v..
.
Here you can learn about the many
standard and optional features on
your Oldsmobile. and information on starting. shifting and braking
. Also
explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you
if everything is working properly-
and what
to do if you have a problem .
Part 2
Features & Controls
Keys 46
FrontDoors
...................................................... 47
Remote Keyless Entry
.............................................. 49
Sliding Door 53
Liftgate
......................................................... 59
Ignition
......................................................... 60
Starting Your Engine
............................................... 61
Shifting the Transaxle
.............................................. 65
..........................................................
Locks ........................................................... 47
.....................................................
EngineBlockHeater ............................................... 63
ParkingBrake
.................................................... 68
Shiftingintopark
.................................................. 69
Horn ........................................................... 72
Windows
........................................................ 73
TiltSteeringWheel
................................................ 73
Turn Signal
and Lane Change Indicator ................................ 74
CruiseControl .................................................... 75
Headlights
....................................................... 79
Windshield Wipers
................................................ 82
Windshield Washer
................................................ 83
Mirrors
......................................................... 92
Glove
Box and Storage Compartments ............................. .93, 95
Luggagecarrier
....................................................
Instrument Panel .................................................. 101
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
................................. 104
InteriorLights
.................................................... 81
I'
45
L
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Features & Controls
76
Cruise Control (Cant.) I TO Set Cruise Control
drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don’t use your cruise control
on winding roads or in heavy
traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerow
on slippery roads. On such
roads, fast changes
in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning, and you could la
I IA
control. Don’t use cruise con
on slippery roads If you leave your
cruise
control switch
ON
you’re not using cruise, you might
hit a button and
go into cruise ;:$3
when you don’t want to. You could$g
be startled and even lose control
Keep the cruise control switch
OFF until you want to use it
2. Get up to the speed you want.
I
3. Push in the SET button at the end of
4. Take your foot off the accelerator
the lever and release
it.
pedal.
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Your
i
Anti-Lock Brakes (CONE)
This light on the instrument panel will
go on when you start your vehicle.
Your anti-lock brake system has
a two-
part system check:
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. (You may
also hear this
noise if you leave the ignition in the
Run position for about four seconds
before starting the vehicle.)
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal, this check won’t happen until
the vehicle goes about
4 mph (6 Wh)
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 Wh).
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
Inda under Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. YOU’E driving safely.
Suddenly
an animal jumps out in front
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.
of you.
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X3006 I
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
1
‘t
Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot
up
to the brake pedal. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of
you, you won’t have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though
you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock: Don’t pump the
brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. When
you start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, you may notice that your brake
pedal moves a little
while this is going
on.
A brief mechanical noise is normal.
This is
the ABS system testing itself.
You also may hear a clicking noise as
you accelerate after a hard stop.
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your Oldsmobile has front disc brakes
and rear drum brakes. Disc brake pads
have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and
new pads are
needed. The sound may come and
go or
be heard all
the time your vehicle is
moving (except when you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning
sound means that sooner or
later your brakes won’t work well
That could lead to an accident.
when you hear the brake wear
serviced. arning
sound, have your vehicle
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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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On the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is
good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to
about 100 miles
(160 km) or two hours
at a sitting. Then, either change drivers
or stop for some refreshment like coffee,
tea or
soft drinks and some limbering
up. But do stop and move around. Eat
lightly along the way. Heavier meals
tend to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided
multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch
for some situations not usually found on
freeways. Examples are: stop signs and
signals, shopping centers with direct
access to the highway, no passing zones
and school zones, vehicles turning left
and right
off the road, pedestrians,
cyclists, parked vehicles, and even animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack
of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along
with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush
of
the wind against the vehicle that can
make you sleepy. Don’t let
it happen to
you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in
less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road
ahead and to the sides. Check your
rearview mirrors frequently and your
instruments from time
to time. This
can help
you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light.
Glare can cause drowsiness. But don’t
wear sunglasses at night. They will
drastically reduce
your overall vision
at the very time you need all the
seeing power you have.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service,
or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise, or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace
with traffic and allow adequate following distances.
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Towing a Tmiler
I I If you don’t use the correct I
L L equipment and drive properly,
you can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well-or even at all. You and
your passengers could be seriously
injured. Pull a trailer only
if you
have followed all the steps in this section. Your
Oldsmobile can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in
Weight of the
Trailer
that appears later in this section.
But trailering
is different than just
driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering
means changes
in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and
it
has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for
this section, In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer. Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and
tires
are forced to work harder against
the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads, generating
extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
All
of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
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Your Driving and the Road
Driving with a Trailer (CONT.)
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand
to the
left. To move the trailer to the right,
move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
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 Wh) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating. If
your vehicle has a 3800 V6 engine, you
should also drive in
D instead of
Overdrive when towing a trailer on
fairly level roads. This will help your
engine and transaxle run cooler in
this
condition, too.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more
than 1,000 pounds (454 kg), and
you have an automatic transaxle with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
D
instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to,
a lower gear).
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