1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme service indicator

LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is in the
LOCK position. It’s also the
only position in which you can remove your key. This
position locks your ignition, steering wheel and
transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like
LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns after
you start your vehicle. With the engine off, you can
use
RUN to display some of your warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in the
OFF, LOCK or ACC
position and the key is in the ignition.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t ,
turn it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard.
But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
I
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
Your Oldsmobile is
equipped with a computer
which monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and
emission control systems.
This system is called OBD
I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions
are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada,
OBD I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent, which
may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
2-51

Low Fuel Light
0 ’ FUEL
E@
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears EMPTY (E), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon.
Here
are some things owners ask about. All these
situations are normal and do not show a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the service station, the pump shuts off before the
0 ,It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage
reads FULL
(F).
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took
a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill
it.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up,.
LOW
FUEL
If your fuel is low, a light
will come on and stay on
until you add fuel. It will
also come on for a few seconds when you first turn
on the ignition as a check
to
show you it’s working. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed.
2-56

Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA
-specification could provide improved driveability and
emission control system protection compared to
other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive.
If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But
don’t worry
if you hear a little pinging noise when you’re
accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and you d\
on’t
have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’\
s the
heavy, constant knock that means you have a problem. If your vehicle
is certified to meet California Emission
Standards .(indicated on the underhood tune-up label), it
is designed to .operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting .California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return
to your authorized Oldsmobile retailer for diagnosis
to determine the cause of failure. In the event it is
determined that the cause of the condition is the type of
fuels used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called MMT. If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on. If this happens, return to your authorized Oldsmobile dealer for service.

NOTICE:
0
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
*-,,. -Em;.- ,‘ -,.. . , .-; .*,--. r... - .,. .. ,,.-4--, , ., ,. ..
Your Oldsmobile has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning.
sound when the brake pads are worn
and new pads
are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard
all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
..
The brake wear warning sound means’that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.
Free movement
of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to
GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete
axle sets.
6-28 . ’

When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any
of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
-To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tiies with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial)
as your original tires.
6-45

I Loading Your Vehicle- ........................... 4-27
Locks .......................................... 2-3
Automatic Door ................................ 2-4
Cylihders ................................... 7-37
DCJDT ......................................... 2-3
Key Lock Cylinder Service ...................... 7-37
POWU Door .................................. 2-3
Steering
. Column Lock Check ................... 7-39
Trunk ....................................... 2-7
Window .................................... 2-25
Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-50
Low Fuel Light .................................. 2-56
LOW Oil Level Light .............................. 2-55
Lubricants and HrJids ............................ 7-41
Lubrication Service,
Body ........................ 7-37
M~EO~S ......................................... 2-36
Convex Outside .............................. 2-37
Inside Day/Night Rearview ...................... 2-36
Power Outside ................................. .. 2-37,
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-40
"I' ......................................... 6-4
Mode Buttons. Automatic and Awriliary Temp Control . . 3-5
Mode
Knob, Climate Control System ................ 3-1
MountainRoads ................................. 4-21
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-26
Net. Convenience .............................. 2-38
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
New Vehicle "Break-In" .......................... 2-10
Nightvision ................................... 4-14
Maintenance. Normal Replacement parts
....... .' ... 6-70
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-43
Maintenanceschedule
............................ 7-1
Long TripMghway Definition
................... 7-5
Long Tripmighway Intervals
................ 7.5. 7.26
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-36
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-40
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-41
Scheduled Maintenance Services'
.................. 7-3
Short Trip/Citv Definition
....................... 7-4 Odometer
................
Odometer. Trip .............
Off-Road Recovery .........
Oil. Engine ................
Oil
Waffling Light ..........
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
Overheating Engine .........
Owner Checks and SerVices ...
Owner Publications. Ordering .
.................... 2.44,
.................... 2-44
.................... 4-1Q
.................... 6-10
.................... 2-53
...................... 2-16
.................... 5-13
.................... 7-36
.................... 8-10
Short Tr$CiG Intervals
.................... 7.4. 7.6
Maintenance. Underbody
.. '. ...................... 6-57 Paint spotting. chemical
Maintenance When Trailer Towing 4-35
Park 6-57
Malfunction Indicator .Lamp
....................... 2-5 1 Automatic Transaxle ........................... 2-14 ManualFrontSeat ............................... 1-1
Methanol
...................................... 6-4 ShifIing-Out of .. ............................ 2-22
........................ .................
Shifting Into ................................. 2.- 13
9-6