
Features & Con&oli 
58 
U 
I Ignition  Switch 
With the ignition  key in the  ignition 
switch,  you can turn  the  switch to five 
positions: 
Accessory: An “on” position  in which 
you  can operate  your electrical power 
accessories. Press  in the  ignition switch 
as  you  turn  the  top 
of it toward you. 
Lock: The  only  position  in which  you 
can  remove  the ltey.  This  loclts  your 
steering wheel, ignition  and  transaxle. 
Off Unlocks the steering wheel, 
ignition, and  transaxle,  but  does not 
send  electrical power  to any accessories 
Use  this position 
if your  vehicle  must be 
pushed or towed,  but  never try to  push- 
start  your  vehicle. 
A warning chime  will 
sound 
if you  open  the driver’s  door  the 
ignition. 
Run: An “on”  position  to which  the 
switch  returns  after you start  your 
engine  and release  the switch. The 
switch stays  in the 
Run position  when 
the  engine  is running.  But even  when 
the  engine  is not  running,  you can use 
Run to  operate  your electrical  power 
accessories,  and  to display  some 
instrument  panel warning lights. 
Start: Starts  the engine. When the 
engine  starts, release  the ltey.  The 
ignition switch  will return  to 
Run for 
normal driving. 
Note  that even  if the  engine  is not 
running,  the  positions 
Accessory and 
Run are “on” positions that allow  you 
to  operate  your electrical accessories, 
such  as  the  radio. 
NOTICE: 
If your key seems  stuck in Lock 
and you  can’t  turn  it,  be sure  it  is 
all  the  way  in. If it is,  then  turn  the 
steering wheel  left and  right  while 
you  turn  the  key hard.  But turn  the 
key  only  with your  hand. Using  a 
tool 
to force  it could  break  the key 
or  the  ignition switch.  If none  of 
this  works,  then  your vehicle  needs 
service. 
I Starting Your Engine 
Engines  start differently.  The 8th digit 
of  your  Vehicle  Identification  Number 
(VIN)  shows  the code  letter  or  number 
for your engine. 
You will  find  the VIN 
at  the  top  left of your  instrument  panel. 
(See 
Vehicle  Identification Number in 
the 
Index.) Follow  the proper  steps to 
start  the  engine. 
Move  your shift  lever 
to P (Park)  or N 
(Neutral).  Your engine  won’t  start  in 
any  other  position 
- that’s  a safety 
feature. 
To restart  when you’re  already 
moving,  use 
N (Neutral)  only. 
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Features & Conkoh 
70 
Side  Window  Latches 
The rear  of the  side windows  swings 
open. 
To Open: Pull  the latch  forward  to 
release  it,  then  swing the window 
outward  and  press the center 
of the 
latch  to secure  the window  in  the open 
position. 
To Close: Pull  the center  of the  latch 
forward  and  then  close the latch. 
I 
f 
Power  Windows (OPTION) 
With  power  windows, switches on  the 
driver's  door  armrest  control the front 
vindows when  the ignition  is 
on. The 
.eft  switch controls  the driver's window. 
The  right switch controls  the 
?assenger's  window. 
The  driver's power  window switch has 
:wo  down  positions. Hold  the rear 
of 
:he switch  in the  first position to lower 
:he  window  normally. 
To activate  the  auto  down feature,  fully 
?res  the rear 
of the  switch,  then 
:elease.  The window  will  lower 
:ompletely. 
To stop  the  window  from 
owering  all the  way,  press  the  front  of 
:he  switch. 
r'o raise  the window, press and  hold the 
i-ont 
of the  switch. 
Turn  SignallMultifinction 
Lever 
The  lever  on  the  left side of the  steering 
column includes your: 
Turn  Signal  and Lane Change 
Headlight  High-Low  Beam  Changer 
Cruise Control (Option) 
The  High-Low  Beam  feature is 
discussed  under 
Headlights. See  the 
Index under HeadZights. 
Indicator 
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1. Turn  the ignition on. (Radio  off.) 
2. Press  the SET button.  The  display 
will show 000. 
3. Enter the six digits  of the  code 
following  steps 
6-9 above. The 
display  will show  the  numbers as 
entered. 
4. Press  the AM/FM button  and  the 
time  appears,  indicating  that  the 
disabling  sequence  was successful.  If 
the  display  indicates 
SEC, the 
numbers  did not  match  and the unit 
is  still  secured. 
Disabling the  Anti-Theft System: 
1. Press PREV and FF together  for five 
seconds  with  the  ignition on and 
radio power 
off. The  display  will 
show 
SEC, indicating  the  unit is in 
the  secure  mode.  (If 
"-  - -" appears  on 
the  display,  the anti-theft  system has 
already  been disabled.) 
2. Press  the SET button.  The  display 
will  show 
000. 
3. Enter  the first  three  digits of the code 
following  steps 
6 and 7 of the 
preceding  paragraphs.  The  display will 
show  the numbers 
as entered. 
4. Press AM/FM. The  radio  will display 
000. 
5. Repeat  steps 6 and 7 to  enter  the 
second  three  digits of the  code.  The 
display  will show  the numbers  as 
entered. 
6. Press AM/FM. If "- - -" then  the  time 
appears,  the  disabling sequence  was 
successful  (the numbers  matched  the 
secret  code)  and  the  unit 
is in  the 
UNSECURED mode.  If the  display 
shows 
SEC, the  disabling  sequence 
was unsuccessful  (the numbers  did 
not  match)  and  the  unit  will remain 
in  the 
SECURED mode. 
Steering  Wheel Touch Controls 
(OPTION) 
Some  audio  system  functions  can  be 
operated  with  these  controls. 
ASEEKV: Press A to seek  and  stop 
on  the  next station  higher on  the  radio 
band;  press 
V to seek  and  stop  on  the 
next  station  lower on  the  radio band. 
If you are listening  to a  cassette  tape  or 
compact disc, press 
A to  skip  to  the 
next  selection; press 
V to  return  to  the 
previous selection. 
ATUNEV: Press A to  tune  in radio 
stations  higher on  the 
AM or FM band; 
press 
V to  tune  in  stations  lower on the 
band. 
127 
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Your Driving  and the Road 
138 
I’he traction  control  system 
mtomatically comes 
on whenever  you 
start  your vehicle. 
To limit  wheel  spin, especially  in 
slippery  road conditions,  you should 
dways  leave the system  on. But  you  can 
:urn  the  traction  control  system off  if 
IOU ever need  to. (You should  turn  the 
;ystem  off 
if your vehicle ever gets  stuck 
n sand, mud, ice  or  snow.  See Rocking 
Your Vehicle in the Index.) 
To turn  the  system off, press  the switch 
ocated on  the center  instrument  panel 
:onsole. 
The  light  on  the  switch  will  go 
off. If the 
Lraction  control system  is limiting wheel 
;pin when  you press  the  switch,  the 
;ystem won’t  turn 
off right away. It will  wait until 
there’s 
no longer a current 
need  to limit  wheel  spin. 
You can turn  the  system back  on at any 
time  by pressing  the switch again. The 
light 
on the  switch should come on. 
Braking  in  Emergencies 
Use  your anti-lock braking  system  when 
you  need  to. With  anti-lock,  you can 
steer  and  brake at  the  same time. 
In 
many emergencies, steering  can help 
you  more  than even the very  best 
braking. 
Steering 
Power  Steering 
If  you  lose  power steering assist 
because  the engine  stops  or  the  system 
is not functioning,  you can steer  but it 
will  take  much  more effort. 
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. Both control systems 
- 
steering  and acceleration - have  to  do 
their  work where  the tires meet  the 
road.  Unless  you have  traction  control 
and  the  system  is  on, adding  the  sudden 
acceleration can demand  too much 
of 
those  places. You can lose  control. 
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Here you will  find  information  about 
the  care  of 
your Oldsmobile . This 
part  begins  with  service  and fuel 
information.  and  then  it  shows how 
to check  important  fluid  and 
lubricant  levels 
. There is  also 
technical  information  about 
your 
vehicle.  and  a section devoted to its 
appearance  care 
. 
Part 6 
Service & Appearance  Care 
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 182 
Fuel 
........................................................................\
.................................................. 183 
Hood  Release ........................................................................\
................................... 186 
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
........................................ 190 
Air  Cleaner 
........................................................................\
...................................... 194 
Transaxle  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................................ 195 
Engine Coolant 
........................................................................\
................................ 197 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
........................................................................\
....................... 199 
Windshield Washer  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................ 200 
Brakes 
........................................................................\
.............................................. 201 
Battery 
........................................................................\
............................................. 203 
Bulb Replacement 
........................................................................\
........................... 203 
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 
................................................................... 205 
Loading  Your Vehicle 
........................................................................\
..................... 206 
Tires 
........................................................................\
................................................. 207 
Appearance  Care ........................................................................\
............................. 212 
Vehicle Identification Number  (VIN) 
.................................................................... 218 
Add-on  Electrical Equipment 
........................................................................\
........ 219 
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 219 
Capacities  and Specifications 
........................................................................\
......... 224 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement Parts 
............................................................... 226 
Fluids 
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 227 
Replacement 
Bulbs ........................................................................\
.......................... 228 
181 
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Service &Appearance  Care 
3100 V6 Engine 
1. Engine  Coolant  Reservoir 
2. Power  Steering  Fluid  Reservoir 
3. Air  Cleaner 
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir 
5. Windshield  Washer  Fluid  Reservoi 
6. Battery  r 
7. Automatic 
Transaxle  Fluid  Dipstick 
8. Engine  Oil  Dipstick 
9. Engine  Oil  Fill Cap 
10. Radiator Cap 
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P 
3800 V6 Engine 
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir 
2. Power Steering  Fluid Reservoir 
3. Automatic  Transaxle  Fluid Dipstick 
4. Brake  Fluid  Reservoir 
5. Windshield Washer  Fluid Reservoir 
6. Battery 
7. Air Cleaner 
8. Engine Oil Dipstick 
9. Engine  Oil  Fill Cap 
10. Radiator Cap 
189 
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To Add Coolant 
If you  need  more  coolant, add  the proper 
mix 
at  the  coolant  recovery  tank. 
Add  coolant  mix at  the  recovery  tank, 
but  be  careful  not  to spill it. 
Radiator  Pressure  Cap 
NOTICE: 
Your radiator  cap  is a 15 psi (105 
kPa)  pressure-type  cap and  must  be 
tightly  installed  to prevent  coolant 
loss  and possible engine damage 
from  overheating.  Be sure  the 
arrows  on  the  cap  line up  with  the 
overflow  tube  on  the  radiator  filler 
neck. 
When  you replace  your radiator 
pressure  cap,  an  AC8 cap is 
recommended. 
Thermostat 
Engine  coolant  temperature  is 
controlled  by a  thermostat  in  the  engine 
coolant  system. The  thermostat  stops 
the  flow  of coolant  through  the  radiator 
until  the  coolant  reaches  a  preset 
temperature. 
When  you  replace your  thermostat,  an 
AC@ thermostat is recommended. 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
How To Check  Power  Steering 
Fluid 
Unscrew  the cap  and  wipe  the  dipstick 
with  a  clean rag.  Replace  the  cap  and 
completely  tighten  it.  Then  remove the 
cap  again  and look  at the  fluid  level  on 
the  dipstick. 
When  the engine  compartment  is hot, 
the  level  should  be at  the 
H (Hot) 
mark. 
When  the engine  compartment  is 
cool,  the level  should  be  at  the 
C 
(Cold) mark. 
199 
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