1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme parking brake

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
may have a shift lever on
the steering column
or
on the console between
the seats.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic
transaxle vehicles, when you’re in PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N), to protect driveline components from
improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’ in
the Index.
Make sure the shift lever is fully into PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your Oldsmobile has a
brakeLtransaxle shift interlock.
You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the RUN position. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
by
pushing it all the way into PARK (P) while keeping the
2-14

Parking Brake
- To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
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,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow
it to the
released position.
2-18

Shifting Into PARK (P)
~~ ~
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake. firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
Column Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
I I
2.. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
like this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
2-19

4
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
Console Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
set the parking brake.
like this: Hold in the button
on the
lever, and push the lever all
the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK
(P).
2-20

Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Runr ‘ng
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine .running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you”ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you (or, if you have a
console shift lever, without first pushing the button). If
you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked
into PARK (P).
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 leave the driver’s
seat. To find 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.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P).
2-21

Shifting 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 the‘RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle Operation” 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),
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift
leyer 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 the OFF position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass
or other things that
can burn.
2-22

Power Windows
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehkle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the’
parking. brake firmly,set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle wlqen the.engi.ne
is , ’
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the . ’
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. ”
You or‘others could be injured. .To be sure.your ,.
.vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level’ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t ,
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index,.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer,
also see. “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. .
!
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition
is on. In addition, each
passenger door has a’switch for its own window.
rhe driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature.
This switch is labeled AUTO. Tap the rear of the switch,
and the’driver’s window will open
a small amount. If the
rear
of the switch is pressed all the way down, the
window will
go all the way down.

The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness 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 headlamp,s
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 to 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 out, and your low-beam headlamps will change
to
-the reduced brightness of DIU.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL
off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in the
OW or LOCK
position. 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 when you need it.
Fog Lamps
To turn fog lamps on, press the top of the switch (C). Press the
bottom of the switch to
turn the fog lamps off. Your parking
lamps must be on, or your fog lamps won’t come on.
The fog lamps will go
off whenever you change to
high-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams,
the fog lamps will come
on again.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the instrument panel lights dial.
If you turn the
dial all the way to
INT, your courtesy or interior lamps
will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several larnps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can
also turn these
lamps on by moving the dial near the beadlamp knob all
the way up to
INT.
Some of the lamps have switches so you can turn them
on, even when the doors are closed. These lamps are
reading lamps.
To avoid draining your battery, be sure to ’
turn off all reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.
2-33