
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.
The main components
of your
instrument panel are:
1. Side Vents
2. Side Window Defogger
3. Rear Window Wipermasher
4. Rear Window Defogger
5. Light Controls
6. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
7. Instrument Cluster
8. Gearshift Lever
9. Climate Controls
IO. Lighter
11. Center Vents
12. Glove Box
13. Side Window Defogger
14. Side Vents
15. Audio System
16. Ashtray
17. Tailgate Window Release
18. Power Remote Control Mirrors
19. Ignition Switch
20. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
21. Horn
22. Fuse Panel (under instrument
panel)
23. Hood Release
24. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
25. Parking Brake Release
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In this part you’ll find out how to
operate the comfort control systems
and audio systems offered with your
Oldsmobile. Be sure to read about
the particular system supplied with
your vehicle.
Part 3
Comfort Controls &Audio Systems
Climate Control System ........................................................................\
.................... 92
Defogging and Defrosting ........................................................................\
................. 93
Rear Window Defogger ........................................................................\
..................... 94
Setting the Clock ........................................................................\
............................... 95
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Player and Equalizer ................................................ 96
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Compact Disc Player .................................................... 98
Understanding Radio Reception.. ... . . . , , . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ........................................................................\
. 102
Care of Your Compact Discs ........................................................................\
.......... 102
Fixed Mast Antenna ........................................................................\
........................ 103
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Comfort Cont'rok &Audio Systems
LO HI
Climate Control System
Your vehicle's heater and air
conditioner work best
if you keep your
windows closed. Your vehicle also has
flow-through ventilation, described later
in this section, to bring outside air into
your vehicle.
3f Fan Lever: The lever at the top has
four positions. Move it toward
HI to
increase the air flow. To decrease the
air flow, move it toward
LO.
Temperature Lever: Slide the lever on
the left to control the temperature of the
air flow into the vehicle. Move the lever
up for warmer air, down for cooler air.
Function Lever: Slide the lever on the
right to select the function desired. The
air conditioner compressor will operate
in all settings except
VENT and HTR
(Heater) when the outside temperature
is above freezing. When the air
conditioner compressor cycles
on, you
may sometimes notice slight changes in
your vehicle's engine performance and
power. This is normal, because the
system is designed to keep the desired
cooling level and help fuel economy. There are
three air conditioning
settings:
MAX A/C, NORM A/C, and
BI-LEV A/C. On very hot days, your
vehicle will cool down more quickly and
economically in any of these settings
if
you open the windows long enough to
let hot inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature control lever and
fan speed as desired.
MAX A/C: Select this setting to get
maximum cooling or quick cool-down
on very hot days. This setting
recirculates much of the air inside your
vehicle. It should not be used for long
periods
of time because the air may
become too cold and dry.
Also slide the temperature control lever
down to the coolest setting and adjust
the fan speed as desired.
NORM A/C: Use this setting for
normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside air and directs it through
the instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEV A/C: Use on cool but sunny
days. This setting brings in outside air,
but directs it two ways-through the
instrument panel outlets and the heater
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ducts at your feet. At times this
temperature difference may be more
apparent than others.
VENT: The vent setting brings in
outside air through the instrument
panel outlets and at your front side
windows.
HTR The heater setting brings in most
heated air through the heater ducts, and
some through the defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant
heater and use it during cold weather,
20°F (-8°C) or lower, your heating
system will more quickly provide heat
because the engine coolant is already
warmed. See the
Index under Engine
Coolant Heater.
most of the warmed air to the
windshield and side windows. Some
will also
go to the floor vents.
The air conditioner will also run in this
setting to remove moisture from the air
when the temperature is above
40°F
(4°C). Adjust the temperature control
as desired.
(Defrost): This setting directs
Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, slide
the temperature control lever all the
way up and select the
(j@ setting.
Adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To rapidly defog the side windows,
select the
BI-LEV AfC setting and
adjust the fan to the highest speed. Aim
the side vents toward the side windows.
For increased air flow to the side vents,
close the center vents.
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Comfort Con&ols &Audio Systems
94
Rear Window Defogger
Press ON to warm the defogger grid on
:he rear window. The indicator light
will glow while the rear window
iefogger is operating. The defogger will
:urn off automatically after about
10
ninutes. If you turn it on again, the
iefogger will operate for about five
ninutes only.
You can turn the defogger
Iff by turning off the ignition or
?ressing
OFF.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle
.icense across the defogger grid on the
:ear window.
NOTICE:
Don't use a razor blade or
something else sharp on the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming
grid, and the repairs wouldn't be
covered by your warranty.
Flow-Through Ventilation System
Your vehicle's flow-through ventilation
system supplies outside air into the
vehicle when
it is moving. Outside air
will also enter the vehicle when the
heater
or the air conditioning fan is
running.
Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free
of ice, snow, or any other obstruction
(such as leaves). The heater and
defroster will work far better,
reducing the chance of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
weather, slide the function lever to
HTR and turn the blower fan to HI
for a few moments before driving off.
When you enter a vehicle in cold
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This helps clear the intake ducts of
snow and moisture, and reduces the
chance
of fogging the inside of your
windows.
Keep the air path under the front
seats and console clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
Audio Systems
The following pages describe the audio
systems available for your Oldsmobile,
and how to get the best performance
from them. Please read about the
system in your vehicle.
Hearing damage from loud noise is
almost undetectable until it is too late.
Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems
normal can be loud and harmful to your
hearing. Take precautions by adjusting
the volume control on your radio to a
safe sound level before your hearing
adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
1. Adjust the volume control to the
lowest setting.
2. Increase the volume slowly until you
hear comfortably and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound
equipment to your vehicle
- like a
tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
- be
sure
you can add what you want. If
you can, it’s very important to do it
properly. Added sound equipment
may interfere with the operation
of
your vehicle’s engine, Delcom radio
or other systems, and even damage
them. And, your vehicle’s systems
may interfere with the operation of
sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before
adding sound equipment, check
with your dealer and be sure to
check federal rules covering mobile
radio and telephone units.
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Setting the Clock
Setting the clock is easy.
I. With the radio on or off and the
ignition
on, press SET. The SET
indicator will appear on the digital
screen for five seconds.
2. You must begin to set the clock to
the correct hour and minute during
those five seconds. Press
SCAN to
set the correct hour. Press
SEEK to
set the correct minute.
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Your Driving und the Road
128
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going slower than you actually are.
I Before Leaving on a Long
Tip
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?
you checked all levels?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
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?
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
mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
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.
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If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
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 are some things to do to
su~nmon 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 snow. 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.
You can run the engine to keep warm,
but be careful.
~ .--- . . .. . . .. ~ ~ ~, L
Run your engine only as long as you
must. This saves fuel. When
you run the
engine, make
it go a little faster than just
idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat
that you get and it keeps the battery
charged.
You will need a well-charged
battery to restart the vehicle, and
possibly for signaling later on with your
headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the
window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold.
But do it
as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as
long as you can. To help keep warm,
you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half
hour or
so until help comes.
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