Oldsmobile ALERO 2000 Owner Manual

Every

2000 Alero

under warranty is

backed with the

following

services:

Bumper-to-Bumper

3-years/36,000 miles (60 000 km)

Limited Warranty

1-800-442-OLDS

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

call

1-800-268-6800)

that provides in an emergency:

Courtesy

Transportation

Free Free Free Free

lockout assistance

dead-battery assistance

out-of-fuel assistance

flat-tire change

Emergency

towing

2000 Oldsmobile Alero

Owner's Manual

Litho in U.S.A. Part Number 22618959 A First Edition

Section

Table of Contents

Seats and Restraint Systems

Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts

Features and Controls

Keys and Door Locks Remote Lock Control Trunk Release Automatic Transmission (If Equipped) Manual Transmission Parking Brake Windows Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever

Air Bag Systems Child Restraints

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

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Enhanced Traction System

Problems on the Road

Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle

Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature

Steering Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer

Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck

iii

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Service and Appearance Care

Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants GM Oil Life System™ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

Brakes Bulb Replacement

Maintenance Schedule

Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Customer Assistance Information

Section

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

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

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.

We support voluntary technician certification.

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

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.

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.

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.

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:

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols have to do with your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

These symbols are on some of your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

VENTILATING

FAN

These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

Here are some other symbols you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

SPEAKER

FUEL

Service Station Guide

For

a More

Detailed Look at

What's Under the Hood

See Section 6

Hood Release

See Section 6

Windshield Washer

Fluid

See Section 6

Battery

See Section 6

Engine Oil Dipstick

Cooling System

See Section 5

See Section 6

Tire Pressure

See Section 6

Oil Viscosity

Engine Oil

See Section 6

Spare Tire Pressure

See Section 5

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.

- 2 Seats and Seat Controls

- 9 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

- 13 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

- 14 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

1 1

- 14 Driver Position

- 22 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

- 23 Right Front Passenger Position

1 1

- 23 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

- 30 Rear Seat Passengers

-- and the Answers

- 33 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for

Children and Small Adults

1- 35 Center Passenger Position 1

- 37 Children

- 39 Child Restraints

1 1

- 50 Larger Children

- 53 Safety Belt Extender

- 53 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

- 53 Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash

1-1

Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them and head restraints.

-- and also about reclining seatbacks

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.

2-Way Manual Seat Controls

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)

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.

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.

T o move the seat forward, push the rear of the switch forward. T o 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.

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

T o 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

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

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.

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.

Seatback Latches (2-Door Models)

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.

T o 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.

1-7

Easy Entry Seat (2-Door Models)

Rear Seats

Folding the Rear Seat

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.

1-8

T o fold down the rear seat, pull the release straps located in the trunk.

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. T o 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.

Safety Belts: They’re 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.

And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system.

CAUTION:

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 vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do 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 is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.)

1-9

In most states and 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!

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

Ta ke the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

1-10

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider

doesn’t stop.

1-11

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

1-12

or the instrument panel ...

or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.

You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why safety belts make such good sense.

Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts

Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

-- and the Answers

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?

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 safety belts 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 especially in side and other collisions.

-- not instead of them. Every air bag

1-13

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an

accident and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Adults

This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety

belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index) so you can sit up straight.

1-14

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

1-15

5. T o make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

1-16

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster (4-Door Models)

Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you.

T o move it down, squeeze the release button and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the adjuster up just by pushing on the shoulder belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the release button to make sure it has locked into position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.

1-17

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

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