Page 7 of 372
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 
CAUSTIC 
BURNS AVOID 
SPARKS 
OR 
FLAMES 
SPARK 
OR ,\I/, 
COULD  FLAME 
EXPLODE  BATTERY 
These  symbols are  important 
for you  and 
your  passengers 
whenever  your 
vehicle 
is 
driven: 
DOOR  LOCK 
UNLOCK 
4 
BELTS 
n 
POWER 
WINDOW 'tl 
These  symbols  have 
to do wilh 
your lamps: 
SIGNALS e e 
TURN 
RUNNING 
.'****o 
DAYTIME  LAMPS 
'** 
FOG  LAMPS $0 
These  symbols 
are 
on some of 
your controls: 
WINDSHIELD 
WIPER 
WINDSHIELD  DEFROSTER 
WINDOW 
DEFOGGER 
VENTILATING  FAN 
These symbols 
are used on 
warning and 
indicator 
lights: 
COOLANT - 
TEMP - 
CHARGING I-1 
BAlTERY 
SYSTEM 
BRAKE 
(@) 
ENGINE  OIL w, 
PRESSURE 
ANTI-LOCK 
(@) 
BRAKES 
Here  are  some  other  symbols 
you may  see: 
FUSE -%- 
LIGHTER n 
HORN )tr 
SPEAKER 
b 
FUEL e3  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 33 of 372

How  does an air bag  restrain? 
In moderate  to  severe  frontal or near-frontal  collisions, 
even  belted  occupants  can  contact 
the steering  wheel  or the 
instrument  panel.  Air  bags  supplement 
the protection 
provided  by safety  belts. 
Air bags  distribute  the  force  of 
the  impact  more  evenly  over  the  occupant’s  upper  body, 
stopping  the  occupant  more  gradually.  But  air  bags  would 
not  help  you 
in many  types  of collisions,  including 
rollovers,  rear  impacts  and  side impacts,  primarily  because 
an  occupant’s  motion  is  not  toward  those  air  bags.  Air 
bags  should  never  be  regarded  as  anything  more  than  a 
supplement  to safety  belts,  and  then 
only in  moderate  to 
severe  frontal 
or near-frontal  collisions. 
What  will  you  see  after an air  bag  inflates? 
After an air bag  inflates, it quickly  deflates, so quickly 
that some people  may not even  realize the air bag 
inflated.  Some components 
of the  air bag module in the 
steering  wheel hub  for 
the driver’s  air  bag, or the 
instrument  panel for  the  right front  passenger’s bag,  will 
be  hot  for a short  time.  The  parts 
of the bag  that  come 
into  contact with you  may  be warm, but not  too hot to 
touch.  There will be some smoke and  dust coming  from 
vents  in the  deflated  air  bags. Air bag inflation  doesn’t 
prevent the  driver from seeing  or  from being  able  to 
steer  the vehicle,  nor does 
it stop  people from leaving 
the  vehicle. 
When  an  air bag  inflates,  there  is dust in the  air. 
This  dust  could  cause breathing  problems  for 
people  with 
a history  of  asthma or  other 
breathing  trouble.  To avoid this, everyone  in  the 
vehicle  should  get out  as soon  as 
it is safe to do so. 
If  you  have  breathing  problems  but  can’t get out 
of  the  vehicle  after  an  air  bag  inflates, then get 
fresh  air  by opening a  window  or  door. 
In many crashes  severe  enough to inflate an air bag, 
windshields are broken  by vehicle  deformation. 
Additional  windshield breakage  may also occur  from the 
right  front  passenger  air  bag. 
0 Air bags are designed to inflate only  once. After they 
inflate,  you’ll need some  new parts  for your  air bag 
system.  If you  don’t  get them,  the air bag  system 
won’t  be there  to help protect  you  in another  crash. 
A new system  will include  air  bag modules and 
possibly  other parts. The service manual  for your 
vehicle  covers the need to  replace  other  parts.  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 35 of 372
Rear Seat Passengers 
It’s very important  for  rear  seat  passengers  to  buckle up! 
Accident  statistics  show  that unbelted people 
in the  rear 
seat  are  hurt  more often 
in crashes  than  those  who are 
wearing safety  belts. 
Rear  passengers  who aren’t safety  belted  can  be thrown 
out  of the  vehicle  in  a  crash.  And they  can  strike  others 
in the  vehicle  who are wearing safety belts. 
Rear  Seat Outside Passenger  Positions 
Lap-Shoulder Belt 
The  positions next to  the  windows  have  lap-shoulder 
belts.  Here’s  how  to wear  one properly. 
1. Pick  up  the  latch  plate  and pull  the  belt across you. 
2. Push  the  latch  plate into  the  buckle until  it  clicks. 
Don’t 
let  it get twisted. 
1-27  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 52 of 372
Larger Children If you have the choice, a cud  should sit next  to a 
window 
so the  child  can wear  a lap-shoulder belt  and 
get  the additional restraint 
a shoulder belt can provide. 
Accident  statistics show that  children are safer  if they 
are restrained 
in the rear  seat.  But  they  need  to  use  the 
safety belts  properly. 
Children who aren’t buckled  up can  be thrown out in 
a crash. 
Children  who  aren’t  buckled up can  strike  other 
people  who are. 
Children who have 
outgrown child  restraints  should 
wear the  vehicle’s  safety belts. 
1-44  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 57 of 372

Section 2 Features  and  Controls 
Here you can learn about  the many standard  and optional  features  on your Oldsmobile,  and information on starting, 
shifting  and braking. 
Also explained  are the  instrument  panel  and the warning systems that tell you if everything is 
working properly -- and what  to  do if you have a  problem. 
2-2  2-4 
2-7 
2-10 
2-12 2-12 
2-13  2-14 
2- 
16 
2-19 
2-2 
1 
2-25  2-28  2-29 
2-3 
1 
Keys 
Door  Locks 
Remote Lock  Control (If Equipped) 
Trunk 
Theft  Passlock 
TM 
New  Vehicle  “Break-In” 
Ignition  Positions 
Starting  Your Engine 
Engine  Coolant Heater  (If Equipped) 
Automatic  Transaxle Operation 
Manual  Transaxle  Operation 
Parking  Brake 
Shifting  Into  PARK (P) (Automatic  Transaxle 
Models Only)  Shifting  Out 
of PARK  (P) (Automatic 
Transaxle)  2-3 
1 
2-32 
2-32 
2-33 
1 2-34 
1, 2-35 
2-35 
2-43 
2-46 
2-49 
2-50 
2-54 
2-55 
2-56 
2-60  Parking 
Your  Vehicle 
(Manual Transaxle) 
Parking  Over Things  That Burn 
Engine Exhaust 
Running  Your Engine While  You’re Parked 
(Automatic Transaxle) 
Windows 
Tilt Wheel 
Turn  SignalMultifunction  Lever 
Exterior  Lamps 
Interior  Lamps 
Mirrors 
Storage  Compartments 
Accessory Power  Outlet 
Sunroof (If Equipped) 
Instrument  Panel 
Warning  Lights, Gages and  Indicators  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 58 of 372
1- 
A CAUTION: 
- 
Leaving  young  children  in  a  vehicle  with  the 
ignition  key  is dangerous  for many  reasons. 
A child  or others  could  be badly  injured  or 
even  killed. 
They  could  operate  power  windows 
or other 
controls or  even  make  the  vehicle  move.  Don't 
leave  the  keys  in 
a vehicle  with  young  children. 
2-2  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 66 of 372

Synchronization 
Your  Remote 
Lock Control  system  is  equipped  with a 
security system  that  prevents  anyone from recording and 
playing  back  your signal. The transmitter  does  not  send 
the 
same signal  twice  to the  receiver.  The  receiver  will  not 
respond  to 
a signal  that  has  been  sent to it  more  than  once. 
To resynchronize your transmitter  and receiver, follow 
these directions: 
1.  Stand close to  your vehicle, 
2. Press and hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons  on 
the transmitter at the same time, 
3. Hold the buttons  for  five seconds. In this time, the 
doors should lock and unlock once.  This  confirms 
the  resynchronization.  If the  doors  do not lock  and 
unlock,  see your retailer for service. 
Trunk 
To unlock the trunk from  the  outside, insert the door  key 
and turn the trunk lock cylinder. 
A CAUTION: 
It  can  be dangerous to drive  with  the  trunk  lid 
open  because  carbon monoxide 
(CO) gas can 
come  into  your  vehicle. 
You can’t  see or smell 
CO. It can  cause  unconsciousness  and even  death. 
If you must  drive  with  the  trunk  lid open or if 
electrical  wiring 
or other  cable  connections  must 
pass  through  the  seal  between the body  and  the 
trunk  lid: 
Make  sure  all  windows are  shut. 
Turn  the  fan on your  heating  or  cooling 
system  to  its highest  speed  with  the  setting 
on 
VENT. That  will force  outside  air  into 
your  vehicle.  See “Comfort  Controls”  in 
the  Index. 
instrument  panel,  open  them  all  the  way. 
If you have air outlets on or  under  the 
See  “Engine  Exhaust’’ in  the  Index. 
2-10  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 68 of 372

Theft Parking Lots 
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching 
your vehicle,  it’s best  to lock  it  up  and take your keys. 
But  what 
if you  have to  leave your ignition key? What if 
you have to  leave something valuable  in your vehicle? 
Put your valuables  in a storage area, like your trunk 
or  glove box. 
Lock the glove box. 
Vehicle  theft  is 
big business,  especially  in  some  cities. 
Although  your  Oldsmobile  has  a number  of  theft-deterrent 
features,  we  know  that  nothing  we  put  on  it  can  make 
it 
impossible  to steal.  However,  there  are  ways  you  can  help. 
Key in  the  Ignition 
If you  leave  your vehicle with the keys  inside, it’s an 
easy target  for  joy riders or professional thieves 
-- so 
don’t do it. 
When  you  park your Oldsmobile and open the driver’s 
door, you’ll hear  a chime reminding  you to remove your 
key from the ignition and  take  it with you. Always  do 
this.  Your  steering wheel will  be locked, and 
so will 
your ignition.  If  you have an  automatic  transaxle, taking 
your  key out also locks your transaxle.  And remember 
to  lock the doors. 
Parking at Night 
Park  in a lighted  spot,  close  all windows and lock your 
vehicle. Remember  to keep your valuables  out  of sight. 
Put  them in  a  storage  area, or take them  with you. 
0 Lock  all  the  doors except  the driver’s. 
0 Then take the door key with  you. 
Passlock TM 
Your vehicle is equipped with  the Passlock 
theft-deterrent  system. 
Passlock is  a passive theft-deterrent  system. The system 
is  armed once the  key is removed from the ignition. 
Passlock  enables fuel 
if the ignition lock cylinder  is 
turned  with a valid  key. 
If a correct  key  is  not  used. 
fuel  is disabled. 
2-12