User manual OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2000

Bumper-to-Bumper 3-years/36,000 miles (60 000 km) Limited Warranty Every 2000 Alero under warranty is backed with the following services: ( For vehicles purchased in Canada, call 1-800-268-6800) that provides in an emergency: 1-800-442-OLDS Courtesy Transportation Free lockout assistance Free dead-battery assistance Free out-of-fuel assistance Free flat-tire change Emergency towing 2000 Oldsmobile Alero Owner's Manual Litho in U.S.A. Part Number 22618959 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 1999 All Rights Reserved i Table of Contents Seats and Restraint Systems Section 1 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Child Restraints Features and Controls Section 2 Keys and Door Locks Remote Lock Control Trunk Release Automatic Transmission (If Equipped) Manual Transmission Parking Brake Windows Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Windshield Wipers Cruise Control Interior and Exterior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net (If Equipped) Accessory Power Outlets Sunroof (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages ii Table of Contents (cont'd) Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Section 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Your Driving and the Road Section 4 Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Enhanced Traction System Steering Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer Problems on the Road Section 5 Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck iii Table of Contents (cont'd) Service and Appearance Care Section 6 Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants GM Oil Life SystemTM Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Maintenance Schedule Section 7 Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records iv Table of Contents (cont'd) Customer Assistance Information Section 8 Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Service Publications Index Section 9 In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide v We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem and the name ALERO are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Oldsmobile Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9 vi How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't," "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen." vii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also in this book you will find these notices: NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. viii Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: MASTER LIGHTING SWITCH These symbols are on some of your controls: WINDSHIELD WIPER These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: ENGINE COOLANT TEMP WINDSHIELD WASHER BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FUSE DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS LIGHTER PARKING LAMPS FASTEN SEAT BELTS WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER HORN BRAKE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER POWER WINDOW DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER COOLANT SPEAKER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN FUEL AIR BAG FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ix Service Station Guide Cooling System For a More Detailed Look at What's Under the Hood See Section 6 See Section 5 Tire Pressure See Section 6 Battery See Section 6 Spare Tire Pressure See Section 5 Hood Release See Section 6 Windshield Washer Fluid See Section 6 Engine Oil Dipstick See Section 6 Oil Viscosity Engine Oil See Section 6 Use unleaded gas only, 87 Octane or higher. See Section 6 Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1- 2 1- 9 1- 13 1- 14 1- 14 1- 22 1- 23 1- 23 1- 30 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're for Everyone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Rear Seat Passengers 1- 33 1- 35 1- 37 1- 39 1- 50 1- 53 1- 53 1- 53 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Center Passenger Position Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1- 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them -- and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints. 2-Way Manual Seat Controls Manual Seats CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don't want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the bar under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. 1-2 Power Lift Seat-Forward/Rearward Controls (If Equipped) Power Lift Seat-Height Controls (If Equipped) Move the control lever under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is locked into place. The power seat switch is located on the lower left side of the driver's seat. Raise the seat by holding the switch up. Lower the seat by holding the switch down. 1-3 6-Way Power Seat Controls (If Equipped) Move the seat higher by lifting and holding the bottom of the switch. Lower the seat by pushing and holding the top of the switch. To move the seat forward, push the rear of the switch forward. To move the seat backward, push the front of the switch rearward. Raise the front of the seat by lifting and holding the bottom front end of the switch. Lower the front of the seat by pushing and holding the top front end of the switch. Raise the rear of the seat by lifting and holding the bottom rear of the switch. Lower the rear of the seat by pushing and holding the top rear of the switch. The power seat switch is located on the lower, left side of the driver's seat. This switch allows you to move the seat up, down, forward, and backward. It also moves the front of the seat up or down and the rear of the seat up or down. 1-4 Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) Turn the knob on the right front of the driver's seat cushion clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust support of the lower back. Reclining Front Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the lever and the seat will go to an upright position. 1-5 CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job when you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do its job because it won't be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-6 Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. CAUTION: If the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. The front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat. The seatback latch is designed for one-handed operation. To fold a front seatback forward, lift the seatback latch fully without pushing forward on the seatback. Push the seatback to its original position, the seatback will lock. Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) 1-7 Easy Entry Seat (2-Door Models) Rear Seats Folding the Rear Seat To fold down the rear seat, pull the release straps located in the trunk. CAUTION: If an easy entry right front seat isn't locked, it can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there could be injured. After you've used it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat to be sure it is locked. The right front seat of your vehicle makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat. 1. Fold the right front seatback forward by lifting the seatback latch fully. 2. The seat will slide forward to allow someone to get into the rear seat area. 3. Push the seatback upright to lock and slide the seat fully rearward to lock. 4. Adjust the seat to the desired position. 5. The front passenger should try to move the seat to make sure the seat is locked into place. The right strap operates the right rear split seat. The left strap operates the left rear split seat. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the vehicle. Push the seatback up to return it to its original position. To make sure the seatback is secure, push the seatback into a fully upright position. Pull the seatback forward slightly to make sure that it is latched. The seatback should not fold down. 1-8