engine Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1993 s Owner's Guide

Here you’ll find what to do about
some problems that can occur on the
road
.
Part 5
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
............... 188
Jump Starting
........................................................................\
.................................. 189
Towing Your Oldsmobile
........................................................................\
............... 193
Engine Overheating
........................................................................\
........................ 197
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
........................... 204
Changing a Flat Tire
........................................................................\
....................... 205
Compact Spare Tire ........................................................................\
........................ 211
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ......................................................... 212
187

Probkms on the Road
Jump Starting (CONT.)
190
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other. If they are,
it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start
your
Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured
if the
vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put
an
automatic transaxle in P (Park) or
a manual transaxle in
N (Neutral).
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries.
I
~~~~
I 2 /i An even electric when the f- engine is not
I running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away
I from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative (-)
terminals on each battery. Your
Oldsmobile has a remote positive
(+)
jump starting terrninal. The terminal is
on the same side
of the engine
compartment as your battery.
You should always use the remote
positive
(+) terminal instead of the
positive
(+) terminal on your battery.
To uncover the remote positive
(+)
terminal, lift the red plastic cap.

Using a match near a batteq
can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water.
You don’t need to add water to the
Delco Freedoms battery installed in
every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the
right amount
of fluid is there. If it is
low, add water to take care of that
first. If you don’t, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get it
on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes
or
on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help
immediately.
I
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missing insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or
you’ll get
a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts, too.
I I
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery.
Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
191

Problems on the Road
192
Jump Starting (CONT.)
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.
Connect it to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good battery.
Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative
(-) cable to the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything
until the next step. The other end of the
negative cable
doesn’t go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part on the engine
of the vehicle
with the dead battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance
of sparks
getting back to the battery is much
less.
IO. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and run the engine for a
while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don’t touch each
other or
any metal.

3. Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end of each lower
control
arm.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
gage or the warning light about a hot
engine
on your Oldsmobile’s instrument
panel.
You also have a low coolant
warning light on your instrument panel.
See the
Index under Coolant
Temperature Gage for the gage cluster.
r
If Steam is Coming from Your Engine:
CAUTION
A
Steam from an overheated
engine can burn you badly,
even if you just open the hood. Stay
away
from the engine if you see or
hear steam coming
from it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of steam
or coolant before opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids in
it can catch fire.
You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of
the vehicle until the engine is cool.
197

Probkms on the Road
Engine Overheating (CONTJ
If No Steam is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
198
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the
window as necessary.
3. Try to keep your engine under load
(in
a drive gear where the engine
runs slower).
If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for ab& ten minutes. If
the warning doesn't come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and, park your vehicle right away.
f there's still no sign of steam, you can
dle the engine for two or three minutes
vhile you're parked, to see if the
varning stops.
3ut then,
if you still have the warning,
KJRJNOFFTHEENGINEANDGET
WERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE
Inti1 it cools
down.
(ou may decide not to lift the hood but
o get service help right away.

Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down. The
coolant level should be at or above
the
COLD mark.
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.
I
- 1
CAUTION I
Heater and radiator hoses,
and other engine parts, can
1;, ;cry 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
I
you drive the vehicle.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see
if the electric engine 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
Recovery
Tank:
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
COLD, add a
50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper
antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank.
(See the Index under Engine Coolant
for more information abaut the proper
coolant
mix.)
199

Problems on the Road
Adding only plain water to
your cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water or the wrong
mix, your engine could get too hot
but you wouldn't get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze.
I
200
You can be burned if you
spill coolant on hot engine
-I.& Coolant contains ethylene
pdrts are hot enough. Don't spill
ycol
and it will burn if the engine
I I coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant
in the coolant
recovery tank is at or above
COLD,
start your vehicle.
If the overheat
warning continues,
there's one more
thing you can try. You
can add the proper coolant mix directly
to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system
is cool before you do it.
1
1
can blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and
if you
turn the radiator pressure cap-
even a little-they can come out at
high speed. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the radiator pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool
if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
1

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator: 1. You can remove the radiator pressure
cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap.
and upper radiator hose, is no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
If you hear
a.hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but now push down
as you turn it.
Remove the pressure
cap.
You can be burned if you
spill coolant on hot engine
,&s. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it will burn
if the engine
~ I parts are hot enough. Don’t spill
coolant on
a hot --~ 3ine.
I
1
201

Problems on the Road
202
Engine Overheating (CONTJ
3. After the engine cools, open the
coolant air bleed valve or valves.
3.1L V6 (VIN Code T or M): There
are two bleed valves. They are located
on the thermostat housing and the
thermostat bypass tube.
3.4L V6 (VIN Code X): There are
two bleed valves. They are located on
the thermostat housing and the
heater inlet pipe. 4. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck.
If you see a stream of coolant coming
from
an air bleed valve, close the valve.
Otherwise, close the valve(s) after the
radiator is filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant
from the engine and compartment.