1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme warning

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This section describes the warning lights
and gages that may be on your vehicle.
The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes
serious enough to cause an expensive
repair or replacement. Paying attention
to your warning lights and gages could
also save you or others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may
be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions.
As you will see in
the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you turn the ignition key just to let you
know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be
or is a problem with one of your
vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you
know when there’s a problem with your
vehicle. When
one of the warning lights comes
on and stays on when you are driving,
or when one of the gages shows there
may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please
follow the manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly-and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your
warning lights and gages. They’re a big
help.
91

i-
Features & Controls
96
Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on, your system is
low on coolant and the engine may
overheat.
See the
Index under Engine Coolant
and have your vehicle serviced as soon
as you can.
Oil Warning Light
(E LE CTRONlC CLUSTER)
If you have a problem with your oil, this
light may stay on after you start your
engine,
or come on when you are
driving. This indicates that oil is not
going through your engine quickly
enough to keep it lubricated. The engine
could be low
on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have it fixed right
away. The
oil light could also come
on in three
other situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine
is not running, the light will come on
as a test to show you it is working, but
the light will go out when you turn the
ignition to
Start. If it doesn’t come on
with the ignition on, you may have a
problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it
fixed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling
at a stop, the light may blink on and
off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may
come on for a moment. This is
normal.

\A1
Battery Warning Light
(EECTRONiC CLUSTER)
The charging system light will come on
briefly when you turn.
on the ignition as
a check to show you it
is working. Then
it
should go out. If it stays on, or comes
on
while you are driving, you may have
a problem with the electrical chaging
system. It could indicate that you have
a loose generator drive belt or another
eIectrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light is
on
could drain your battery.
If you mu,st drive a short distance with
the light
on, be certain to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
Voltmeter (ANALOG CLOSER)
When the engine is running, the gage
shows the condition
of the charging
system. Readings between the red
warning zones indicate the
normal
operating range.
Readings in either red warning zone
indicate
a possible problem in the
electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
When your engine is not running, but
the ipition is on (in the
Run position),
the gage shows your battery‘s state
of
charge.
Brake System Warning Light
It
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake
system is divided .into
two parts. If one I
1

brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes
on while driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may
notice that the pedal is harder to push.
Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. (See the
Index under Towing
Your Oldsrnobile.)
CAUTION
Your brake system may not I
be working properly if the
brake warning light is on. Driving
with the brake warning light on can
lead to an accident. If the light is
still on after you’ve pulled
off the
road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
(opTloN)
With anti-lock, this light will go on
when you start your engine and it will
stay on for three seconds. That’s
normal. If the light doesn’t come on,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on or comes on when
you’re driving, stop as soon as possible
and turn the key
off. Then start the
engine to reset the system.
If the light
still stays on, or comes
on again while
you’re driving, your Oldsmobile needs
service. Unless the regular brake system
warning light
is also on, you will still
have brakes, but not anti-lock brakes.
If
the regular brake system warning light
99

100
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
(CONT.)
is also on, see Brake System Warning
Light earlier in this section.
If the anti-lock brake system warning
light ever flashes, your anti-lock bralre system is still working but needs service
as soon as possible.
Malfunction lnelicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
.systems.
This light should come on
when the ignition is on, but the engine
is not running, as a check
to show you-
it is working. If it does not come on at
all, have it fixed right away. If it stays
on,
or it comes on while you are driving,
the computer is indicating that you
have
a problem. You should take your
vehicle in
for service soon.

Your Driving and the Road
~
140
Road Signs
The road signs you see everywhere are
coded by color, shape and symbols. It's
a good idea to lmow these codes so that
you can quickly grasp the basic meaning
or intent of the sign even before you
have a chance to read it.
STOP
DO NOT
ENTER WRONG
WAY
Color of Road Signs
Red means Stop. It may also indicate
that some movement is not allowed.
Examples are
Do Not Enter, Wrong
Way,
or No Parking.
Green is used to guide the driver.
Green signs may indicate upcoming
freeway exits or show the direction you
should turn to reach a particular place.
RR ADVANCE NARROW NO PASSING
CROSSING BRIDGE ZONE
Yellow indicates a general warning.
Slow down and be careful when you see
a yellow sign. It may signal a railroad
crossing ahead, a no passing zone, or
some other potentially dangerous
situation. Likewise, a yellow solid line
painted on the road means
Don't
Cross.
Blue signs with white letters show
motorists' services.

LOW WORKERS FLAGGER
SHOULDER AHEAD AHEAD
Orange indicates road construction or
maintenance. You’ll want to slow down
when you see
an orange sign, as part of
the road may be closed
off or torn up.
And there may be workers and
maintenance vehicles around, too.
II
II
Shape of Road Signs
The shape of the sign will tell you
something, too.
An octagonal (eight-sided) sign means
Stop. It is always red with white letters.
CAtuuttt\lG SWIMMING
3rown signs point out recreation areas
)r points of historic or cultural interest.
4 diamond-shaped sign is a warning of
something ahead-for example, a curve,
steep hill,
soft shoulder, or a narrow
xidge.
A triangle, pointed downward,
indicates Yield.
It assigns the right of
way to traffic on certain approaches to
an intersection.
1 triangular sign also is used on two-
ane roads to indicate
a no passing
!one. This sign will be on the left side of
:he roadway.
141

Your Driving and the Road
150
Anti-Lock Brakes (CONT.)
And this light on the instrument panel
will go on when you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle and begin
to drive away you may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise and
you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little while this is going
on. This is the
ABS system testing itself.
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal, this check won’t happen until the
vehicle goes about
4 mph (6 lm/h) or
until you take your foot off the brake
pedal.
You’ll also hear a clicking noise the
next time the vehicle goes about
4 mph
(6 lun/h).
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock
brake system, the anti-lock brake
system warning light will stay on or
flash. See the
Index under Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. The computer separately
works the brakes at each front wheel
and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions.