flat tire Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Owner's Manuals

The 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems .............................................................
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to
start and operate your Oldsmobile.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do
if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule ..................................................................
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................
This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and \
how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information.on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page\
8-7.
Index ........................................................................\
..........
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
FeaturesandControls ..................................................................
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .................. ’. ..................................
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
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Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance.
If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going
slower than you actually are.
I !
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in. Is
your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to
go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Oldsmobile retail facilities all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before
a trip:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
0 Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving?
Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-20

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on’ the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let
it happen to you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in
less than a second, and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First,
be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
,
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Hill and Mountain Road’s
Your moving’ Scan the road ahead and to Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently. driving
in flat or rolling terrain.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.

. Loading ' Your' Vehicle
Tm OCCUPANTS VEHICLE .CAP. WT,
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CA.PAClTY WEIG'HT
XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE
SIZE SPEED PRESSURE.
RTG
PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSV28KPa.
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
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A
Two labels on your vehicle show how much wei.ght it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label is inside the
trunk lid. The label tells you the proper size,
speed rating and recommended inflation pressures'for
the tiies on your vehicle. It also gives you important
.
information about the number of people that can be in
your vehicle and the total weight you, can carry. This
includes, the weight 'of all occupants, ,cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.
r I
mi
I.
MFD'BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVW8 GAWR FRT
. GAWR RR
'THIS VEHICLE C-ONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE U.S. FEDERAL
MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EF,FECT ON THE DATE Of
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
L 1
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge
of the driver's door. It tells .you the gross
weight aqacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross\Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes
the weight
of the vehicle, all occupantS, fuel and cargo.
Never: exceed the
GVWR for your vehicie or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either, the front or
'rear axle.
If you do have a heavy bad, spread it out. Don't carry
more than 167 lbs. (75 kg) in your trunk:

Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the
recommended pressure for cold tires. You’ll find these
numbers on the Tire-Loading Information label (found
inside the
trunk lid) or see “Loading Your Vehicle”
in the Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of
the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
0
a
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt
,and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches.
Do not’attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certaifi amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear
of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle,
at the opposite end.
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If there is a wheel cover,
loosen the plastic nut caps
with the wheel wrench.
They won’t come
off. Then,
using the flat end of the
wheel wrench, pry along the
edge
of the wheel cover
until it comes
off. Be
careful; the edge may be sharp. Don’t try to remove
the iover with
your
bare hands.
To remove a center cap, use
the wrench to pry gently at
the notch. Don’t use a
tool
that is narrower than the
wrench to pry at this notch.
If your vehicle has wheel
nut caps, remove them
using the wheel wrench.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack lift
Don’t remove them yet.
head a few inches.
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3. Position the jack
under the vehicle
and raise the jack lift
head until it fits firmly
into the notch in the
vehicle’s frame nearest
the flat tire.
Put the compact spare tire near you. I-
’ A CAUTION:
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Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned will’damage the vehicle
or may allow
the vehicle to fall.off the jack. Be sure to
fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising your vehicle.
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4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the
ground for the spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
5. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
J
Rust or dirt 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 the 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.

9. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence
as shown.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come
off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new
GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon
as you can and have the
nuts tightened with
a torque wrench to 100 lb-ft
(140 Nom).
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Don’t try to put the wheel cover
on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover in the trunk unt\
il
you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put
a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
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