Oldsmobile Cutlass (1999 year). Manual

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5-27

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 the Flat Tire and Tools

CAUTION:

Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment 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.

Store the jack and jack handle in the foam tray. Place
the foam tray in the spare tire compartment. Store the
flat tire in the compact spare tire compartment. Place the
tire in the compartment, then secure the adapter and
wing bolt.

A. Nut

B. Wing Nut

C. Extension (If Equipped)

D. Adapter

E. Wrench

F. Jack

G. Tool Tray

H. Flat Road Tire

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5-28

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools

CAUTION:

The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full

size tire as soon as you

can. See “Compact Spare Tire” in the Index. See the
storage instructions label to replace your compact spare
into your trunk properly.

A. Nut

B. Cover

C. Wing Nut

D. Adapter

E. Jack Handle

F. Jack

G. Spare Tire

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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.

NOTICE:

When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts of your vehicle.

Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.

And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.

NOTICE:

Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.

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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow

In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
will need to spin the wheels, but you don’t want to spin
your wheels too fast. The method known as “rocking”
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.

CAUTION:

If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.

NOTICE:

Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.

For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.

Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out

First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may
free your vehicle. If that doesn’t get you out after a few
tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need to
be towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.

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6-1

Section 6

Service and Appearance Care

Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel 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.

Service

Fuel

Fuels in Foreign Countries

Filling Your Tank

Filling a Portable Fuel Container

Checking Things Under the Hood

Engine Oil

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

Automatic Transaxle Fluid

Surge Tank Pressure Cap

Thermostat

Engine Coolant

Power Steering Fluid

Windshield Washer Fluid

Brakes

Battery

Bulb Replacement

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

Tires

Appearance Care

Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle

Care of Safety Belts

Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle

GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Electrical System

Replacement Bulbs

Capacities and Specifications

Air Conditioning Refrigerants

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6-2

Service

Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer for
all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and
GM

trained and supported service people.

We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:

Doing Your Own Service Work

If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to use the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service your vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service manual, see “Service
and Owner Publications” in the Index.

Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag

Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.

You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.

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CAUTION:

You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
D Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,

experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.

D Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and

other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle

Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.

Fuel

Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
It is recommended that the gasoline meet specifications
which have been developed by the American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and endorsed by the
Canadian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could provide
improved driveability and emission control system
performance compared to other gasolines. For more
information, write to: American Automobile
Manufacturer’s Association, 7430 Second Ave, Suite 300,
Detroit MI 48202.

Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.

If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.

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6-4

If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood emission control
label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications. If such fuels are not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp on your instrument panel may turn on and/or your
vehicle may fail a smog

check test. (See “Malfunction

Indicator Lamp” in the Index.) If this occurs, return to
your authorized Oldsmobile dealer for diagnosis to
determine the cause of failure. In the event it is
determined that the cause of the condition is the type of
fuels used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane

enhancing additive

called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask your service station operator whether or not
the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does not
recommend the use of such gasolines. If fuels containing
MMT are used, spark plug life may be reduced and your
emission control system performance may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Oldsmobile dealer for service.

To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
contribute to clean air. General Motors recommends that
you use these gasolines, particularly if they comply with
the specifications described earlier.

NOTICE:

Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.

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6-5

Fuels in Foreign Countries

If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.

To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.

You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

Filling Your Tank

CAUTION:

Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.

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The cap is behind a hinged door on the right side of your
vehicle. To open the door, insert your finger into the
finger depression next to the fuel door.

While refueling, hang the tethered cap inside the
fuel door.

To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if you let
go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.

CAUTION:

If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.

Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Vehicle” in the Index.

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When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.

NOTICE:

If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.

Filling a Portable Fuel Container

CAUTION:

Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
D Dispense gasoline only into

approved containers.

D Do not fill a container while it is inside a

vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

D Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the

inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

D Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline.

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Oldsmobile Cutlass (1999 year). Manual - part 14