wheel alignment OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 Owners Manual

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
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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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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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Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlet ......................... 2-84
Adding Equipment to the Outside
Of Your Vehicle ...... 6-3
AirBag
....................................... 1-43
How Does
it Restrain .......................... 1-47
Howitworks
................................ 1-45
Location
.................................... 1-45
Readiness Light
......................... 1.44, 2.94
Servicing
................................... 1-48
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-46
What Will You See After it Inflates
............... 1-47
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-46
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-62
AirInflator
.................................... 2-86
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-44
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-52
Antenna. Integrated Windshield
.................... 3-30
Antifreeze ..................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock
........................................
Brake System Warning Light ................ 2.96. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Adjusting the Split Bench Seat
.................... 1 . 19
Appearance Care
............................... 6-46
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-54
Ashtray
....................................... 2-82
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-9
Automatic Door Locks
............................ 2-6
Automatic Overdrive
............................ 2-33
Automatic Transaxle Check
....................... 7-38
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
........................ 6-17
HowtoAdd
................................. 6-20
How to Check
............................... 6-18
When
to Check and Change ..................... 6-17
Automatic Transaxle Operation
.................... 2-31
Shifting
..................................... 2-31
Automatic Transaxle Park Mechanism Check
......... 7-40
Battery Saver
................................. 2-61
Battery
....................................... 6-30
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Warnings
................................ 5.3. 5.5
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
.................... 4-22
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
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Third Row Solid Bench Seat ...................... 1 . 13
Adjusting ................................... 1-13
Folding the Seatback
.......................... 1 . 13
Removing ................................... 1-14
Replacing
................................... 1-16
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-52
Time, Setting the
................................ 3-9
Tire Chains
.................................... 6-46
Tire Loading
................................... 4-29
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-29
Tires
......................................... 6-39
Alignment
and Balance ........................ 6-44
BuyingNew
................................. 6-42
Chains
..................................... 6-46
ChangingaFlat
.............................. 5-22
Cleaning
.................................... 6-52
Compact Spare
............................... 5-32
Inflation .................................... 6-40
Inflation Check
............................... 7-37
Inspection
and Rotation ........................ 6-41
Pressure
.................................... 6-40
Storing
a Flat or Spare ......................... 5-3 1
Temperature ................................. 6-44
Traction
.................................... 6-44
Treadwear
................................... 6-43
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-43
Used Wheel Replacement
...................... 6-45
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-42
Loading
.................................... 4-29 Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-44
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-42
TopStrap
..................................... 1-69
TorqueLock
................................... 2-38
Torque, Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-30, 6-62
Towing
a Trailer ................................ 4-31
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-8
Traction Control System
.......................... 4-9
Trailer Traction Control System Warning Light
........ 2-97, 4- 10
Brakes ..................................... 4-35
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-37
Driving
with ................................. 4-35
Hitches
..................................... 4-34
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-38
Parking on Hills
.............................. 4-37
Safety Chains
................................ 4-34
Tongue Weight
............................... 4-33
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-34
Towing
..................................... 4-31
Turnsignals
................................. 4-37
Weight
..................................... 4-32
Transaxle Fluid. Automatic
....................... 4-17
Transmitters, Keyless Entry ........................ 2-7
Transportation, Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-91
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-4
Turn Signal Reminder Chime
..................... 2-53
Turn
Signal and Lane Change Signals
............... 2-53
9-12
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Turn SignalMultifunction Lever ................... 2-52
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-37
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-40
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-53
Underhood Fuse and Relay Center
................. 6-60
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-6
Dimensions
................................. 6-63
Identification Number
......................... 6-55
Loading
.................................... 4-29
Storage
..................................... 6-30
Ventilation System
............................... 3-4
Ventilation Tips
............................... 3-5
Visor Vanity Mirrors
............................ 2-83
Visors. Sun
.................................... 2-83
Damage
Warnings
.............................. iv
warning Devices
............................... 5-3
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators
............... 2-92 Washer Fluid. Windshield
........................ 6-26
Washing Your Vehicle
........................... 6-51
Weatherstrips
.................................. 6-50
Wheel
Alignment
.................................. 6-44
Nut Torque
............................. 5.30. 6.62
Replacement
................................. 6-44
Used Replacement
............................ 6-45
Wrench
..................................... 5-25
Windows
..................................... 2-50
Power
...................................... 2-50
Power Rear Quarter
........................... 2-51
SideLatches
................................. 2-51
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-54
Fluid
.................................. 2.54. 6.26
Fluid Level Check
............................ 7-37
Rear
....................................... 2-55
Rear
....................................... 2-55
Blade Replacement ........................... 6-38
Fuses
...................................... 6-56
Winter Driving
................................. 4-25
Windshield Wiper
.............................. 2-54
Wiring. Headlamp
.............................. 6-56
Wrench. Wheel
................................. 5-25
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