Page 72 of 356

‘ Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL, (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Oldsmobile
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
~ 1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key
to START. When the engine starts, let
go of
the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
I NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
NOTICE: (Continued) NOTICE: (Continued)
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
2.
If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it could
be flooded with’too much gasoline. Try pushing you
accelerator pedal
all the way to the floor and holding it
there
as you hold the key in START for up to 15 seconds.
his cl& the extra gasoline from the engine.
I NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your retailer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
. ,-
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1
Page 74 of 356

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
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Page 80 of 356
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).
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Page 82 of 356

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.
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Page 84 of 356

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.
Page 91 of 356

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Push in the SET button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the SET
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you'll go
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the.peda1, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hil.ls.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
.Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, or
shift into PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Page 92 of 356
Lamps
r.
The lamp controls are on the instrument panel. They
control these systems:
.
0 Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
0 Courtesy Lamps
Fog Lamps
2Q.. , Turn the knob to this symbol (B) to turn the
headlamps and other operating lamps.
PC Turn the knob to this symbol (A) to turn on
the parking and other operating lamps without
the headlamp s .
Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound when you,.turn the ignition
switch to the OF", LOCK or ACC position with the
lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DIU) 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 on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work,
so be sure it isn't covered.
Page 93 of 356

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.
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