1997 Oldsmobile Achieva parking brake

Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transaxle)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
wer have to,
here are some things to know.
CA, TIO, 4:
Idling the engine with the climate control system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch
is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
~~ - ~ ~~~ ~
~~~ ~ ~~~
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.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
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.
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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
or clutch pedal 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 Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transaxle; OR
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up one position
to turn on:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
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Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up two positions
to turn on:
Headlamps
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch to
OFF to turn all of the lamps off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door and turn off the
ignition while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) 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.
The DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
The engine is running,
The headlamp switch is in the OFF position,
0 The light sensor detects daytime light,
0 The parking brake is released and
0 The shift lever is not in PARK (P) on an
automatic transaxle.
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker,
park lamps and instrument panel lights will not be
illuminated.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain off any time
your automatic transaxle vehicle is
in PARK (P) and the
parking brake
is engaged.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain off any time
your manual transaxle vehicle is in NEUTRAL
(N) and
the parking brake is engaged.
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If the light comes on while you are driving, 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.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
-: CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving
with the brake system warning light
on can lead
to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If
it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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 stays on, turn the ignition to
OFF. Or, if the
light comes
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 regular brake system warning light
isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have
anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and
there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake
System Warning Light” earlier in this section.
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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Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
ETS
OFF
With the Enhanced Traction System
(ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly
as you start the engine. If
the warning light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If
it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your Enhanced Traction System
and your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly. The Enhanced Traction System warning light
may come
on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the button on
the instrument panel, the warning light will come on
and stay on.
To turn the system back on, press the
button again. The warning light should go
off. (See
“Enhanced Traction System’’ in the Index for more
information.)
0 The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If
the system is turned on and the warning light stays on after your parking brake
is fully released, it
means there’s a problem with the system.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period
of time when the
system
is turned on and the parking brake is fully
released, your vehicle needs service.
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ETS
OFF
When the system is on and
the parking brake is fully
released, this warning light will come on to let you
know if there’s a problem
with the system. See
“Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light” in
the Index.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin, Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions,
you should always leave the Enhanced
Traction System on. But you can turn the system off if
you ever need to. (You should turn
the system off if your
vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See
“Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
To turn the system on or off,
press the button on the
instrument panel
to the left
of the steering column.
When you turn the system
off, the Enhanced Traction
System warning light will come on and
stay on, and the
indicator light on the button
will go off. If the Enhanced
Traction System is limiting wheel spin when you press
the button to turn the system
off, the warning light will
come on and the indicator light will go off
-- but the
system won’t turn
off right away. It will wait until
there’s no longer a current need
to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The Enhanced Traction System
warning light should go off, and the indicator light on
the button should come on.
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2. Set the parking brake.
3. Open the fuse panel on the driver’s side of the
instrument panel. Remove the fuse labeled
PRNDL. This will keep your battery from
draining while towing.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF to unlock the steering
wheel. See “Ignition Positions” in the Index.
5. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position, with a clamping device designed
for towing.
6. Release the parking brake.
When you are finished towing, make sure you replace
the PRNDL fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.
Towing Your Vehicle from the Front
(Manual Transaxle)
P
m
nA
Tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
Follow these steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Open the fuse panel on the driver’s side of the instrument
panel. Remove the fuse labeled
PRNDL. This will keep
your battery
from draining while towing.
Turn the ignition key to
OFF to unlock the steering
wheel and prevent the automatic door locks
from locking.
Shift your manual transaxle to NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the parking brake.
When you are finished towing, make sure you replace
the
PRNDL fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.
I NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed
55 mph (90 km/h), or your vehicle could be
badly damaged.
Towing Your Vehicle from the Rear
m 8
I NOTICE:
Do not tow your vehicle from the rear. Your
vehicle could be badly damaged and the repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
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