1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manuals

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

Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle Was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
or
different.
modified improperly. blow out any CO; and
Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here
are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the air system control
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch
is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
2-23

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.

To stop the window while it is lowering, press the front
of the switch.
To raise the window, press and hold the
front of the switch.
On four-door models, the driver’s window controls also
include a lock-out switch. Press
LOCK to stop front and
rear passengers from using their window switches. The
driver can still control all the windows with the lock on.
Press the other side of the
LOCK button for normal
window operation.
Horn
You may press anywhere on the steering wheel pad to
sound the horn.
Tilt Steering Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows
you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your
legs more room when you
exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to
a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
2-25

;, :i
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes
your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
, Windshield Wipers
' Wmdshield Washer
0 Cruise Control
'.
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upwardl(for right) and.twa
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you
to signal a turn 'or a lane change. '
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
whep the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
1
A
1
cs
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the.turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until
the arrow starts 2-0 flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return
by
itself when you release it.
2-26

.. I.
AS you signal a tm'or a lane change,;if the'arrows don't Windshield Wipers
I
To change. your headlamps
€$om
-low beam to high
beam, or-high to low, pull
the multifunction lever
all
the way toward you. Then
release
it. When the higli
beams are on,. a light on the
instrument panel also will
be 'on.
2-27

Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paddle
with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return to your
preset speed.
I
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid
can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips. Cruise
(40 km/h). %
- control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts
off.
2-28 ..