r
CAUTION
Don’t keep driving if the oil I
pressure is low. If you do,
your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Oil Pressure indicator
(ANALOG CLUSTER)
This indicator tells you if there could be
a problem with your engine
oil pressure.
The pointer should be above the red
zone when the engine is running.
Readings in the red area tell
you that
the engine is low on oil, or that
you
might have some other oil problem. See
the
Index under Engine Oil.
CAUTION
Don’t keep driving if the oil
pressure is low.
If you do, I
your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
97
\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
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
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and
regular highways is the same
in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and
the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there
are
longer turns behind the wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more if you and your
vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work
don’t plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If it needs service, have it
done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Oldsmobile dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it. Here are
some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir
full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape? Have you checked
all levels?
the lenses clean?
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving?
Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Your Driving and the Road
1 70
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep
country, or if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most
important thing to laow is this: let
your engine
do some of the slowing
down. Don’t make your brakes do it
all. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill. That way,
you will slow down without excessive
your
trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
I
Coasting downhill in N
(Neutral) or with the ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will
have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get
so hot that
they wouldn’t work well. You could
crash. Always have your engine
running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
use of your brakes.
I --
Know how to go uphill. You may
want to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine
and transaxle, and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving
on two-lane roads in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own
lane. That way, you won’t be
surprised by a vehicle coming toward
It takes longer to pass another vehicle
when you’re going uphill. You’ll want
to leave extra room to pass.
If a
I you in the same lane.
vehicle is passing you and doesn’t
have enough room, slow down to
make it easier for the other vehicle to
get by.
If You’re Caught in a BIiuard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be in
a serious situation. You
should probably stay with your vehicle
unless you know for sure that you are
near help and you can hike through the
snow. Here
axe some things to do to
summon help and keep yourself and
your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert
police that you’ve been stopped by the
Put on extra clothing or wrap a
blanket around you.
If you have no
blankets or extra clothing, make
body
insulators from newspapers, burlap
bags, rags, floor mats-anything you
can wrap around yourself or tuck
under your clothing to keep warm.
but be careful.
You can run the engine to keep warm,
I
Snow can trap exhaust gases
L under your vehicle. This can
cause deadly
CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside.
CO
could overcome you and kill you.
You can’t see it or smell it,
so you
might not know it was in your
vehicle. Clear away snow
from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is bloclung your
exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure
snow doesn’t collect there.
Open a window just a little on the
side of the vehicle that’s away from
the wind. This will help keep
CO
out.
1 75
Your Driving and the Road
Driving with a Trailer (CONT.)
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal.
Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have
a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows
on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop. When towing a
trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and
no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 lm/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have
an automatic transaxle with Overdrive,
you may want to drive in
D instead of
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Using a match near a batteq
can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water.
You don’t need to add water to the
Delco Freedoms battery installed in
every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the
right amount
of fluid is there. If it is
low, add water to take care of that
first. If you don’t, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get it
on you. If
you accidentally get it in your eyes
or
on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help
immediately.
I
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missing insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or
you’ll get
a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts, too.
I I
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery.
Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
191