flat tire OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: OLDSMOBILE, Model Year: 1997, Model line: SILHOUETTE, Model: OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997Pages: 436, PDF Size: 21.87 MB
Page 292 of 436

Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the conlpact spare
tire near
you.
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.
-1 5. Attach the folding
wrench to the jack, and
rotate
the wrench
clockwise to raise the
jack head
a few inches.
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.
Raise the vehicle by rotating the folding wrench
clockwise
in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground
so there is enough room for the spare
tire to
fit.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
5-28
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Page 295 of 436

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.
11. Don’t try to put
a wheel cover on the compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store
the wheel cover securely in
the rear of the vehicle until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.
1 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.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
Storing a jack, a tire or other equlpment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In
a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store
all these
in the proper place.
Lay the tire near the rear of the vehicle with the valve
stem down. Slide the cable retainer through the center
of the wheel and start to raise the tire. When the tire is
almost in
the stored position, turn the tire so the valve is
towards the rear of the vehicle. This will help when you
check and maintain tire pressure
in the spare.
Keep raising the wheel
until you hear the hoist
mechanism click twice. This means the wheel is
firmly stored against the underside of the vehicle. Push
against the wheel to be sure it does
not move and is
stored securely.
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Page 296 of 436

NOTE: INSTALL OF BAG - BOTTOM FIRST
TOOL STORAGE
BAG & TOOLS
Replace all jacking tools as they were stored in the jack
storage compartment and replace the compartment
cover.
To replace the cover, line up the tabs on the right
of the cover with
the slots in the cover opening. Push the
cover in place and push down the tab
so that it rests in
the groove. This secures the cover in place. Unless
you have
the plastic “bolt-on” wheel covers, be
sure to also store the nylon
nut caps and the center cap.
When
you replace the compact spare with a full-size
tire, replace the bolt-on wheel covers or
the nylon nut
caps and
the center cap. Tighten them “hand tight” over
the
wheel nuts, using the folding wrench.
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated
when your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420
kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle,
you should stop
as soon as possible and make sure
your spare
tire is correctly inflated. The compact
spare is made to perform well at speeds up to
65 mph
(105 km/h) for distances
up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km),
so you can finish your trip and have your full-size tire
repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best
to replace your spare
with a full-size tire as soon as you
can. Your spare will last longer and be
in good shape in
case you need it again.
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Page 299 of 436

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Oldsmobile. This section begins with service information, and
then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted
to its appearance care.
6-2
6- 3
6-4
6-5
6-7
6-10 6-15
6-16 6-17
6-20 6- 24
6-25
6-26
6-30 6-30
6-3
1
6-38 Doing
Your Own Service Work
What Kind
of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine
Oil
Air Cleaner
Pollen Filter
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Power Steering Fluid
Where to Fill
the Windshielc 9 Washer Fluic
Important Brake Information
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 6-40
6-42
6-44
6-47 6-49
6-50
6-52
6-53 6-54
6-55 6-56
6-57
6-62
6-62
6-62 6-63
6-63 How and
When to Check Tire Inflation
When
it is Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of the Safety Belts
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recommended Appearance Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
Vehicle Dimensions
Normal Replacement Parts
6-1
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Page 337 of 436

3. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield or backglass.
4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull the blade assembly down
towards the glass to remove it from the wiper arm.
5. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm
until you hear the release clip “click” into place.
Tires
Your new Oldsmobile comes with high-quality tires made
by a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see
your Oldsmobile Warranty booklet for details. Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and
a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
0 Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured
or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
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Page 338 of 436

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
the driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures
me
Certificatioflire label, which is on the rear edge
of
for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 lun).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued NOTICE:
(Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply
by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back
on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
6-40
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Page 339 of 436

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 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’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement” later
in this section 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 “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals. When
rotating
your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
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 Certificatioflire label.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque”
in the Index.
Rust or dirt on
a wheel, or on the 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 scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
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Page 342 of 436

Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by
law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
Oldsmobile retailer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your retailer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
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Page 343 of 436

Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the
same way as the one it replaces.
11 yo^- -1eed to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your
Oldsmobile model.
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have a
collision in which you
or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts
for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer
or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See “Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
Putting
a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how
far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.
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Page 364 of 436

I IMPORTANT: I
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
protection Plan I
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plm? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warrmties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your
Oldmobile retailer
for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle
in good working condition, but also helps the
environment.
All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the
level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle
in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
7-2
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