1995 Oldsmobile Achieva heater

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 retailer.
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.
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.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0” F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
2-17

To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt outlet.
r
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind of oil
you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list
everything here, we
ask that you contact your
Oldsmobile retailer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The retailer
can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
2-18

MODE CONTROL: The right control knob changes
the functions
of your system.
VENT: Use when outside temperatures are mild, and
little heating or cooling is needed. Air flow is through
the instrument panel outlets.
Set the center control knob
to the temperature desired.
BI-LEV: Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting
brings in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. The
cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body
through the instrument panel outlets, but slightly
warmer air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times this temperature difference
may be more apparent than others.
HEAT This setting brings heated air through the heater
ducts, and some through the windshield defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater) and
use it during cold weather, 0°F
(- 1 8’ C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly
provide heat because the engine coolant is already
warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block
Heater)” in the Index.
DEFOG: This setting divides air flow equally between
the heater ducts and the windshield defroster vents.
DEF: This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents located on top
of the
instrument panel.
Defogging Windows
To defog the windshield, turn all three control knobs to
the far right.
3-2

Air Conditioning System (Option)
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle
also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
Air Conditioning
Your system has three air conditioner settings in
addition to the standard climate control system. Before using
your air conditioner
on very hot days, open the
windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This
reduces the amount of work your air conditioner's
compressor will have
to do, which should help fuel
economy.
MAX: Use for maximum cooling. This setting
recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle
so it
maximizes your air conditioner's performance and your
vehicle's fuel economy.
NORM: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This
setting cools outside air and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEV: Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting
brings
in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. The
cool air
is directed to the upper portion of your body
through the instrument panel outlets, but slightly
warmer air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times this temperature difference
may be more apparent than others.
The air conditioner compressor is enabled in all three air
conditioning positions.
3-3

Rear Window Defogger
cl The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
remove fog from the
window. to
rear
1
Press the defogger switch. The indicator light will glow.
If your vehicle is traveling under
45 mph (70 km/h), the
rear window defogger will turn off automatically after
about
10 minutes of use. If your vehicle is traveling
over
45 mph (70 km/h), the defogger will operate
continuously. You can turn the defogger off by turning
off
the ignition or pressing the switch again.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid on the rear 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 Oldsmobile’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air
will also enter the vehicle when the fan is running.
Ventilation Tips
0
0
0
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.
When you enter
a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
fan control to
HTGH for a few moments before
driving
off. 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 clear
of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
3-4

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 headlamps. 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.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your
Oldsmobile behind another vehicle for use at your
destination. Be sure to use the proper towing equipment
designed for recreational towing. Follow the instructions
for the towing equipment.
4-26

NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too
hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving --
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (03) or DRIVE (D) for
automatic transaxles.
If you
no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-13

The coolant level should be at or above FULL COLD. If
it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator
hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
r
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on check to
see if the electric engine fan is running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is cool
before you do it.
(See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for
more information about the proper coolant mix.)
5-15