coolant level Oldsmobile Cutlass 1998 Owner's Manuals

Low Coolant Warning Light
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
m
This light comes on briefly
when you
turn your
ignition to
ON.
If this light comes on and stays on and you hear a chime,
the vehicle should promptly be pulled off the road and
the coolant level checked.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
If there are visible
signs of steam, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index
before opening
the hood. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as you can.

’ . For quick cool-down on very hot days, use VENT with
’ . the temperature knob all the way in the blue area and the
; A/C and RECIRCULATION buttons pressed. If this
; setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
-1 For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
’: temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
f pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
Heating
On cold days, use FLOOR and the outside air button
I 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 outlets.
I Your vehicle has heat outlets that are directed toward
I
. : the rear seat. Keep the area under the front seats
’ I clear of obstructions so the heated air can reach the
rear seat passengers.
: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 OF (- 18 O C) or lower). An
engine coolant heater warms the coolant your engine
and heating system use to provide heat. See “Engine
’ . Coolant Heater” in the Index.
-~ -. ... . ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
~ .. ~~ __ ~
Defogging and Defrosting Windows
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
For each setting, adjust the temperature
control as desired.
To defrost the front window quickly, rotate the
temperature control knob all the way in the red area.
Use DEFROST and adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To warrn passengers while keeping the front window
clean, use DEFOG.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents. The side window defogger vents are located
on the outside of the side instrument panel vents. To
defrost the side windows rotate the temperature control
knob all the way in the red area. Use
FLOOR and adjust
the fan to the highest speed. To control fogging of the
windows rotate the temperature control knob all the
way in the red area. Use DEFOG and adjust the fan
to the highest speed.
To defog the side windows while using air conditioning
use BI-LEVEL and adjust the fan to the highest speed and press the
A/C button. For added airflow to the side
windows aim the side vents toward the windows and
close the center vents.
RECIRCULATION will not work in DEFROST and
DEFOG. This is done to prevent recirculation of humid
inside air and allow the system to work properly.

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperab Ire gage on
vehicle’s instrument panel. see “Engine Coo
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
your
dant
Temperature Gage”
in the Index. You will also find a
low coolant level waming light on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. See
“LOW Coolant Warning Light”
in the Index.
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The coalant level should be at or above FULL COLD
m-ark .or slightly higher.
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.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
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.
1 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 fans are running.
If the
engine is overheating, both fans should be running.
If
they aren’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 mark or slightly higher, 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 infomation.)
I
Steam and scaldmg 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.
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5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap
is tight.
Check the level in the age tank when the cooling
system has cooled down. If the coolant isn't at the
proper level, repeat Steps
1 to 3 and reinstall the
pressure cap or see
your retailer.
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Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on the passenger’s side of the
engine compartment.
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to
blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap -- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
When you engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the
FULL COLD mark or slightly higher.
If the light comes on, it
means you’re
low on
engine coolant.
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