Page 101 of 390

If your automatic transaxle has OVERDRIVE (@),
NOTICE: THIRD (D) is like OVERDRIVE (D), but you never go
into Overdrive. Here are some times you might choose
This NOTICE applies only if you have the 3800 THIRD (D) instead of OVERDRIVE (@):
V6 engine and the automatic overdrive transaxle.
If your vehicle is so equipped, and if it seems to 0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
start up rather slowly, or if it seems not to shift
far that way, your vehicle can be damaged. So, if
When going down a steep hill. with a transaxle system sensor. If you drive very
between gears. gears as you go faster, something may be wrong
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
this happens, have your vehicle serviced right SECOND GEAR (2): This position
gives you
away. Until then, you can use SECOND (2) when more power, but lower fuel economy. You can use
SECOND
(2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you are driving less than 35 mph (56 km/h) and you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would
OVERDRIVE (0) for higher speeds. also want to use your brakes off and on.
THIRD GEAR (D): If your automatic transaxle does
not have
OVERDRIVE (@), this position is for normal
driving, at all speeds, in most street and highway
situations. NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 5 miles
(8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transaxle. Use THIRD (D)
(OVERDRIVE (a) or THIRD (D) if your vehicle
has OVERDRIVE
(a)) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
slower than 65 mph
(105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
2-31
ProCarManuals.com
Page 134 of 390

The air inflator kit is stored in a pouch in the glove box.
It includes a 20-foot
(6 m) hose with an air pressure
gage, nozzle adapters and instructions.
To use your air inflator system, attach the appropriate
nozzle adapter, if required, to the end of the hose that
has the pressure gage. Then attach that end of the hose
to the object you wish to inflate. Attach the other end of
the hose to the outlet. Press the
ON switch. The ON
switch will work even with the ignition off. If the air
inflator does not operate, a fuse may be blown or
installed incorrectly. See your retailer for service. Your air
inflator will automatically shut
off after about
10 minutes. To reset it, press the ON switch again.
Don’t run your air inflator for longer than
30 minutes at
one time. If you do, you may damage the system. After
30 minutes, wait at least 10 minutes before restarting the
air inflator.
To turn off the inflator, press OFF and detach the hose,
first from the inflated object, then from the outlet. Place
the inflator kit tools in the pouch and store it in the
glove box.
2-64
ProCarManuals.com
Page 138 of 390
Electronic Level Control (Option)
With this option, the rear of the vehicle automatically
adjusts to changes in load weight. (See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
You may hear the compressor operating when you load
or unload your vehicle, and periodically as the system
self-adjusts. This is normal.
The compressor should operate for brief periods
of time.
If the sound continues for an extended period
of time,
your vehicle needs service.
To keep your battery from
being drained, you may want to pull the
ELC fuse in the
fuse control panel until you can get your vehicle
serviced (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers’’ in the Index).
To replace the bin, set the hinge pins (one on each side
of the bin, at the bottom) into the hinge guides (one at
each side
of the console opening, at the base), then close
the bin.
If the hinge pins are placed properly in the
guides, the bin will close easily.
2-68
ProCarManuals.com
Page 143 of 390
1. Low Traction Light (Option: 3800 V6)
2. Air Bag Readiness Light
3. Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
4. Power Sliding Door Warning Light (Option)
5. Liftgate Ajar Warning Light
6. Brake System Warning Light
7. Voltmeter
8. Oil Pressure Gage
9. Tachometer
10. Safety Belt Reminder Light
11. Right Turn Signal 12.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
1 3. Speedometer 14. High Beam Indicator
15. Traction Control System Warning Light
(Option: 3800
V6)
16. Left Turn Signal
17. Odometer
18. Trip Odometer Reset Button
19. Trip Odometer
20. Fuel Gage
21. Low Fuel Warning Light
22. Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
2-73
ProCarManuals.com
Page 146 of 390

Safety Belt Reminder 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 until the driver’s belt is buckled.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel,
which shows the words 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.
2-76
ProCarManuals.com
Page 147 of 390

Voltmeter
18
” /
When the engine is not running, but the ignition is on (in
the RUN position), the display measures the voltage
output
of your battery.
Brake System Warning Light
[BRAKE]
Your charging system gage will show the rate of charge
when the engine is running.
The reading will change as the rate
of charge changes
(with the engine speed, etc.), but readings between the
red warning zones indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in either red zone indicate
a possible problem
with your charging system. Have your Oldsmobile
serviced immediately. 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 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,
2-77
ProCarManuals.com
Page 148 of 390

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.)
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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
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 fixed
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.)
2-78
ProCarManuals.com
Page 149 of 390

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 ahti-lock brakes.
Traction Control System Warning Light
(Option)
TCS
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If it
stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on,
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will
turn off and the warning light will come on
until your brakes cool down. If the traction control
system warning light comes on and stays on for an
extended period
of time, your vehicle needs service.
2-79
ProCarManuals.com