
To turn the lockout  on, 
slide the switch  all the 
way 
to the  right.  To 
turn the lockout off, 
slide  the switch all the 
way  to the left. 
When  the lockout is 
on, the mechanical remote trunk 
release will not release 
the trunk lid. However, the trunk 
lid can still be opened  with the key. 
If 
you have the optional Remote Lock Control feature, 
your vehicle  is not equipped with the trunk  lockout 
switch. 
Convenience  Net  (Option) 
Your  vehicle may have a convenience net.  You’ll see it 
just inside the back wall  of the  trunk. 
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can 
help keep them from  falling over during sharp turns 
or 
quick starts and stops. 
The  net isn’t  for larger,  heavier  loads.  Store  them in the 
trunk as  far forward as  you can. 
You can unhook the  net so that it will lie flat when 
you’re 
not using  it. 
2-10  

New Vehicle 4LBreak-In” Parking at Night 
Park  in  a lighted spot, close all windows  and lock  your 
vehicle.  Remember  to keep your valuables  out 
of sight. 
Put  them 
in a storage area,  or take them with  you. 
, Parking Lots 
If you park in  a  lot where someone will  be watching 
your vehicle,  it’s best  to  lock  it  up  and take  your  keys. 
But what 
if you have  to  leave your ignition  key?  What  if 
you have  to  leave something  valuable in your vehicle? 
0 Put your valuables in  a  storage area, like your  trunk 
or  glove  box. 
0 Lock  the glove box. 
0 Lock all the doors except  the driver’s. 
0 Then  take  the  door key with you. 
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: 
0 Don’t  drive at any  one  speed -- fast or 
slow 
-- for  the  first 500 miles (804 km). 
Don’t  make  full-throttle  starts. 
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. 
0 Don’t tow a trailer  during  “break-in.”  See 
(‘Towing 
a Trailer’’  in  the  Index  for  more 
information. 
0 Avoid  making  hard  stops  for  the  first 
2-12 
-5 T  

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. 
Automatic transaxle: 
Move  your shift  lever  to  PARK (P)  or  NEUTRAL (N). 
Your engine  won’t start  in  any other  position -- that’s  a 
safety  feature.  To restart  when you’re  already moving, 
use  NEUTRAL 
(N) only. .... - , 
I i 
NOTICE: 
Don’t try to shift to  PARK (P) if your  Oldsmobile 
is moving. If you  do,  you  could  damage the 
transaxle. Shift to  PARK (P) only  when your 
vehicle  is  stopped.  Manual. 
transaxle: 
The  gear  selector  should be in neutral. Hold  the  clutch 
pedal  to  the  floor 
and start  the  engine.  Your vehicle 
won’t  start if the  clutch  pedal  is not all  the  way down 
-- 
that’s  a  safety  feature. 
To start your 2.3 Liter  engine: 
1. Without pushing  the  accelerator  pedal,  turn  your 
ignition  key to START.  When the  engine  starts,  let 
go  of the  key.  The  idle  speed  will go down as your 
engine  gets  warm. 
I 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,  and if the weather  is 
very  cold (below 
-20” F, or -29” C), push the 
accelerator  pedal about  one-quarter  of the  way  down 
while  you  turn  the key  to START. 
Do this  until  the 
engine  starts.  As  soon as it does, 
let go  of the  key. 
2-15  

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.  This  clears the extra 
gasoline  from the engine.  If the vehicle  starts briefly 
but then stops  again, do the  same  thing,  but this time 
keep  the pedal  about  one-quarter 
of the way down 
for  five 
or six  seconds. 
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.  To 
start  your 
3.1 Liter  engine: 
I. Without pushing  t.he accelerator pedal, turn your 
ignition  key to 
START. When the  engine  starts,  let 
go  of the  key.  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 your engine  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. 
2-16 
-  

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before 
starting  the engine.  Your Oldsmobile  has a 
brake-transaxle  shift interlock.  You have  to 
apply your 
regular brakes 
before you  can shift from PARK (P) 
when  the ignition  key is in  the RUN position. If you 
cannot shift  out of 
PARK (P), ease  pressure on the shift 
lever 
-- push  the shift lever all the  way into PARK (P) -- 
as you  maintain brake application. Then move the shift 
lever  into  the  gear  you  wish. (Press the shift lever  button 
before moving the shift  lever.) See “Shifting  Out of 
PARK (P)” later in this section. 
REVERSE  (R): Use this gear to back  up. 
NOTICE: 
Shifting  to  REVERSE (R) while  your  vehicle is 
moving  forward  could  damage  your  transaxle. 
Shift  to  REVERSE 
(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 
“If 
You’re  Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index. 
NEUTRAL (N): In  this position, your engine doesn’t 
connect  with the wheels. 
To restart when  you’re already 
moving, use 
NEUTRAL (N) only.  Also, use NEUTRAL 
(N) when  your vehicle is  being towed. 
I NOTICE: I 
Damage to your  transaxle  caused  by  shifting  out 
of 
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with  the  engine 
racing  isn’t  covered  by  your  warranty. 
2-20  

SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you  let  up 011 
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then 
slowly let 
up on the clutch pedal as you  press the 
accelerator pedal. 
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into 
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same  way 
you do for  SECOND (2). Slowly  let  up  on  the  clutch 
pedal  as you  press the accelerator pedal. 
To stop,  let up on the accelerator  pedal  and  press  the  brake 
pedal.  Just  before  the  vehicle  stops,  press  the  clutch  pedal 
and  the  brake  pedal,  and  shift  into  NEUTRAL  (N). 
NEUTRAL (N): Use  this position  when  you start or 
idle your engine. 
REVERSE  (R): To back up, press down the clutch 
pedal  and shift into REVERSE 
(R). Let  up  on  the  clutch 
pedal slowly while pressing  the accelerator pedal. 
NOTICE: 
Shift  to REVERSE (R)  only after  your vehicle is 
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R)  while your 
vehicle 
is moving could damage your transaxle. 
Also,  use REVERSE (Rj, along with the parking  brake, 
for  parking  your vehicle. 
Up Shift  Light (Manual  Transaxle) 
If you have a manual 
transaxle,  you have  an 
UP 
SHIFT light.  This 
light 
will show  you 
when 
to shift to  the 
next  higher gear  for 
best fuel economy. 
When  this light  comes on, you  can shift to the  next 
higher gear 
if weather,  road and traffic conditions  let 
you. For the  best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and 
shift  when  the light  comes  on. 
While  you  accelerate, 
it is normal  for  the  light  to  go on  and 
off if you  quickly  change  the  position  of  the  accelerator. 
Ignore  the  UP  SHIFT  light  when 
you downshift. 
2-24  

Brake  System  Warning Light 
FASTEN )i 
BELTS #e* 
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. 
2-62  

Anti-Lock  Brake  System  Warning  Light 
‘A CHECK 
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. 
2-63