
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: 
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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. 
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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 
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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. 
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‘ 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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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. 
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Center  Console Convenience  Net  (Option) 
To open  the  storage  area,  press 
up on  the  latch  on  the 
front edge  and lift the  cover.  The console  has  a 
cupholder,  cassette tape and compact  disc  storage 
and  a  coinholder. 
Rear Door Cupholders 
You  may  have a cupholder  in  each rear door.  Your 
vehicle  may  have  a  convenience  net.  You’ll  see  it 
on  the  back  wall  of the  trunk. 
Put  small  loads, like  grocery  bags,  behind  the  net.  It  can 
help  keep  them  from  falling over  during  sharp  turns  or 
quick  starts and  stops. 
The  net  isn’t  for  larger,  heavier  loads.  Store  them  in  the 
trunk  as  far forward  as you can. 
You can  unhook  the  net so that  it will  lie  flat when 
you’re  not  using  it. 
You can  also  push  the  net  down  and 
hook  it under  the  plastic  hooks. 
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Anti-Lock  Brake  System Warning Light 
With  the  anti-lock  brake system,  this light  will come 
on  when  you  start your 
engine  and  it will  stay 
on  for three  seconds. 
That’s  normal. 
If  the  light flashes  when  you’re  driving, you  don’t  have 
anti-lock  brakes  and  there could  be 
a problem  with  your 
regular  brakes.  Pull 
off the  road  and stop carefully. You 
may  notice  that  the  pedal  is harder  to push.  Or,  the pedal 
may  go closer  to the  floor.  It may  take  longer  to stop. 
Vehicle”  in the  Index.) 
, Have  the .vehicle  towed for service.  (See.“Towing  Your 
Your  regular  brake  system  may  not  be  working 
properly 
if the  anti-lock  brake  system  warning 
light  is  flashing.  Driving  with  the  anti-lock  brake  system  warning  light  flashing  can  lead  to  an 
accident.  After  you’ve  pulled 
off the  road  and 
stopped  carefully,  have  the  vehicle  towed 
for  service. 
If the  anti-lock  brake  system  warning  light stays  on 
longer  than  normal  after  you’ve  started  your  engine,  turn 
the  ignition 
off. Or,  if  the  light comes  on  and  stays  on 
when  you’re  driving,  stop as soon  as  possible  and  turn 
the  ignition 
off. Then  start  the  engine  again  to  reset  the 
system.  If the  light  still  stays  on,  or comes  on  again 
while  you’re  driving,  your  Oldsmobile  needs  service.  If 
the  light  is on  but  not  flashing  and  the  regular  brake 
system  warning  light isn’t  on,  you  still  have  brakes,  but 
you  don’t  have anti-lock  brakes. 
The  anti-lock  brake  system  warning  light  should  come 
on  briefly  when  you  turn  the  ignition  key  to 
RUN. If  the 
light  doesn’t  come  on  then, have it fixed 
so it  will  be 
ready 
to warn  you  if  there is  a  problem. 
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0 Reduce  vehicle  speed. 
0 Avoid  hard  accelerations. 
Avoid  steep  uphill  grades. 
I 0 If towing  a  trailer,  reduce  the  amount  of  cargo  being 
hauled  as soon  as  it is  possible. 
If  the  lightstops  flashing  and  remains,on steady,  see  “If 
the  Light 
Is On  Steady”  following. 
If 
the light  continues  to flash,  when  it is  safe  to  do so, 
stop the vehicle. Put  your  vehicle  in PARK (P). Turn  the 
key  off,  wait  at  least 
10 seconds  and  restart  the  engine. 
~ If  the  light  remains  on  steady,  see “If  the  Light  Is On 
Steady”  following.  If  the light  is still  flashing,  follow 
the 
1 previous  steps,  and  drive  the vehicle  to your  retailer  or 
qualified  service  center  for service. 
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If the Light Is On Steady 
You  may  be  able  to  correct  the  emission  system 
malfunction  by  considering  the.following: 
Did  you  just put fuel into  your  vehicle? 
If 
so, reinstall  the  fuel cap,  making  sure  to  fully  install 
the  cap.  The diagnostic  system  can  determine  if the  fuel 
cap  has  been left 
off or  improperly  installed.  This  will 
allow  fuel to  .evap.orate  into the  atmosphere.  A  few 
driving  trips  should  turn  the  light 
off. 
Did  you  just drive  through  a  deep  puddle  of  water? 
If 
so, your  electrical  system  may  be  wet.  The condition 
will  usually  be corrected  when  the electrical  system 
dries  out.  A  few  driving  trips  should  turn  the  light 
off. 
Are  you  low  on  fuel? 
As  your  engine  starts  to  run  out  of  fuel,  your  engine  may 
not 
run as  efficiently  as  designed  since  small  amounts  of 
air are  sucked  into  the  fuel line causing  a  misfire. 
The 
system  can  detect  this.  Adding  fuel should  correct  this 
condition.  Make  sure  to  install  the  fuel cap  properly.  It 
will  take  a  few  driving  trips  to  turn  the  light  off.  

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When  the  ignition is on  but  the  engine is not  running, 
the  light  will  come  on  as  a  test  to  show  you  it is 
working,  but  the  light  will  go out  when  you  turn  the 
ignition  to 
START. If it doesn’t  come  on  with the 
ignition on, you  may  have  a  problem  with  the fuse  or 
bulb.  Have  it fixed  right  away. 
If  you  make  a  hard 
stop, the  light  may  come on for  a 
moment.  This  is normal. 
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Don’t  keep  driving  if the  oil pressure is low. If 
you  do, your  engine  can  become so hot  that  it 
catches  fire. 
You or others  could  be  burned. 
Check  your  oil as soon 
as possible  and  have  your 
vehicle  serviced. 
I NOTICE: 
Damage  to  your  engine  from  neglected oil 
problems  can  be  costly and is not  covered  by 
your  warranty.  

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Adjusting the Speakers 
BAL: Press this knob, lightly so it extends, Tm the 
knob to move the sound  to the  left or right  speakers. Use 
the middk  position  to balance  these  speakers. 
FADE: Press  the knob  lightly--so  it 'extends.  Then  pull 
-. the knoti.all  the  way  out. T& it to move  the  sound  to 
, the front  or rear  speakers.  'Use  the middle  position  to' 
I -balance  these  speakers.' 
Push  the knob  back  in when  you're,not.using it. 
Playing a Compact  Disc 8. 
Insert  a  disc  partway  into the slot,  label  side,up. The 
player  will  pull  it in.  If the'ignition  is 
on and  the  radio  is 
off, the disc should  begin  playing. 
If you're  driving  on a very  rough  road  or if  it's  very  hot, 
the  disc  may  not  play  and 
Em, (error)  may  appear  on 
the  display.  When  things  get back  to normzil,  the disc 
should  play. 
If the  disc comes  out, it could  be  that: 
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The disc is upside  down. 
It  is  dirty,  scratched  or wet. 
It is  very  humid. (If so, wait  about  an hour  and 
try  again.) 
RCL: Press  this  button  to  see  which  track is playing. 
x Press  it again  within  five seconds  to see  how  long  it has 
been  playing. 
To change  what  is normally  shown  on  the 
display  (track  or elapsed-time),  press  the  button  until 
you  see  the  display  you  want,  then  hold  the  button  until 
the  display  flashes.  While  elapsed  time  is showing, 
EL TM  will  appear  on the  display. 
REV (1): Press  and  hold  this  button to quickly  reverse 
within  a  track  (song).  You will  hear  sound  at  a  reduced 
volume.  The display  will  show  elapsed  time. 
FWD (2): Press  and  hold  this  button  to  quickly  advance 
within  a  track  (song).  You will  hear  sound  at  a  reduced 
volume.  The display  will  show  elapsed  time. 
RDM (3): Press  this  button  to  hear  the  tracks  in random, 
rather  than  sequential,  order.  RDM  will  appear  on  the 
display  when  you  press 
this button.  Press  RDM  again  to 
turn 
off random  play. 
AM-FM: Press  this  button  to  play  the  radio  when  a  disc 
is  in  the  player. 
CD: Press  this  button  to change  to  the  disc  function 
when  the  radio  is 
on if  a  disc is already  loaded.  The.disc 
will  start  playing  at the  point  where 
it was  stopped. A 
box  will  appear  around  CD on  the  display'when  the  disc 
is active. 
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