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 70 of 356
New  Vehicle aBreak-In” 
NOTICE: 
Your  modern  Oldsmobile  doesn’t need an 
elaborate  “break-in.”  But 
it will  perform  better 
in  the  long run 
if you follow  these guidelines: 
0 
0 
0 
Don’t  drive at any  one  speed -- fast  or 
slow 
-- for  the  first 500 miles (804 km). 
Don’t  make  full-throttle  starts. 
Avoid  making  hard  stops  for  the  fist 
200 miles (322 km) or so. During  this  time 
your  new brake  linings  aren’t  yet broken 
in.  Hard  stops  with  new linings  can  mean 
premature  wear  and  earlier  replacement. 
, 
Follow this  breaking-in  guideline  every 
time  you get new  brake  linings. 
Don’t  tow 
a trailer  during  break-in.  See 
“Towing  a nailer”  in  the  Index  for 
more  information. 
Ignition  Positions 
C 
I 
A E 
With  the  ignition  key  in  the  ignition  switch,  you  can turn 
the  switch  to  five positions. 
ACC  (A): This  position  lets you  use  things  like  the 
radio  and  windshield  wipers  when  the  engine  is 
off. To 
use ACC (Accessory),  push in the  key  and  turn  it toward 
you.  Your  steering  wheel  will  stay  locked. 
I  
     
        
        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 75 of 356

brake  pedal  pushed  down.  Release  the  shift  lever  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.  See “Shifting  Out  of 
PARK  (P)” in the  Index. 
REVERSE  (R): Use  this  gear  to  back  up. 
NOTICE: 
Shifting  to REVERSE  (R)  while  your vehicle is 
moving  forward  could damage your transaxle. 
Shift  to REVERSE  (R)  only after your vehicle 
is  stopped. 
To  rock  your  vehicle  back  and  forth  to  get out  of  snow, 
ice  or sand  without  damaging  your  transaxle,  see 
“Stuck:  In  Sand,  Mud, 
Ice or Snow”  in  the  Index. 
NEUTRAL (N): In this position,  your  engine 
doesn’t  connect  with  the  wheels. 
To restart  when  you’re 
already  moving,  use  NEUTRAL 
(N) only.  Also,  use 
NEUTRAL 
(N) when  your  vehicle  is being  towed. 
I A CAUTION: 
Shifting  out of  PARK (P) or NEUTRAL  (N).while 
your  engine 
is “racing”  (running at high  speed)  is 
dangerous.  Unless  your foot 
is firmly  on the 
brake  pedal,  your vehicle  could  move  very 
rapidly.  You could  lose  control and hit people  or 
objects.  Don’t  shift out of  PARK 
(P) or 
NEUTRAL 
(N) while  your engine  is  racing. 
I NOTICE: 
Damage  to your transaxle  caused  by  shifting  out 
of  PARK  (P)  or NEUTRAL 
(N) with  the engine 
racing  isn’t  covered  by  your warranty. 
~~ 2-15  
     
        
        Page 76 of 356

AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE (0): This  position is for 
normal  driving.  It is  the  ovetdrive  position.  If  you  need 
more  power  for passing,  and  you’re: 
- Going  less  than 35 mph (56 km/h), push  your 
accelerator  ppdal  about  halfway  down. 
- Going  about 35 mph (56 km/h) or  more,  push  the 
accelerator  pedal  all  the  way  down. 
You’ll  shift  down  to  the next  gear  and  have 
more  power. 
i 
NOTICE: 
If  your  vehicle  seems  to start  up  rather  slowly, 
or 
if it  seems  not  to shift gears as you  go  faster, 
something  may  be  wrong  with 
a transaxle  system 
sensor. 
If you  drive  very far  that  way, your 
vehicle  can be  damaged. 
So, if this  happens,  have 
your  vehicle  serviced  right away.  Until then, you 
can  use  SECOND 
(2) when  you  are driving  less 
than 
35 mph (56 km/h) and  AUTOMATIC 
OVERDRIVE 
(a) for  higher  speeds. 
THIRD (3): This  position  is also  used  for normal 
driving,  but  it offers  more  power  and  lower  fuel 
economy  than  AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE 
(0). 
Here are some  times  you  might  choose  THIRD (3) 
instead of AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE (0)): 
- When  driving  on  hilly,  winding  roads. 
- When  towing  a  trailer, so there  is less  shifting 
- When  going  down  a  steep  hill. 
SECOND (2): This position  gives  you  more  power  but 
lower  fuel economy.  You can  use  SECOND 
(2) on  hills. 
It  can  help  control  your  speed 
as you  go  down  steep 
mountain  roads,  but  then  you  would  also  want  to  use 
your  brakes  off  and  on. 
between  gears. 
6  
     
        
        Page 77 of 356

NOTICE: 
Don’t drive  in  SECOND (2) for more  than 
25 miles (41 km) at speeds  over 55 mph 
(88 km/h), or you  can damage your transaxle. 
Use  AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE 
(@) or 
THIRD 
(3) 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. 
FIRST 
(1): This  position  gives  you  even  more  power 
(but  lower  fuel economy)  than 
SECOND (2). You  can 
use  it on  very  steep  hills,  or in  deep  snow  or 
mud. If the 
shift  lever  is put  in 
FIRST (l), the  transaxle  won’t  shift 
into  first  gear  until  the  vehicle  is going  slowly  enough. 
NOTICE: 
If your  front  wheels  can’t  rotate, don’t try to 
drive.  This might  happen  if  you were stuck  in 
very  deep sand  or mud  or were  up against. 
a solid 
object.  You could  damage your  transaxle. 
Also, 
if you  stop  when  going  uphill,  don’t  hold 
your  vehicle  there with  only  the accelerator 
pedal.  This could  overheat  and damage  the 
transaxle.  Use your  brakes  or shift  into.PARK  (P) 
to  hold  your  vehicle  in  position  on 
a hill. 
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        Page 78 of 356
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  
     
        
        Page 79 of 356
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