1997 Oldsmobile Achieva key

START (E): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return
to RUN for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are on positions that allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
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On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if
so, is it 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.

Key Release Button (Manual Transaxle) Starting Your Engine
The key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the Automatic Transaxle
key release button is used.
Move your shift lever to PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N),
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
To remove the key, turn the key to the OFF position.
While pressing the key release button in, turn
the key to
the
LOCK position. Pull the key straight out. safety
feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
~ use NEUTRAL (N) only.
~ I NOTICE:
I I I
~ 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.
Manual Transaxle
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold
the clutch pedal
to the floor and start the engine. Your
vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.

Starting Your 2.4 Liter Engine
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.
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, and if the weather is
very cold (below
-20” F or -29” C), push the
accelerator pedal about one-quarter
of the way down
while you turn the key to START.
Do this until the
engine starts.
As soon as it does, let go of the key.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline.
Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key
in
START for about three seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
If the vehicle starts briefly
but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time
keep the pedal about one-quarter
of the way down
for five or
six seconds.
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.

Starting Your 3100 Engine
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.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to 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 your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for
up to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline
from the engine.
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.
2-18

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine.
You Oldsmobile has a brake-trmsaxle
shift interlock. You have to apply your regular brake
before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition
key
is in the RUN position. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the shift
lever
all the way into PARK (P) -- as you maintain brake
application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you
wish. (Press the shift lever button before moving the
shift lever.) See
“Shifting Out of PARK (P)” later in
this section.
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 “If
You’re 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.
r
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.
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.
2-22

Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
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.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever.
0 Push the lever all the way toward the front of
your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your
vehicle is in PARK (P).
2-29

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
Your Oldsmobile has a brake-transaxle shift interlock.
You have to apply your regular brake before you can
shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) -- as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. (Press the
shift lever button before moving the shift lever.)
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift lever out of PARK (P), try this:
1, Remove the ignition key.
2. There is a small cap on the passenger’s side
of the center console. Gently remove it with a
small screwdriver.
3. Insert the ignition key into this opening until it contacts
with
a small paddle. This is the override feature.
4. While pushing forward on the paddle, press the shift
lever button, then pull the shift lever from PARK (P).
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transaxle in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.
If your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
2-31

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensitv Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel cluster
lights by rotating the
INT LIGHTS switch.
Rotating the wheel to
MAX will turn on the
courtesy lamps.
Illuminated Entry System
When you lift the outside handle of either front door or
open either rear
door, the lamps inside your vehicle will
go on. These lamps will fade out after about 40 seconds,
or when the ignition
is turned on after all doors have
been closed. If the ignition was recently turned
off, the
lamps will fade out after four seconds. These lamps will
also
go on when you press the DOOR or UNLOCK
button
on the optional Remote Lock Control transmitter.
If the ignition has been off for less than two minutes,
the lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about
15 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.