First you remove the lower back seat, and the bolts that secure the upper will be exposed. Remove them and lift out upper back seat.
the alternator is located on the upper left hand side of the engine. just follow the belt and you will find it located at the top.that is where mine is.
If it is the front ones, remove the wheel, get a t-50, or t-55 torx for a half in. ratchet. remove the upper and lower bolts, caliper slides off. If it is rear, remove wheel, get an 18mm wrench and take the bolts out. caliper will come out with them.
Follow the upper radiator hose from the radiator down to where it hooks up to the outlet. Outlet is held in place with 2 bolts. Remove the bolts and there is the thermostat. Drain coolant out first before removing thermostat.
Under hood, center, upper engine area, front side of engine block, mounted in fuel line.
Remove lower caliper bolt (actually the upper one is a pin), lift the caliper, replace pads. The clips and the bracket might however need some cleaning.
Replacing a thermostat on a 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass is very easy to do. First you will find the thermostat by following the upper radiator hose. It is under the exhaust crossover. The thermostat has two 13 mm bolts holding it in place. Take the bolts off to remove the thermostat and replace with a new one.
Located in a removable housing at the engine end of the upper radiator hose
Look at the engine end of the upper radiator hose in a removable housing
It is on the upper left side of the steering column, low down, near the similar looking low-high beam switch. Both of those are manipulated by rods instead of being in the upper column.
Pick up a Chilton's manual. It's got all the info you need. In short, you'll need to pull the throttle body, radiator hose, alternator, power steering pump, upper plenum then lower plenum. The fuel rail with injectors. Front and rear valve covers. Loosen the rocker arms. Remove the push rods. KEEP THEM IN ORDER. They are different lengths for intake and exhaust. Remove the intake gasket and remove the lifters. Install is just a reversal. Check Chilton's for torque specs....etc.
Had the same problem with my 92 cutlass ciera. It turned out to be ac compressor. Probably the clutch.
Drain about 1 gallon of coolant from radiator Follow upper radiator hose to engine housing Remove 2 bolts on housing--make note how thermostat is installed Clean both surfaces completely Install new gasket and thermostat Tighten both bolts evenly and securely Re-fill radiator slowly to prevent "airlock" Check for leaks Start engine with heater on Run to normal operating temp Check coolant level