User manual OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2003

0 m 0 The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 ............................................... 1-8 Rear Seats Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-32 SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) ...................................... 1-53 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-60 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 Keys ........................................................ 2-2 Doors Locks and ....................................... 2-7 2-14 Windows ................................................. Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16 ........... 2-17 Starting Operating and Your Vehicle Mirrors .................................................... 2-32 Siorage Areas ......................................... 2-34 Sunroof .................................................. 2-35 3-1 Instrument Panel ............................................. .......................... 3-4 Instrument Panel Overview ...................................... 3-19 Climate Controls .w .arningLights,Gages and indicators ......... 3-23 Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-38 a Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2 Towing ................................................... 4-31 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 5-3 Service ..................................................... Fuel ......................................................... 5-5 Checking Things Under the Hood ............................................... 5-9 Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-47 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-49 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-52 ...................................................... 5-53 Tires Appearance Care ..................................... 5-72 Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-80 5-81 Electrical System ...................................... n.- -:I: -Zapai;iiit=s at-tii ~ J ~ L I I I L ~ LI>I U I ..................... 5-w~ Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ...... 5-88 Maintenance Schedule ........................... ... 6-1 6-2 Maintenance Schedule ................................ Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1 Customer Assistance iniorrnation .................. 7-2 Index ................................................................. 1 -1: .- 7n - Canadian Owners You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 `JM 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 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. 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. Index A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It's an alphabetical list of what's in the manual, and the page number where you'll find it. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 22691532 A First Edition ii @Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/03/02 All Rights Reserved 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." 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. ... Ill Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle may be equipped with components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics in the Index: "Engine CompartmentOverview'' "Instrument Panel Overview" 0 A notice will 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. "Climate Controls" "Audio Systems" Also see Warning Lights, Gages and Indicatorson page 3-23. These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY A LATCH BOTH LAP AND SHOULDER BELTSTO PROTECT OCCUPANT DO NOT TWIST SAFETY BELT WHEN ATTACHING FASTEN SEAT BELTS MOVE SEAT FULLY REARWARD+ SECURE CHILD SEAT PULL BELT COMPLETELY THEN SECURE CHILD SEAT 4:@ 8 JGHTING MASTER / SWITCH - B, \ ENGINE COOLANT TEMP PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING TURN SIGNALS @+ CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS \!$ / z DO NOT INSTALL A REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION PARKING LAMPS pf BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM I-] ENGINE COOLANT FAN COOLANT AVO1D SPARKS OR FLAMES DO NOT INSTALL A d b OWNERS MANUAL 1 1 I'ORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION DAYTIME * * a RUNNING LAMPS y.: 0 ENGINE OIL PRESSUREW SERVICE 1 BATTERY 1 --,.-. uvun Luun ,, ., . a SFRVICF UNLOCK MANUAL V Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Where to Put the Restraint ........ ...... 1-41 -41 Top Strap ................................................ -1 Top Strap Anchor Location ............................. 1-42 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) ........................... 1-43 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ......................................... 1-45 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position ............................................ 1-45 Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear 1-48 Seat Position ............................................ Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ......................................... 1-50 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ............................................. 1-53 Where Are the Air Bags? ............................... 1-55 When Should an Air Bag Inflate? .................... 1-56 What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? ..................... 1-57 - ... n - - - a I rnl.l, n e - n1ca11allq : ..................... 1 5 7 -- u a y - e 4 v - : - I I IUVV uut;a 1 \ What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ... 1-57 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle ......... 1-59 Restraint System Check .................................. 1-60 Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-60 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ...................................................... 1-60 II Seats Front .......................... ......1-2 Manual Seats ............................... ...... 1-2 Six-Way Power Driver Seat ............. ......... 1-3 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................ 1-3 Head Restraints ............................................. 1-5 Seatback Latches ........................................... 1-5 Easy Entry Seat ............................................. 1-6 Power Lift Seat .............................................. 1-6 .l -8 Rear Seats ...................................................... Rear Operation Seat ....... ........................ -1-8 Safety Belts ..................................................... 1-9 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................. 1-9 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ...... 1-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................. 1-14 Driver Position .............................................. 1-15 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy .................. 1-22 Right Front Passenger Position ....................... 1-23 Rear Seat Passengers .................................. 1-23 Lenterpassenger Hear Posltion ..................... i-z Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ....................................... 1-29 Safety Belt Extender ..................................... 1-31 Child Restraints ............................................. 1-32 OIder Children .............................................. 1-32 Infants and Young Children ............................ 1-34 Child Restraint Systems ................................. 1-38 , _I 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats 1"J 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. I Lift the bar located 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 Six-Way Power Driver Seat If your vehicle has this feature, the power seat control is located on the outboard side of the driver's seat. Reclining Seatbacks This control allows you to move the seat up, down, forward, or backward. It will also move the front or rear of the seat cushion up or down. Move the seat forward or rearward by pushing the control toward the front or rear of the vehicle. Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holding II- 11 le LUI ILIUI -- -.-1..-I . "- up ^- VI A U U V V I I. -...- To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and movethe seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the snrthzck IPC! !he seafhack will 20 to an upright position. Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by holding the front of the control up or down. 0 Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by holding the rear of the control up or down. 1-3 Sitting in a reclined position when your vehic is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do theirjob 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 it's job either. In a crash the belt could goup 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. 1-4 Head Restraints Seatback Latches For two-door model vehicles, the front seatbacks fold forward to let people get into the back seat. The seatback latch is designed for one-handed operation. 1 To fold a front seatback forward, lift the seatback latch fully without pushing forward on the seatback to unlock it. Then the seatback will fold forward. Push the seatback to its original position, and the seatback will lock. 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. 1 -5 Easy Entry Seat For two-door model vehicles, the right front seat of your vehicle makes it easy for people to get in and out of the rear seat. 1. Fold the right front seatback forward by lifting the seatback latch fully. Power Lift Seat 2. The seat will slide forward to allow someone to get into the rear seat area. 3. Push the seatback upright to lock it and slide the seat fully rearward to lock it. 4. Adjust the seat to the desired position. 5. The front passenger should try to move the seat to make sllrc'! the seat is Inckeri intn place. If the easy try right frc 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. If your vehicle has this feature, to move the power lift seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever located under the front of the driver's seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is locked into place. 1-6 Rear Seats Rear Seat Operation Folding the Seatback If your vehicle has this feature, do the following: 1. Pull the release straps located in the trunk. The right strap operates the passenger's side rear split seat. The left strap operates the driver's side rear split seat. To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it to its original position. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latched securely in the fully upright position. 2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the vehicle. 1-8 Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. It is extremely dangerous to ridein a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle.In a collision, people riding in these areas are more Do likely to be seriously injured or killed. not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle in a is seat and using a safety belt properly. Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicleor be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed.In the same crash, you might notbe, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, 2!?d check fhll p . ! 1 p2ssenCJerr' he!fs arc? fastened properly too. 1-9 Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-26. Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat on wheels. 1-10 L 5 2 L a, ir a , The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel... 1-12 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I'm wearing a safety belt? A: You could be - whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. y01-1 t mnre time tn stop Yo11stop over more distance: cp and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why safety belts make such good sense. A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with -:. -saieiy beiis - rlui ir-lsieaii UI L I I ~ I T I . rV C I y all. I -uay C system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions, but especia!!y in side and other co!lMQnsl C&I-- 1-13