
1. Pick up the  latch  plate and, in a 
single  motion,  pull the belt  across 
you.  Don’t  let it get twisted. 
2. Push  the  latch  plate  into  the buckle 
until  it clicks. 
If the belt  stops  before 
it  reaches  the buckle, 
let it go back  all 
the  way  and  start  again. Pull up on 
the  latch  plate  to make  sure it is 
secure. 
tighten  it. 
3. Feed the lap belt  into  the  retractor  to 
4. Position  and release it the same  way 
as  the  lap  part  of a  lap-shoulder  belt. 
If the belt  isn’t  long enough,  see 
Safety BeZt Extender at  the  end of 
this  section.  Make sure  the  release 
button  on  the  buckle is positioned 
so 
you would  be able  to unbuckle  the 
safety  belt  quicltly  if you  ever  had to.  ’he 
center  position  bucket  seat  is 
a 
:ENTER OR LEFT type  seat.  Because 
t is the  only  bucket  seat  with  a  lap belt, 
Lnd  has  a  buckle  on only  one  side,  there 
re  certain  places a 
CENTER OR LEFT 
ipe  bucket  seat  should,  and  should  not, 
e  used.  See 
Seats in the Index. If the 
:ENTER OR LEFT bucket  seat  is used 
n  the  left side 
of the vehicle,  the person 
itting  there  should  use  the lap-shoulder 
elt.  It works  the  same way as  the 
river’s  safety belt.  See 
Driver  Position 
I the Index. 
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Raising the Liftgate 
Open  the liftgate using  the handle 
above  the license  plate.  Then,  step  back 
and  the  liftgate will rise by itself. Lights 
in  the  liftgate  will come  on, illuminating 
the  rear  cargo  area  (see  the 
Index under 
Rear  Interior  Lights). 
NOTICE: 
Be sure  there  are  no  overhead 
obstructions,  such  as a garage  door, 
before  you open  the liftgate.  You 
could  slam the liftgate  into 
something  and  break  the glass. 
To  close  the liftgate,  pull down  on  the 
strap,  then  firmly shut  the  liftgate. 
Don’t  drive with  the  liftgate open, even 
slightly  (see the 
Index under Exhaust). 
A light  on your  instrument  panel will 
warn  you 
if the liftgate  is  not completely 
closed  (see the 
Index under Warning 
Lights,  Liftgate  Ajar). 
New Vehicle “Break-In” 
NOTICE: 
Your modern  Oldsmobile  doesn’t 
need  an  elaborate  “break-in.”  But it 
will  perform  better  in  the  long run 
if  you  follow  these guidelines: 
Don’t  drive at any  one  speed - 
fast  or  slow - for the  first 500 
miles (804 km) . Don’t  make full- 
throttle  starts. 
Avoid  making  hard  stops  for the 
first 
200 miles (322 km)  or so. 
During  this  time  your new brake 
linings  aren’t yet broken  in.  Hard 
stops  with  new linings  can mean 
premature  wear and earlier 
replacement.  Follow this 
“breaking-in”  guideline every 
time  you  get  new  brake linings. 
57 
ProCarManuals.com 

NOTICE: 
Don‘t try to shift  to P (Park)  if your 
Oldsmobile  is moving.  If you  do, 
you  could damage  the transaxle. 
Shift  to 
P (Park)  only when  your 
vehicle  is stopped. 
To start  your 3100 V6 engine 
(Code D) : 
1. Without  pushing  the accelerator 
pedal,  turn your ignition  key to 
Start. 
When  the engine  starts, let go of the 
ltey.  The idle speed  will  go  down  as 
your engine gets warm. 
NOTICE: 
Holding your  key  in Start for longer 
than 
15 seconds  at a time  will cause 
your  battery  to be  drained  much 
sooner.  And the excessive  heat can 
damage your  starter  motor. 
2. If it doesn’t  start  right away, hold 
your  key in 
Start. If it  doesn’t  start  in 
three  seconds  (or  starts  but  then  stops),  push  the  accelerator  pedal 
about  one-quarter  of the  way  down 
for 
12 more  seconds,  or  until it starts. 
3. If your engine  still won’t  start  (or 
starts  but  then  stops),  it could 
be 
flooded with  too much gasoline.  Try 
this:  Wait 
15 seconds  to let  the 
starter  motor cool down.  Then push 
your accelerator pedal  all the  way  to 
the  floor. Hold  it  there.  Then  hold the 
key  in 
Start. This  clears  the  extra 
gasoline from  the engine.  When the 
engine  starts, let go 
of the  key  and 
the  accelerator pedal.  If the  engine 
still  doesn‘t  start, wait another 
15 
seconds  and  do  Step 2 again. 
NOTICE: 
Your engine  is designed  to work 
with  the  electronics in your vehicle. 
If you add electrical  parts  or 
accessories,  you could change  the 
way  the fuel injection system 
operates.  Before adding  electrical 
equipment,  check with your dealer. 
If you don’t,  your engine  might not 
perform properly.  If you  ever  have 
to  have your  vehicle towed, see the 
part 
of this  manual  that tells  how  to 
do  it without  damaging your 
vehicle. See 
Towing Your Vehicle 
in the Index. 
To start  your 3800 V6  engine 
(Code L): 
1. Without  pushing the accelerator 
pedal,  turn your ignition  key to 
Start. 
When  the engine  starts, let go of the 
ltey.  The  idle speed  will  go  down  as 
your engine gets  warm. 
59 
ProCarManuals.com 

Features & Controls 
60 
NOTICE: 
Holding your key in Start for longer 
than 
15 seconds  at a time  will cause 
your  battery  to  be  drained  much 
sooner.  And the excessive  heat  can 
damage your  starter  motor. 
2. If it  doesn’t  start  right away, hold 
your  key in 
Start for about  three  to 
five seconds  at a time until your 
engine  starts. Wait about 
15 seconds 
between  each try to help  avoid 
draining your battery. 
3. If  your engine  still won’t  start  (or 
starts  but  then  stops),  it could  be 
flooded with  too much  gasoline.  Try 
pushing your accelerator pedal  all the 
way  to  the  floor and holding  it there 
as  you  hold  the key  in 
Start for about 
three  seconds. 
If the vehicle  starts 
briefly  but  then  stops  again, do  the 
same  thing,  but  this  time keep the 
pedal  down  for  five 
or six seconds. 
This clears  the  extra gasoline from 
the  engine. After waiting  about 
15 
seconds,  repeat  the normal starting 
procedure. 
NOTICE: 
Your  engine  is designed  to work 
with  the electronics  in your vehicle. 
If you  add electrical  parts or 
accessories, you could change  the 
way  the fuel  injection system 
operates.  Before adding electrical 
equipment,  check with your dealer. 
If you don’t, your engine  might not 
perform  properly. 
If you  ever  have 
to  have your  vehicle towed, see the 
part  of this  manual  that tells  how  to 
do  it without  damaging your 
vehicle.  See 
Towing Your Vehicle 
in the Index. 
I Driving  Through Deep 
Standing  Water 
NOTICE: 
If you  drive  too quickly  through 
deep  puddles  or standing  water, 
water  can  come in through  your 
engine’s air  intake  and badly 
damage your engine. 
If you  can’t 
avoid  deep puddles or  standing 
water,  drive through  them very 
slowly. 
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Reverse 
R  (Reverse): Use this gear  to back  up. 
NOTICE: 
Shifting  to  R (Reverse) while your 
vehicle  is  moving  forward could 
damage  your transaxle.  Shift  to 
R 
only after  your  vehicle  is stopped. 
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 . 
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  when 
your vehicle  is being  towed. 
NOTICE: 
Damage  to your  transaxle  caused 
by  shifting  out 
of P(Park)  or  N 
(Neutral)  with  the engine racing 
isn’t  covered  by your  warranty. 
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ProCarManuals.com 

If you have  the optional  rear  climate 
control,  your side  ashtray will have  a 
flip-up cover. 
~ To remove  the  ashtray  for cleaning,  pull 
up  on  the  snuffer or  the cover. 
Convenience Net (OPTION) 
The  optional  convenience net  is 
designed  to help  keep  small  loads,  like 
grocery bags, from  falling over during 
sharp  turns  or  quick stops  and  starts.  Install 
the convenience  net at  the  rear 
of  your vehicle,  just  inside  the  liftgate. 
Attach  the upper  loops to  the  posts on 
either  side of the  liftgate opening  (the 
label on  the  net  should  be in the upper 
righthand  corner).  Attach  the  lower 
loops  to  the  hoolts  on  the  floor. 
The  side of the  convenience  net closest 
to  the  front  of the  vehicle  is higher  than 
the  side closest  to  the liftgate.  Once 
you’ve loaded items  into  the  net,  stretch 
the  higher side  of the  net up and  over 
the  top  of the  load  to hold  it  firmly  in 
place. 
The  convenience  net  has  a maximum 
capacity  of 
100 pounds (45 kg).  It  is  not 
L3 
91 
ProCarManuals.com 

18 ‘I I 
Voltmeter 
Your charging system  gage  will show 
:he  rate 
of charge when  the engine  is 
running. 
The  reading  will change  as  the  rate of 
:barge changes  (with the engine  speed, 
?tc.),  but  readings between  the red 
warning  zones  indicate  the normal 
3perating range. Readings  in  either red 
zone  indicate  a  possible problem  with 
your  charging system. Have your 
Oldsmobile  serviced immediately. 
When  the engine  is not  running  but  the 
ignition 
is on  (in  the Run position),  the 
display  measures  the voltage  output of 
your  battery. 
 I’ 260 
1 
‘ 
1 
Engine  Coolant  Temperature 
Gage 
rhis  gage  shows  the engine  coolant 
Iemperature.  If the  gage  pointer moves 
.nto  the  red area,  your engine  is too  hot 
[t  means  that your engine coolant  has 
werheated.  If you  have been  operating 
{our vehicle  under  normal  driving 
:onditions,  you should  pull off the  road 
;top  your vehicle  and  turn off the 
mgine  as soon  as possible. 
HOT COOLANT  CAN  BURN  YOU 
BADLY! 
[n 
Problems on the Road,  this  manual 
shows  what to do.  See  the 
Index under 
Engine Overheating. 
LOW 
BAG 
E SOON 
Brake  System  Warning  Light 
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic  brake 
system  is divided  into  two  parts. 
If one 
part  isn’t  working,  the  other  part  can 
still  work  and  stop  you. For good 
braking,  though, you need  both  parts 
working  well. 
If  the  warning light comes  on,  there 
could  be  a brake problem. Have your 
brake  system inspected right away. 
This light  should come on  as you start 
the  vehicle.  If it doesn’t come  on then, 
have  it  fixed 
so it  will  be ready  to warn 
you  if there’s  a  problem. 
If the light comes  on while  you  are 
driving,  pull off the  road  and  stop 
carefully. 
You may  notice  that  the  pedal 
is  harder  to  push. 
Or, the  pedal  may go 
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Features & Controls 
104 
closer to the floor. It may  take  longer  to 
stop.  If the  light  is  still  on, have  the 
vehicle towed for service.  (See 
Towing 
Your Vehicle in  the Index.) 
The brake  system  warning  light  will  also 
come  on when 
you set your parking 
brake,  and  it will  stay  on if your parking 
brake  doesn’t release  fully. If it stays  on 
after  your parking brake  is  fully 
released,  it means  you have 
a brake 
problem. 
L Wb 
Anti-Lock Brake System  Warning 
Light 
With anti-lock,  this light  will  go  on 
when  you start  your engine  and  it will 
stay  on for  three  seconds.  That’s 
normal.  If the  light  doesn’t come  on, 
have  it  fixed 
so it  will  be ready  to warn 
you  if there  is a problem. 
If  the  light  flashes when you’re driving, 
you  don’t  have anti-lock brakes  and 
there’s  a  problem with your regular 
brakes.  Pull off the  road and  stop 
carefully. 
You may  notice  that  the  pedal 
is  harder  to push.  Or,  the  pedal may  go 
closer  to  the floor. It  may take  longer  to 
stop.  Have  the vehicle towed for 
service.  (See 
Towing Your Vehicle in 
the 
Index.) 
I 
If the  anti-lock brake system warning 
light  stays  on longer  than normal after 
you’ve  started  your engine,  turn  the 
ignition  off. Or, if the  light  comes on 
i 
and stays  on when you’re driving,  stop ! 
as soon  as possible  and  turn  the  ignition 
off.  Then  start  the  engine again to reset 
! I 
the  system.  If the  light  still stays  on, or j 
comes  on again  while  you’re driving, ~ 
your Oldsmobile needs service. If the ! 
light is  on  but  not flashing  and  the 
regular brake system warning light isn’t 
on, 
you still  have  brakes,  but  you don’t 
have anti-lock  brakes. 
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