1995 Oldsmobile Achieva light

Instrument Panel Clusters
Your Oldsmobile is equipped with one of these clusters,
which includes indicator warning lights and gages that
Standard Cluster
are explained on the following pages. Be sure to read
them.
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INFORMATION CENTER INFORWTION
CENTER
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Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Warning Light
When the key is
turned to
RUN or
START a chime will
come on for about
eight seconds to
remind people to fasten their safety
belts, unless the
driver’s safety belt
is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
about
20 seconds, then it will flash for about 55 seconds.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors and module, the
wiring and the diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light
flash for a few
seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN or START.
Then the light should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Charging System Light
WASH
I FLUID
The CHARGE light
will come on when
you turn on the
ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show
you it is working.
Then it should go out. If it stays on, or
co !s on while
you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive
a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter (Gage Cluster)
8
Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
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LOW
When the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition
of your charging system. Readings between
the red warning zones indicate the normal operating
range.
Readings in either red warning zone indicate
a possible
problem
in the electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
When your engine
is not running, but the ignition is on
(in the RUN position), the gage shows your battery’s
state
of charge in DC volts.
I LOCK (@I
ANTI-
This light comes on
when you need to shift
to the next higher gear.
See “Manual
Transaxle” in the
Index.
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Brake System Warning Light
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BRAKE
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 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 closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briefly 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.
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.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
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OAQES
With the anti-lock
brake system,
this
light will come 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 fiied
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 could be 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.)
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 and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or 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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Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light (Standard Cluster) Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
(Gage Cluster)
This light tells you that
your engine coolant
has overheated or your
radiator cooling fan
is I
not working.
-
i you have been operating your vehicle under normal
~ driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In Problems on the Road, this manual shows what to do.
1 See“Engine Overheating” in the Index.
TEMP
BRAKE WASH
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LOW
COOLANT
LEVEL AIR
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280
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In
Problems on the Road, this manual shows what to do.
See“Engine Overheating” in the Index.

Low Coolant Level Warning Light
LOW
WASH
FLUID
LOW
COOLANT
1
If this light comes on and
stays on, the vehicle should
promptly be pulled off the
road and the coolant level
checked.
See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index. If there are visible
signs of steam, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index
before opening the hood. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as you can.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon
Light)
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SERVICE
ENOINE
SOON
A computer monitors
operation of your fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems.
This light should come on when the ignition
is on, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show you it is
working. If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right
away. If
it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle in for service
soon.
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