
Controlled-Cycle  Windshield  Wipers 
/ 
You control  the windshield  wipers  by moving  the stalk 
with  the wiper  symbol  on  it  up or down. 
For  a single  wiper  cycle,  push 
the stalk  down  to MIST, then 
release 
it. For more  cycles,  hold  the  stalk  down  longer. 
For steady wiping at low  speed, move the stalk  up the 
LOW position.  For  high  speed wiping,  move  the  stalk 
up  further,  to 
HIGH. To stop  the wipers,  move the stalk 
to 
OFF. 
You can  set  the  wiper  speed  for  a long  or short  delay  between 
wipes.  This  can  be  very  useful 
in light  rain  or  snow.  Move 
the stalk  to 
DELAY, then rotate  the  inner  band 
and  choose  the delay  you want. Rotate the  inner band up 
for  shorter delay  times between wiper  cycles.  Rotate the 
band down  for  a  longer  delay time between  wiper 
cycles. 
Remember  that damaged  wiper blades  may prevent  you 
from  seeing  well enough  to  drive  safely. 
To avoid 
damage,  be sure  to  clear  ice  and snow from the wiper 
blades before using them.  If they’re  frozen  to 
the 
windshield, carefully  loosen  or thaw them. If your 
blades  do  become damaged,  get  new blades  or blade 
inserts. 
2-37  

Rain and wet  roads  can  mean driving  trouble.  On  a  wet 
road  you can’t  stop,  accelerate  or turn  as well  because 
your  tire-to-road  traction  isn’t  as  good  as  on dry roads. 
And,  if your  tires  don’t  have  much tread left, you’ll  get 
even  less  traction. It’s  always  wise 
to go slower  and be 
cautious  if rain  starts  to  fall while 
you are  driving. The 
surface may get  wet  suddenly  when your  reflexes  are 
tuned  for  driving  on  dry pavement. 
The  heavier  the rain,  the  harder  it  is  to see.  Even  if your 
windshield  wiper blades  are 
in good shape,  a  heavy rain 
can  make  it  harder  to 
see road  signs  and traffic  signals, 
pavement  markings,  the edge  of the  road,  and 
even 
people  walking. 
It’s  wise  to keep  your  wiping  equipment  in good shape 
and  keep  your  windshield  washer tank filled.  Replace 
your  windshield  wiper  inserts when they  show  signs 
of 
streaking or missing  areas on the windshield,  or when 
strips of rubber  start  to  separate  from the inserts.  Driving 
too fast through  large water  puddles  or even 
going  through  some  car  washes can  cause  problems, too. 
The water  may affect  your brakes.  Try to avoid puddles. 
But  if  you  can’t, try to slow down before  you 
hit them. 
4-15  

Here are  some  things you can check  before  a trip: 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir  full? Are 
all windows clean  inside and outside? 
Wiper Blades: Are they in good  shape? 
Fuel, Engine  Oil,  Other Fluids: Have you checked 
all  levels? 
Lamps: Are they all  working? Are the lenses  clean? 
Tires: They are vitally important  to  a safe, 
trouble-free  trip.  Is the tread good enough  for 
long-distance  driving? Are the tires all inflated 
to the 
recommended  pressure? 
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook 
along your route? Should  you delay your  trip  a short 
time  to avoid 
a major storm  system? 
Maps: Do you have up-to-date  maps? 
Highway Hypnosis 
Is there actually such  a condition  as “highway 
hypnosis?”  Or 
is it just  plain  falling  asleep at the wheel? 
Call 
it highway hypnosis, lack  of awareness,  or 
whatever. 
There  is something about  an easy stretch 
of road  with 
the  same  scenery, along with the  hum of the tires  on the 
road, the drone 
of the engine,  and the rush  of the wind 
against the vehicle that can  make you sleepy. Don’t  let it 
happen to you!  If it does,  your vehicle can leave the 
road  in 
less than a second, and you  could crash and  be 
injured. 
What can  you 
do about highway hypnosis? First, be 
aware  that it can happen. 
Then here  are  some tips: 
0 Make sure your vehicle is  well ventilated, with  a 
comfortably  cool interior. 
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead  and to 
the  sides.  Check your rearview  mirrors and your 
instruments frequently. 
If  you  get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, 
or  parking area and take  a nap,  get some exercise, 
or 
both.  For safety, treat  drowsiness on  the highway as 
an  emergency. 
4-20  

3. Wiggle the bulb out of the socket. 
4. Replace  the bulb. 
5. Reverse the steps to  reassemble the taillamp. 
Fog Lamp Bulb Replacement 
If  you have fog lamps,  don’t  change  your fog lamp 
bulbs unless  you have  the proper aiming equipment. 
See  your  Oldsmobile  retailer 
if you have any  further 
questions. 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade  Replacement 
Replacement blades  come in different types and are 
removed  in different ways. Here’s how 
to remove the 
type  with  a release clip: 
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away  from the 
windshield. 
2. Lift the release  clip with  a  screwdriver  and pull the 
blade assembly  off the wiper  arm. 
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper  arm 
6-32  

Care  of  Safety  Belts 
Keep  belts  clean and dry. 
Glass 
Glass  should  be cleaned  often. GM Glass  Cleaner (GM 
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household  glass  cleaner 
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust  films. 
Don't  use abrasive  cleaners  on glass,  because  they may 
cause  scratches.  Avoid placing  decals 
on the  inside  rear 
window,  since they  may  have to be  scraped  off later. 
If 
abrasive  cleaners  are  used on the inside of the rear 
window,  an  electric  defogger  element  may  be damaged. 
Any  temporary  license should not  be attached  across  the 
defogger  grid. 
Cleaning  the  Outside of the 
Windshield  and  Wiper 
Blades 
If the  windshield  is  not clear after using  the  windshield 
washer, 
or if  the  wiper-  blade  chatters when running, wax 
or- other nuterial  may  be 011 the blade 01- windshield. 
Clean  the outside 
of the  windshield with GM 
Windshield  Cleaner,  Bon-Ami Powder"." (GM Part No. 
105001 1). 'The wir~dshield is clean if beads  do not for111 
when yo~t rinse it with watel. 
Clean  the blade 
by wiping vigorously with a cloth 
soaked 
in full strength  windshield  washer  solvent. 'rhen 
rinse the  blade with water. 
Wiper  blades should  be checked 
011 a regular  basis and 
replaced  when worn. 
Weatherstrips 
Silicone  grease on weatherstrips will tnake the111 last 
longer,  seal better, 
and not stick 01' squeak.  Apply 
silicone  grease 
with a clean cloth at Ica~t ever-y  six 
months.  During very cold, 
darnp weather 11w-e frequent 
application 
may be  required. (See "Kttco~nnletlded 
Fluids 
and Lubricants" in the I~ldex.)  

Power Steering Fluid ......................... 6-24 
Restraint Systems 
............................ 1-47 
Starter Switch 
............................... 7-37 
Steering  Column  Lock 
........................ 7-38 
Things  Under  the  Hood 
........................ 6-7 
Chemical Paint Spotting 
.......................... 6-48 
Child  Restraints 
Securing  in a Rear Outside Seat  Position 
.......... 1-35 
Securing  in  the Center  Rear Seat Position 
......... 1-37 
Securing  in the  Right  Front Seat  Position 
.......... 1-39 
TopStrap 
................................... 1-35 
Cigarette Lighter 
............................... 2-52 
Circuit  Breaker.  Power  Windows 
and  Other  Power  Options 
....................... 6-53 
WheretoPut 
................................ 1-34 
Cleaner.  Air 
................................... 6-16 
Fabric 
..................................... 6-42 
Glass 
...................................... 6-45 
Leather 
.................................... 6-44 
Cleaning 
Aluminum  Wheels 
........................... 6-47 
Outside 
of the  Windshield  and  Wiper  Blades ....... 6-45 
Special Problems 
............................ 6-43 
Stains 
...................................... 6-43 
The Inside  of  Your Oldsmobile 
.................. 6-42 
The Outside 
of Your  Oldsmobile ................ 6-46 
Tires 
...................................... 6-47 
Top 
of the Instrument  Panel .................... 6-44 
Climate Control 
................................. 3-1 
Clock, Setting the 
................................ 3-5 
Clutch Adjustment .............................. 6-21 
Vinyl 
...................................... 6-44  Clutch. 
Hydraulic 
............................... 6-21 
Comfort  Controls 
................................ 3-1 
Compact  Disc Player 
............................ 3-10 
Compact  Disc Player Care 
........................ 3-16 
Compact  Spare Tire 
............................. 5-27 
Console Cup/  Coin  Holder 
........................ 2-50 
Control  of a Vehicle 
.............................. 4-5 
Control. Loss of ................................ 4-12 
Convenience  Net 
............................... 2-10 
Convex  Outside Mirror 
.......................... 2-47 
Coolant  Heater.  Engine 
..................... 2- 17,  6- 15 
Coolant  Level  Warning  Light ...................... 2-65 
Coolant  Surge Tank 
........................ 5- 15, 6-21 
Coolant  Temperature  Gage 
....................... 2-64 
Coolant  Temperature  Warning  Light 
................ 2-64 
Coolant.  How  to Add  to the  Coolant  Surge Tank 
...... 5-15 
Cooling  System ................................ 5-14 
Cruise  Control 
Erasing  Speed Memory 
........................ 2-43 
Getting  Out 
of ............................... 2-43 
Passing  Another  Vehicle  While  Using 
............ 2-42 
To  Increase  Speed 
............................ 2-42 
To  Resume  a Set Speed 
........................ 2-41 
Coolant 
....................................... 6-21 
ToReduceSpeed 
............................ 2-42 
ToSet 
..................................... 2-40 
UseonHills 
................................ 2-42 
Cupholder.  RearSeat 
............................ 2-50 
Cupholder, Glove 
Box 
........................... 2-49 
Customer Assistance for the  Hearing or Speech  Impaired 
8-2 
Customer Assistance Information ................... 8-1 
Customer Satisfaction Procedure 
.................... 8-1 
9-3