Features & Controls
74
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Power Windows (omon)
With power windows, switches on the driver's door armrest control the front
windows when the ignition is on. The
left switch controls the driver's window. The right switch controls the passenger's
window.
The driver's power window switch has
two down positions. Hold the rear of the
switch
in the first position to lower the
window normally.
To activate the auto down feature, fully
press the rear of the switch, then
release. The window will lower
completely.
To stop the window from
lowering
all the way, press the front of
the switch.
To raise the window, press and hold the
front of the switch.
u2210
a Turn Signall
Headlight Beam Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering
column includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change
Indicator
0 Headlight High-Low Beam Changer
Cruise Control (Option)
The High-Low Beam feature is
discussed under
Headlights. See the
Idex under Headlights.
r CRUISE
I
Turn Signal and Lane Change
Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for
Right) and two downward
(for Left)
positions. These
positions allow you to
signal a
turn or a lane change.
To signal a
turn, move the lever all the
way up or down. When the
turn is
finished, the lever will
return
automatically.
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Features & Controls
80
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle’s lighting system (headlamps, parking lamps, fog lamps,
side marker lamps and tail lamps) meets
all applicable federal lighting
requirements, certain states ahd provinces
may apply their own lighting regulations
that may require special attention before
you operate these lamps. For example,
some jurisdictions may require that you
operate your lower beam lamps with fog
lamps at all times, or that headlamps be
turned on whenever you must use your
windshield wipers. In addition, most
jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with parking lamps, especially at dawn or
dusk. It is recommended that you check
with your own state or provincial
highway authority for applicable lighting
regulations.
Lights On Reminder
If you turn the ignition key to the Off or
Lock position while leaving the lights
on, you will hear a warning chime.
I
Headlight High-Low Beam
Changer
To change the headlights from high to
low beam, or low to high, simply pull
the turn signal lever all the way toward
you. Then release it.
When the high beams are on, a blue
light on the instrument cluster also will
be on.
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Fog Lights
Slide the lower control up to turn on the
fog lights, down to turn
them off.
Your parking lights or headlights must
be on for
the fog lights to go on.
When you turn on your high beams, the
fog lights will go off. The fog lights will
come back on when you switch from
high beams to low beams.
High beams are not recommended for
driving in fog. See the
Index under
Driving in Fog, Mist and Haze.
Instrument Panel htensity
Control
Slide the upper control up to increase
the brightness of the instrument panel
lights, down to decrease
the brightness.
Slide the control all the way down to
turn them off.
Interior Lights Control
Slide the upper control all the way up to
turn on the interior lights.
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The Instrument Panel- Your Information System
Your instrument panel is designed to let
you know at a glance how your vehicle
is running. You’ll know how fast you’re
going, how much fuel you’re using, and
many other things you’ll need to drive
safely and economically.
Refer to the accompanying diagram of
your instrument panel
to locate the
components listed below.
1. Side Vents
2. Light Controls
3. Turn SignaVHeadlight Beam Lever
4. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
5. Instrument Cluster
6. Gearshift Lever
7. WiperIWasher Controls
8. Center Vents
9. Storage Compartment
10. Side Vents
11. Circuit Breaker/Relay Panel
12. Glove Box/Fuse Panel
13. Audio System
14. Rear Fan Controls
15. Cup HolderdAshtray
1 6. Locking Storage Bin
17. Lighter
18. Interior Lights Override Switch
19. Climate Controls
20. Ignition Switch
21. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
22. Horn
23. Parking Brake Release
24. Hood Release
101
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Your Driving and the Road
Steering Tips-Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control’’
accidents mentioned on the news happen
on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving
on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its
path when you turn the front wheels.
If
there’s no traction, inertia will keep the
vehicle going in the same direction.
If
you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on
wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends
on the condition of your tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve
is banked, and your
speed.
While you’re in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve. Then
you suddenly accelerate.
Those two control systems-steering
and acceleration-can overwhelm those
places where
the tires meet the road and
make you lose control.
What should you do if this ever
happens? Let up on the accelerator
pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of
course, the posted speeds are based on
good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll
want to go slower. If you need to
reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through
the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
When you drive into a curve at night,
it’s harder to see the road ahead
of you
because it bends away from the straight
beams of your lights. This is one good
reason
to drive slower.
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Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the
daytime. But as we get older these
differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as
much light
to see the same thing at night
as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also
affect your night vision. For example,
if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you
are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you're driving, don't wear
sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights, but they also
make a lot of things invisible that should
remain visible-such as parked cars,
obstacles, pedestrians, or even trains
blocking railway crossings. You may
want to put on your sunglasses after you
have pulled into a brightly-lighted
service or refreshment area. Eyes shielded from that glare
may adjust
more quickly to darkness back on the
road. But be sure to remove your
sunglasses before you leave the service
area.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights. It can take a second
or two, or even several seconds, for your
eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as
from a
driver who doesn't lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed
headlights), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching
lights. If there is a line of opposing
traffic, make occasional glances over the
line of headlights to make certain that
one of the vehicles isn't starting to move
into your lane. Once you are past the
bright lights, give your eyes the to
readjust before resuming speed.
High Beams
If the vehicle approaching you has its
high beams on, signal by flicking yours
to
high and then back to low beam. This
is the usual signal to lower the headlight
beams. If the other driver still doesn't
lower the beams, resist the temptation to
put your high beams on. This only
makes two half-blinded drivers.
On a freeway, use your high beams only
in remote areas where you won't impair
approaching drivers.
In some places,
like cities, using high beams is illegal.
When you follow another vehicle on a
freeway or highway, use low beams.
True, most vehicles now have day-night
mirrors that enable the driver to reduce
glare. But outside mirrors are not
of this
type and high beams from behind can
bother the driver ahead.
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Your Diving and the Road
Driving in Fog, Mist and Haze
Fog can occur with high humidity or
heavy frost. It can be
so mild that you
can see through
it for several hundred
feet (meters). Or
it might be so thick
that you can see only a few feet (meters)
ahead. It may come suddenly
to an
otherwise clear road. And it can be a
major hazard.
When you drive into a fog patch, your
visibility will be reduced quickly. The
biggest dangers are striking the vehicle
ahead or being struck by the one
behind. Try to “read” the fog density
down the road.
If the vehicle ahead
starts to become less clear or, at night,
if
the taillights are harder to see, the fog is
probably thickening. Slow down
to give
traffic behind you a chance to slow down. Everybody then has a better
chance to avoid hitting the vehicle
ahead.
A patch of dense fog may extend only
for a few feet (meters) or for miles
(kilometers); you can’t really tell while
you’re
in it. You can only treat the
situation
with extreme care.
One common fog condition-sometimes
called mist or ground fog-can happen
in weather that seems perfect, especially
at night
or in the early morning in valley
and low, marshy areas. You can be
suddenly enveloped in thick, wet haze
that may even coat your windshield. You
can often spot these fog patches or mist
layers with your headlights. But sometimes they can be waiting for you
as you come over a hill or dip into a
shallow valley. Start your windshield
wipers and washer to help clear
accumulated road dirt. Slow down
carefully.
lips on Driving in Fog
If you get caught in fog, turn your
headlights
on low beam, even in
daytime. You’ll see-and be seen-
better. Use your fog lights.
Don’t use your high beams. The light
will bounce off the water droplets that
make up fog and reflect back at you.
Use your defogger. In high humidity,
even a light buildup of moisture on the
inside
of the glass will cut down on your
already limited visibility. Run your
windshield wipers and washer
occasionally. Moisture can build up on
the outside glass, and what seems to be
fog may actually be moisture on the
outside
of your windshield.
Treat dense fog as an emergency. Try to
find a place to pull off the road. Of
course you want to respect another’s
property, but you might need to put
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Problems on the Road
194
Towing from the Front- Vehicle
Hook-up (CONT:)
2. Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end of each control
arm.
.. , , .I ,,
Towing from the Rear-
Vehicle
Hook-up
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be
sure to read all the information on
Towing Your Oldsmobile earlier in this
section.
1. Attach T-hook chains on both sides
in the slotted holes in the frame rails
just ahead
of the rear wheels.
2. Position the lower sling crossbar
directly under the rear bumper.
No
4x4 wood beam is needed.
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