coolant temperature Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Owner's Manuals

Yneine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather,
0°F (- 18 O C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater
can help. You’ll get
I
easier starting and better
fuel economy during
engine warm-up.
A CAUTION:
Plugging the
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.. If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Oldsmobile retailer in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The retailer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.

Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
the anti-lock brake system
active light will come
on.
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
HOT
This light tells you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay on for a few seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure.
The anti-lock brake system active light also comes on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
there to
tell you when the system is active. 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.
2-49

Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to’let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time the
compressor has to run, which should help fuel economy.
For quick cool-down on very hot days, use
MAX with
the temperature knob all
the way in the blue area. If this
setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too
dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and
cool it.
On cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use BI-LEVEL with the temperature knob set
for comfort and the A/C button pushed in. The system
will bring in outside air and direct it to your upper body,
while sending slightly warmed air
to your lower body.
You may notice this temperature difference more at
some times than others.
Heating
On cold days, use FLOOR 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 use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use
DEFROST with the temperature knob all the way in the
red area. To warm passengers while keeping the
windows clean, use DEFOG.
3-3

Manual Control
If you prefer to manually control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle, set the system to the
temperature and fan speed you want. Next, push the
desired airflow direction pushbutton. The system will
try to maintain the temperature you set using the mode
you select. The following suggestions will help the
system run more efficiently in manual mode.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to
let hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time the
compressor has to run, which should help fuel economy.
For quick cool-down on very hot. days, use RECIRC.
If this setting is used for long periods of time, the air
in
your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use UPPER with the
A/C button pushed in. The system will bring in outside
air and cool
it.
Heating
On cold days, use LOWER. 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 use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use UPPER to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
.
flow-through ventilation system, described later in
this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
To defrost the windows quickly, use DEF.
To warm passengers while keeping the windows clean,
use DEFOG.
On
cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use
BI-LEV with the A/C button pushed in.
I The system will bring in outside air and direct it to your
upper body, while sending slightly warmed air
to your
3-6

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel.
See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index. You
also have a LOW COOLANT light on your instrument
panel.
See “Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
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.
~
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-13

How ,to Add Fluid Engine Coolant
I
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
~ kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended ,
1. Pull out the dipstick.
.2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@ZZ. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, ‘because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
6-20
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain
in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A
50/50 mixture of water and the proper.coolant for
your Oldsmobile will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap ,and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control,.Service,
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.
.An Emission Control Service.
0 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 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, pdlice or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid andfilter do not require changing.
delivery service.
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-25

Hill and Mountain Roads ......................... 4-21
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-32
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-7
Ho~
......................................... 2-25
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4- 17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2. 10
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-34
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-42
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
.................. 2-36
Inspections
Brakesystem
................................. 7-40
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-40
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-40
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-40
Steering
.................................... 7-40
Suspension
.................................. 7-40
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-40
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-42
Brightness Control
............................ 2-33
Cluster
..................................... 2-43
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-61
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-33
Jack, Tire
.................................... 5-23
Jump Starting
.................................... 5-2
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53 Key
Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-37
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-11
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Labels
....................................... 4-27
Certification
................................. 4-27
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-59
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-27
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-59
Courtesy
..................................... 2-33
Dome
.I .................................... 2-35
Interior
..................................... 2-33
OnReminder
................................ 2-32
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-21
Lighter
....................................... 2-39
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1-20.2-46
Anti-Lock Brake System Active
............. 2-49, 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-48, 4-6
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-47
Charging System
............................. 2-46
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-49
Interior
..................................... 2-33
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-50
LowFuel
................................... 2-56
LowOilLevel
............................... 2-55
Oilwarning
................................. 2-53
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-7, 2-45
Security
.................................... 2-55
Service Engine
Soon .......................... 2-51
Lamps
........................................ 2-32
9-5