditioning
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle
also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later
in this section.
Your system has three air conditioner settings in
addition to the standard climate control system.
Before using your air conditioner
on very hot days,
open the windows long enough to let hot inside air
escape. This reduces the amount of work your air
conditioner’s compressor will have to do, which
should help fuel economy.
Heating
On cold days, use HEAT with the temperature knob all
the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system
uses to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater”
in the Index.

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.
e 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.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could
get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none going
down
a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine
assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope. Coasting downhill
in
NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do
all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
0
0
Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest
gear possible.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in
hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
e
0
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled car
or
an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

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.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating’’
in the Index.
Towing A Trailer
(Except 3100 Engine)
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
4-40

Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5- 17 Cooling System
5-3 Other Warning Devices
5-3 Jump Starting
5 -24 If a Tire Goes Flat
5-25 Changing a Flat Tire
5-8 Towing Your Vehicle
5-36 Compact Spare Tire
5-
15 Engine Overheating 5-37 If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow

Cooling System
When YOU decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
2.4L Engine
3100 Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
5-17

I
L AUTION
-
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above FULL COLD.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
5-18

, ,- CAUTION:
~ Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
1 parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
l do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
1 the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine
fire, and you could be burned.
’ Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling fan is running.
If the
engine is overheating, the fan should be running.
If it
isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ coolant at
the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is cool
before you do it. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more information.)
5-19

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and
if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap -- even a little -- they can come
out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge
tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
5-20