change time Oldsmobile Alero 2003 s Owner's Guide

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles (12 500 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
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page
5-56 and Wheel Replacement
on page
5-59 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 “Part A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services,” in Section 6, for scheduled
rotation intervals. 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 “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and
Specifications on page
5-86.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or or 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
3cllCapcI VI VVll c; ut U3If IBLGI, II ywu IIG‘CSU LW, LW
get all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing a Flat
Tire”
in the Index.
--_ .------ -_. ... :-- L”..-L I-*-” :+ .--. ~ “...-A 4- 4-
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
5-55

9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
R---t OL Art on the wheel, or on the parts to
which
it is fastened, can make the 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
ine piaces wnere ine wneei aiiaches io ihe
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.
Never use c or grease on studs or nl If
you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall
off, causing a serious accident.
10. Install the compact spare tire.
11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
5-67

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
This part contains engine oil scheduled maintenance
which explains the engine oil life system and how
it indicates when to change the engine
oil and filter.
Also, listed are scheduled maintenance services which
are
to be performed at the mileage intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. But we don’t know exactly how
you’ll drive it. You may drive short distances only a few
times
a week. Or you may drive long distances all
the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your
vehicle in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to
work, to
do errands or in many other ways.
Because of the different ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs may vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements.
So please read the
following and note how you drive.
If you have
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer. This part tells
you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See
Loading Your
Vehicle on page 4-34.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page 5-5.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1
66 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(1
66 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) should be repeated at the same interval
after 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) for the life of this
vehicle.
See
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9
and Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections on
page
6- 13.
Footnotes
t The U.S. EfMrmmef%al Prdectim Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
the completion of the vehicle's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
,iia;ii;eiiaiic.e be ,.ec.ui.u'eu'.
+ A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection on page
6-14.
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the GM
Oil Life SystemTM (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This
is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that
oil life has been
diminished, it
wi!! indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE OIL light will come on. Change
your oil as soon as possible within the next two
times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and filter must
be
must be reset. It is also important to check your oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level.
chs-mgd
!ezst s-ve 2 ye2r 2nd 2t this ?im,e the cwctam 'J -*-* ' *
6-5

Public Transportation or Fuel
Reimbursement
If your vehicle requires overnight warranty repairs,
reimbursement up to
$30 per day (five days maximum)
may be available for the use of public transportation
such as taxi or bus. In addition, should you arrange
transportation through a friend or relative,
reimbursement for reasonable fuel expenses up to
$10 per day (five day maximum) may be available.
Claim amounts should reflect actual costs and be
supported by original receipts.
Courtesy Rental Vehicle
When your vehicle is unavailable due to overnight
warranty repairs, your dealer may arrange to provide
you with a courtesy rental vehicle
or reimburse you for a
rental vehicle you obtained, at actual cost, up to a
maximum of
$30.00 per day supported by receipts. This
requires that you sign and complete a rental agreement
and meet state, local and rental vehicle provider
requirements. Requirements vary and may include
minimum age requirements, insurance coverage, credit
card, etc.
You are responsible for fuel usage charges
and may also be responsible for taxes, levies,
usage fees, excessive mileage or rental usage beyond
the completion of the repair.
Generally it is not possible to provide a like-vehicle as a
courtesy rental.
Additional Program Information
Courtesy Transportation is available during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty coverage period, but it
is
not
part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. A
separate booklet entitled Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information
furnished with each new vehicle
provides detailed warranty coverage information.
Courtesy Transportation is available only at participating
dealers and all program options, such as shuttle
service, may not be available at every dealer. Please
contact your dealer for specific information about
availability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangements
will be administered by appropriate dealer personnel.
Canadian Vehicles: For warranty repairs during
the Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the General
Motors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
alternative transportation may be available under the
Courtesy Transportation Program. Please consult
your dealer for details.
General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify,
change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at
any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility
pursuant to the terms and conditions described
herein at its sole discretion.
7-8

Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles.
To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-41 23
Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-Mastercard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com Or
you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P. 0. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers:
All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable
in U.S. funds.
7-1 1

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Roadside Assistance Program
......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information
........ 7-1 0
Customizing the Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-9
D
DAB Radio ................................................ 3-65
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
......................... 3-14
Defensive Driving
............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting
................................. 3-20
Delayed Headlamps
........................................ 3-1 5
Delayed Locking ............................................... 2-8
Dinghy Towing
...................... .................. 4-32
Dolly Towing
........................ .............. 4-33
Dome Lamp
......................... .................. 3-16
Door Delayed Locking
................... ................ 2-8
Power Door Locks
......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
............... 2-8
Rear Security Locks
..................................... 2-10
Position, Safety Belt
..................................... 1-15
Six-Way Power Seat
...................................... 1-3
At Night
..................................................... 4-15
City
........................................................... 4-20
Defensive
..................................................... 4-2
Doing
Your Own Service Work
............... ..... 5-4
Locks
...................................................... 2-7
Driver
Driving Driving
(cont.)
Drunken
....................................................... 4-2
Freeway
..................................................... 4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads
.............................. 4-23
In Rain and on Wet Roads
........................... 4-17
Winter
........................................................ 4-25
Driving On Grades
.......................................... 4-41
Driving on Snow or Ice
.................................... 4-26
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
............... 4-19
Driving Through Flowing Water
......................... 4-19
Driving with a Trailer
....................................... 4-40
E
Easy Entry Seat ............................................... 1-6
Electrical System
Add-on Equipment
...................................... 5-81
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................... 5-81
Windshield Wiper Fuses
............................... 5-81
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
..................... 2-13
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
................................................... 3-33
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
......................................... 5-21
Battery
....................................................... 5-41
Change Engine Oil Light
............................... 3-35
Coolant
...................................................... 5-23
Coolant Heater
............................................ 2-20
Power Windows and Other Power Options
...... 5-81
Check and Service Engine Soon Light
............ 3-31
4

Tires (cont.) Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
................. 5-58
Wheel Replacement
..................................... 5-59
When It
Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-56
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
.................... 2-21
Top of the Instrument Panel
............................. 5-74
Top Strap
...................................................... 1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location
............................... 1-42
Torque Lock
................................................... 2-28
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
.................. 4-39
Towing Recreational Vehicle
..................................... 4-31
Towing a Trailer
.......................................... 4-36
Your Vehicle
............................................... 4-31
Traction Enhmced Traction Systerr; Active Light
........... 3-30
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
........ 3-29
Enhanced
Traction System (ETS)
.................... 4-9
Trailer Brakes
................................................. 4-39
Transaxle Fluid, Automatic
........................................... 5-22
Fluid, Manual
.............................................. 5-22 T - - .. I - n- -.--a: - .- A . .I -.-- -L:- I I dl 13dAlt: Upel dllUl I, fiUlUl1 ldllb 6-66 A nA .........................
Transaxle Operation, Manual ............................ 2-25
Transmission Up-Shift Light
.............................................. 3-28
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual
........................................ 7-10
Transportation Options
...................................... 7-7
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit
................................... 2-1 3 Trip Odometer
.......... ........................... 3-25
Trunk
............................................................ 2-11
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
........................... 3-7
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
.................. 4-41
Trunk Lamp
................................................... 3-16
Underbody Flushing Service
............................. 6-12
Understanding Radio Reception
........................ 3-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
............................ 5-57
United States
................................................... 7-4
Up-Shift Light
................................................. 3-28
Used Replacement Wheels
.............................. 5-60
using Cleaner on Fabric
.................................. 5-73
v
Vehicle
Control
........................... ..................... 4-5
Damage Warnings
........................................... iv
Loading
...................................................... 4-34
Service Soon Light
...................................... 3-36
Parking
Your
............................................... 2-29
Symbols
......................................................... iv
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
............................................. 5-80
Service Parts Identification Label
................... 5-80
Vehicle Storage
.............................................. 5-41
13