tow OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1999 Service Manual

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6-38 Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See ªWhen It's Time for New Tiresº and
ªWheel Replacementº later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See ªScheduled
Maintenance Servicesº in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don't include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire
-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index.)
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6-45
Here are some cleaning tips:

Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.

Clean up stains as soon as you can
-- before they set.

Carefully scrape off any excess stain.

Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used if stains
are stubborn.

If a ring forms on fabric after spot cleaning, clean the
entire area immediately or it will set.
Using Multi-Purpose Interior Cleaner
on Fabric
1. Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask
surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
3. Mix powdered cleaner following the directions on
the container label to form thick suds.
4. Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don't saturate the material and don't rub it roughly.
5. As soon as you've cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
6. Wipe cleaned area with a clean, damp towel or cloth.
7. Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black),
egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urine and
blood can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
2. If a stain remains, follow the multi
-purpose interior
cleaner instructions described earlier.
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat
the area with a water/baking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
4. Let dry.
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. First, clean with cool water and allow to
dry completely.
3. If a stain remains, follow instructions for
Multi
-Purpose Interior Cleaner.
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6-48
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle's finish is to keep
it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or
cold water.
Don't wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Use a car washing soap. Don't use strong soaps or
chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,
removing all soap residue completely. You can get
GM
-approved cleaning products from your dealer. (See
ªAppearance Care and Materialsº in the Index.) Don't
use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or that
contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the surface,
or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all
-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car
washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow
instructions under ªWashing Your Vehicle.º
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM
-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See ªAppearance Care and Materialsº
in the Index.)
Your vehicle has a ªbasecoat/clearcoatº paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non
-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
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6-49
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle's finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non
-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don't use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners, cleaners
with acid or abrasive cleaning brushes on them because
you could damage the surface. Do not use chrome polish
on any wheels other than chrome
-plated wheels.Don't take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum
-based products may damage the paint
finish and tires.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti
-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
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Scheduled Maintenance
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7-8
45,000 Miles (75 000 km)
Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
Inspect air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions.
Replace filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote
.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
± In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
90F (32C) or higher.
± In hilly or mountainous terrain.
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
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Scheduled Maintenance
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7-12
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
Inspect spark plug wires (except 2.4L Code T L4 engine).
An Emission Control Service.
Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.
Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
± In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
90
F (32
C) or higher.
± In hilly or mountainous terrain.
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid and
filter do not require changing.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
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8-5 Canada
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
1-800-263-3777 (English)
1-800-263-7854 (French)
1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800
All Overseas Locations
GMODC - Customer Communication Centre
169-007
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Telephone: 905-644-4112
Fax: 905-644-4866
Caribbean Numbers
1-800-496-9992 (English) Puerto Rico
1-800-496-9993 (Spanish) Puerto Rico
1-800-751-4135 (English) Dominican Republic
1-800-751-4136 (Spanish) Dominican Republic
1-800-496-9994 U.S. Virgin Islands
1-800-389-0009 Bahamas
1-800-534-0122 Bermuda, Barbados, Antigua & B.V.I.If toll free service is not available in the Caribbean,
call Puerto Rico 1-787-763-1315.
GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
This program, available to
qualified applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000
toward aftermarket driver or
passenger adaptive
equipment you may require
for your vehicle (hand
controls, wheelchair/scooter
lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The program is available
for a limited period of time from the date of vehicle
purchase/lease. See your dealer for more details or call
the GM Mobility Assistance Center at 1
-800-323-9935.
Text telephone (TTY) users, call 1
-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call
1
-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. When
calling from outside Canada, please dial 1
-905-644-3063.
All TTY users call 1
-800-263-3830.
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8-6
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Program Features and Benefits
Security While You Travel
1-800-442-OLDS (6537)
As the proud owner of a new Oldsmobile vehicle, you
are automatically enrolled in the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance program. This value
-added service is
intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive
in the city or travel the open road.Oldsmobile's Roadside Assistance toll
-free number is
staffed by courteous and capable Roadside Assistance
Representatives who are available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
We will provide the following services during the Bumper
to Bumper warranty period, at no expense to you:

Fuel delivery

Lock
-out service (identification required)

Tow to the nearest dealership for warranty service or
in the event of a vehicle
-disabling accident

Flat tire change

Jump starts

Minor repairs to disabled vehicles

Assistance when vehicle is mired in sand, mud
or snow

Trip routing

Trip interruption expense benefits

Dealership locator service

Courtesy Transportation
- See Courtesy
Transportation section for details
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance specifically excludes
coverage for mounting, dismounting or changing of
snow tires, chains or other traction devices.
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8-10
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to
notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your dealer or
General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll
-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the hotline.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
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9-3
Compact Disc Care 3-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Disc Player 3-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Disc Player Care 3-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Spare Tire 5-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control of a Vehicle 4-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Convenience Net 2-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Convex Outside Mirror 2-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant 6-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding 6-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking 6-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heater, Engine 2-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Surge Tank 5-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Surge Tank Pressure Cap 6-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What to Use 6-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling System 5-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Courtesy Transportation 8-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise Control 2-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise Light 2-67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users 8-4 . . . . . . . . .
Customer Assistance Information 8-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Assistance Offices 8-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Satisfaction Procedure 8-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Damage, Finish 6-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Damage, Sheet Metal 6-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Daytime Running Lamps 2-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dead Battery 5-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defects, Reporting Safety 8-10, 8-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defensive Driving 4-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defogger, Rear Window 3-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defogging 3-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defrosting 3-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions, Vehicle 6-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dolby B Noise Reduction 3-12, 3-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dome Lamp 2
-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Door Locks 2-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drive, Automatic Over 2-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driver Position 1-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving
City 4
-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defensive 4-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drunken 4-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freeway 4-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In a Blizzard 4-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In Foreign Countries 6-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the Rain 4-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Night 4-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Curves 4-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Grades While Towing a Trailer 4-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Hill and Mountain Roads 4-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Snow and Ice 4-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Through Water 4-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wet Roads 4-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter 4-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
With a Trailer 4-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drunken Driving 4-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electrical Equipment, Adding 2-19 2-48, 3-22, 6-53 . . . . . .
Electrical System 6-53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine 6-9, 6-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant 6-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant Heater 2-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant Level Check 7-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant Temperature Gage 2-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exhaust 2-12, 2-30, 4-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuse Block 6-56, 6-57, 6-58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identification 6-52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil Level Check 7-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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