Page 7 of 356
J 
Vehicle Symbols 
These are some of the symbols you may find on  your vehicle. 
For example, these symbols 
are  used on an 
original battery: 
POSSIBLE A 
CAUTION 
INJURY 
PROTECT  EYES  BY 
SHIELDING 
Q 
CAUSTIC 
BURNS AVOID 
SPARKS 
OR 
FLAMES 
SPARK 
OR ,\I/, 
COULD  FLAME 
EXPLODE  BAllERY 
These symbols are important 
for  you  and 
your passengers 
whenever your 
vehicle  is 
driven: 
UNLOCK w. 
FASTEN 
SEAT 
BELTS 
POWER 
WINDOW 
These symbols 
have to  do with 
your lights: 
SIGNALS e e3 
TURN 
RUNNING 
* 0 
DAYTIME 
LAMPS 
FOG  LAMPS 
# 0 
These symbols 
are on some 
of 
your  controls: 
WINDSHIELD 
WIPER 
WINDOW 
DEFOGGER 
These symbols  are  used  on 
warning and 
indicator lights: 
COOLANT 
TEMP 
- 
CHARGING I-1 
BAllERY 
SYSTEM 
BRAKE 
(a) 
COOLANT a 
ENGINE OIL w, 
PRESSURE 
ANTI-LOCK 
(@) 
BRAKES 
Here are some 
other symbols 
you  may  see: 
FUSE 
LIGHTER 
m 
HORN )tr 
SPEAKER 
I@ 
FUEL la  
     
        
        Page 15 of 356
Your vehicle  has a  light 
that  comes  on as  a 
reminder  to  buckle  up.  (See  “Safety  Belt 
Reminder  Light”  in 
the  Index.) 
In  most  states  and  Canadian  provinces,  the law  says  to 
wear  safety  belts.  Here’s  why: 
They work. 
You never  know  if  you’ll  be  in  a  crash.  If  you  do have a 
crash,  you  don’t  know  if  it will  be  a  bad  one. 
A  few  crashes  are mild,  and  some crashes  can be 
so 
serious  that  even buckled  up  a  person  wouldn’t  survive. 
But  most  crashes  are in  between.  In  many  of  them, 
people  who  buckle  up can  survive  and sometimes  walk 
away.  Without  belts  they  could  have been  badly  hurt 
or  killed. 
After  more  than 
25 years  of  safety  belts  in  vehicles, 
the  facts 
are clear.  In  most  crashes  buckling  up  does 
matter 
... a  lot! 
Why Safety  Belts Work 
When  you  ride  in  or  on  anything,  you go as fast as 
it  goes. 
Take  the  simplest  vehicle.  Suppose  it’s  just a  seat 
on  wheels. 
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        Page 20 of 356
3. Pick  up the latch  plate  and  pull  the belt  across  you. 
Don’t  let it get  twisted. 
The  shoulder  belt  may  lock  if  you pull the belt  across 
you  very  quickly. 
If this happens,  let  the  belt  go back 
slightly  to  unlock  it. Then  pull the  belt  across  you 
more  slowly. 
4. Push  the  latch  plate  into the buckle  until  it clicks. 
Pull  up  on  the  latch  plate 
to make sure it is secure. 
If the  belt  isn’t  long  enough,  see “Safety  Belt 
Extender’’  at the  end  of this  section. 
Make  sure the release  button  on  the  buckle  is 
positioned 
so you  would  be  able to unbuckle  the 
safety  belt  quickly  if  you ever had to. 
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        Page 28 of 356
I 
~~  ~ 
Air  bags inflate with great  force,  faster  than  the 
blink  of an  eye.  If  you’re  too  close  to  an inflating 
air  bag,  it could  seriously  injure you.  Safety  belts 
help  keep  you in  position  for an  air  bag inflation 
in 
a crash.’  Always  wear  your safety  belt,  even 
with  an  air  bag. The driver  should  sit  as far  back 
as  possible  while  still  maintaining control  of 
the  vehicle. 
A CAUTION: 
An inflating  air bag  can seriously  injure small 
children.  Always secure children properly 
in. your 
vehicle. 
To read  how,  see  the part  of this manual 
called  “Children”  and  the caution label  on the 
right  front  passenger’s  safety  belt. 
0. AIR 
4 BAG 
There is an  air  bag  readiness 
light  on  the  instrument 
panel,  which  shows 
AIR BAG or  the 
air  bag  symbol. 
The  system  checks the air  bag’s electrical  system for 
malfunctions.  The light tells  you 
if there is an  electrical 
problem.  See “Air  Bag  Readiness  Light” in 
the Index 
for more  information.  
     
        
        Page 39 of 356
Lap-Shoulder  Belt  (4-Door  Models) 
The positions  next  to  the windows  have lap-shoulder 
belts.  Here’s  how 
tn wear nne prnndy. 
2. Push  the  latch  plate  into the  buckle  until  it clicks. 
“ Pull  up  on the  latch  plate  to.make sure it is  secure. 
When  the shoulder  belt  is pulled  out all  the  way,  it 
will  lock. 
If it  does, let  it go  back  all  the  way  and 
start  again. 
If  the  belt  is not  long  enough,  see  “Safety  Belt 
 Extender”  at the  end  of  this  section. 
Make  sure  the  release  button  on the  buckle  is 
positioned 
so you  would  be  able to  unbuckle  the 
, safety  belt  quickly  if  you ever had  to. 
1. Pick  up  the  latch  plate  and  pull  the belt  across  you. 
Don’t  let it get  twisted. 
The  shoulder  belt  may  lock if  you  pull  the belt  across 
you  very  quickly.  If  this  happens,  let  the  belt 
go back 
slightly  to unlock  it. Then  pull  the  belt  across  you 
more  slowly. 
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        Page 59 of 356

Safety  Belt  Extender 
If the  vehicle’s  safety belt will  fasten  arouna you, you 
should  use  it. 
But  if a safety belt isn’t  long enough to fasten,  your 
retailer will order  you  an extender.  It’s free.  When  you 
go in  to  order it, take the  heaviest.coat you will  wear, so 
the extender will  be long  enough  for you.  The extender 
will  be  just  for  you,  and  just  for the seat  in your  vehicle 
that  you  choose. Don’t  let someone  else use it, and  use it 
only  for the seat  it is  made  to- fit.  To wear  it, just  attach it 
to  the regular safety belt. 
Checking  Your Restraint  Systems 
Now and then,  make sure the  safety  belt  reminder light 
and all  your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors  and 
anchorages are  working  properly.  Look for any  other 
loose or damaged safety  belt  system parts. 
If you see 
anything that  might  keep a safety  belt system  from 
doing  its  job,  have it repaired. 
Torn  or frayed safety belts  may  not protect you  in a 
crash.  They  can  rip apart under impact forces.  If 
a belt is 
torn  or  frayed,  get a new  on$  right away. 
Also  look  for  any opened or  broken air bag  covers,  and 
have  them  repaired or replaced. (The air  bag system 
does  not need  regular  maintenance.) 
Replac’ing  Restraint  System  Parts 
After 
a Crash 
If you’ve  had a crash, do you  need  new  belts? 
After  a very  minor  collision, nothng may  be  necessary. 
But  if  the  belts were stretched,  as they  would  be if  worn 
during  a more  severe crash,  then  you  need  new  belts. 
If  belts are  cut or damaged,  replace them.  Collision 
damage  also may  mean  you  will  need  to have safety belt 
or  seat parts repaired or replaced.  New parts  and repairs 
may  be  necessary  even 
if the  belt  wasn’t  being  used  at 
the time  of the collision. 
If  an  air bag  inflates, you’ll  need  to replace air  bag 
system parts.  See  the part on the  air bag  system  earlier in 
this section.  
     
        
        Page 63 of 356

Door Locks 
Unlocked doors can be  dangerous. 
Passengers 
-- especially  children -- can easily 
open  the doors  and 
fall out. When a door  is 
locked,  the inside  handle  won’t  open 
it. 
Outsiders can  easily enter through  an unlocked 
door  when  you  slow  down  or stop your  vehicle. 
This  may not be 
so obvious:  You increase  the 
chance  of being  thrown  out of the  vehicle  in 
a 
crash if the  doors  aren’t  locked.  Wear safety  belts 
properly,  lock  your doors, and you  will  be 
far 
better off whenever  you  drive your vehicle. 
There are several  ways  to lock  and  unlock  your  vehicle. 
From  the  outside,  use  your  door  key  or Remote  Lock 
Control  transmitter,  if  your  vehicle  has this  option. 
On  two-door  models,  the  door  lock  will  light  up  for  about 
15 seconds  if  you  pull  the  door  handle.  The  light  can  help 
you  find  where  to  put  your  key  when  it’s  dark  outside.  From 
the inside,  push  the  lever  down  to  lock  the  door. 
To  unlock,  push  the  lever  up. 
Power Door Locks 
Press  the  power  door  lock  switch to lock or unlock 
all  doors. 
On  four-door  models,  the  rear  doors  do  not  have  power 
door  lock  switches.  The  lever  on  each  rear  door  works 
only  that  door’s  lock.  It  won’t  lock  or  unlock 
all the doors. 
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        Page 68 of 356

I 
Theft 
Vehicle  theft is big  business,  especially  in  some  cities. 
Although  your  Oldsmobile  has  a  number  of 
theft-deterrent  features,  we  know  that  nothing  we put  on 
it can  make  it impossible  to steal.  However,  there are 
~ . ways  you  can  help. 
Key  in  the  Ignition 
If  you  leave  your  vehicle  with the keys  inside,  it’s  an 
easy  target  for  joy riders  or professional  thieves 
-- so 
don’t  do it. 
When  you  park  your  Oldsmobile  and  open  the  driver’s 
door,  you’ll  hear  a  chime reminding  you  to  remove  your 
key  from  the  ignition  and  take it with  you.  Always  do 
this.  Your  steering  wheel  will  be  locked,  and 
so will 
your  ignition  and  transaxle.  And  remember  to  lock 
the doors. 
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? 
Put  your  valuables  in  a  storage  area,  like  your trunk 
0 Lock  the  glove  box. 
Lock  all  the  doors  except  the  driver’s. 
Then  take  the  door  key  with  you.  or 
glove  box. 
PASS-Key@ I1 
Your  vehicle  is  equipped 
with  the  PASS-Key 
I1 
(Personalized  Automotive 
Security  System) 
theft-deterrent  system. 
PASS-Key 
I1 is  a  passive 
theft-deterrent  system. 
It works  when  you  insert 
or  remove  the  key  from 
the  ignition. 
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