1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme parking brake

., ‘
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power - .
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills,
or in deep. snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
..
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might ,happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud- or were’up against
a solid
object. Youxould damage your ,transaxle.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold.
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes.or
shift into PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
I To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
clown with your right foot and push
the parking brake
pd with your left foot. men you lift your left foot, the
parking brake pedal will follow it
to the released position.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes
to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage ‘other
parts of your vehicle.

If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill, Column Shift
see “Towing a Trailer” in’ the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving. 1. Hold’the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
Shifting Into PARK (P) 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like
2-19
c

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK
(P). This is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before you 1,eave the driver’s
seat.
To fmd out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you
are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to. have ,
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressdre from the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift .
lever out of PARK (P). Your
Oldsmobile has
a brake-transaxle shift. interlock.
You must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
“Automatic Transaxle”
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
whil‘e keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button if you have a console shift. Then move
the shift lever out
of PARK (P), being sure to press the
shift lever button’
if you have a console shift.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
2-21

Instrument Panel Lamps
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lamps by
moving the dial. If you turn the dial all the way to INT,
your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Daytime Running Lamps (Canada Only)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor makes the DRL work, so be sure the light
sensor hole on top
of the instrument panel isn't covered. The
DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on
at reduced brightness in daylight when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and,other lamps
won't
be on. Your instrument panel won't be lit up
either.
When it's dark enough outside, your low-beam
headlamps will change
fo full brightness. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will also come
on.
When it's bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
.go
off, and your low-beam headlamps change to the
reduced brightness of
DRL.
; To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in
OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The
DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system any time you need it.
. 3 13

Brake System Warning Light
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
mill 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 stayion if your
parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fuily released, it means you have a
brakerproblem.
2-48

!
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.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t .happen often. But
it can if your
tires haven’t much tread or
if the pressure in one or
more
is low. It can happen if a lot, of water is standing on
the road. If you can see reflections froin trees, telephone
poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice
is to slow down when it is iaining.
Some Other Rainy weather Tips
1
0
0
0
,Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your
parking lights
-- to help make you ,more visible to
others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially carefbl when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and, be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)

Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached,
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and
both^
your vehicle and the trailer can be darnaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
.I. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
.. !PARK (P) yet.
2. ‘Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking o,n a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
8’. .
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is dear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for,more
.on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t oyerfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, .and brake adjustment.
Each of these
is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea
to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
4-34,

2. Get the vehicles close enougn so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put
an
automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all
lamps that aren’t needed, and radios.
This will avoid
sparks and help Save both batteries. And it could
save your radio!
“NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals
on each battery. Your Oldsmobile has a remote
positive
(+) jump starting terminal. The terminal is
on the same side
of the engine compartment as your
battery. You should always use the remote
positive
(+) terminal instead of the positive (+)
terminal on your battery. To uncover the remote .
positive (+) termihal, lift the red plastic cap.
1
5-3

..