1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manuals

Run: An “on” position to which the
switch returns after you start your
engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the
Run position when
the engine is running. But even when
the engine is not running, you can use
Run to operate your electrical power
accessories, and to display some instru-
ment panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the ley. The
ignition switch will return to
Run for
normal driving.
Note that even
if the engine is not
running, the positions
Accessory and
Run are “on” positions that allow you
to operate your electrical accessories,
such as the radio.
Starting Your Engine
1. Move your shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety
feature.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
N (Neutral)
only.
2. Don’t push the accelerator pedal
before starting your engine. In some
other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
55

Driving Through Deep Standing Wafer €ngine Block Heater (OPTION)
In
very cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or
colder, the engine block heater can
help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine
warm-up.
To Use the Block Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
electrical
cord.
110-volt outlet.
CAUTION
I 57

Features & Controls
Engine Block Heater (CONTJ
How long should you keep the block
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil you
have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask
that you contact an Oldsmobile dealer
in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
Shifting the Automatic
Transaxle
Your automatic transaxle may have a
shift lever located on the steering
column or on the console between the
seats. Both are shown above.
Maximum engine speed
is limited on
automatic transaxle vehicles when
you’re in
D (Drive) or N (Neutral), to
protect driveline components from
improper operation. There
are six shift positions, seven if you
have Overdrive. In this manual, these
are referred to by the commonly used
symbols in the right column below:
Park P
Reverse
R
Neutral N Overdrive
IDI
Drive D Second
2
First 1

Park
P (Park): This loclcs your front
wheels. It’s the best position
to use
when you start your engine because
your vehicle can’t move easily.
A
I It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you
have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park).
See the
Index under Shifting Into P (Park). If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer, also see the
Index under Parking on Hills or Towing a I
Trailer. I
59

Features & Controls
1
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up. To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out
of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle,
see the Index
under If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow .
CY
Neutral
N (Neutral): In this position, your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when your vehicle is being
towed.
A
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) while your
engine is “racing” (running at high
speed) is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and
hit people
or objects. Don’t shift
out of
P (Park) or N (Neutral)
lwhile your engine
is racing.

Forward Gears
(Automatic Overdrive): If your
automatic transaxle has Automatic Overdrive, this position is for normal
driving. If you need more power for
passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph
(56 lun/h) , push your accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 lun/h) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
down. You’ll
shift down to the next
gear and have more power.
1
61

Features & ControIs
62
Forward Gears (CONT.)
D (Third Gear): If your automatic
transaxle does not have Overdrive, this
position is for normal driving, at all
speeds, in most street and highway
situations.
If your automatic transaxle has
Overdrive,
D is like m, but you never
go into Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
D instead of m:
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less
When going down a steep hill.
shifting between gears.
2 (Second Gear): This
position gives
you more power but lower fuel
economy.
You can use 2 on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes
off
and on.
1 (First Gear): This position gives you
even more power (but lower fuel
economy) than
2. You can use it on very
steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If
the selector lever is put in 1, the
transaxle won’t shift into first gear until
the vehicle
is going slowly enough.