1997 Oldsmobile Achieva parking brake

Parking on Hills 2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
You
really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet, or into gear for a manual transaxle.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P), or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Towing A Trailer
(Except 3100 Engine)
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a
trailer.
A-dl

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N) .
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn
off all
lamps that aren’t needed, as well as radios. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. In
addition, it could save your radio.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I9
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
5-4

I /A CAUTION:
r
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut
by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components. When your
vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key off. The steering wheel should be clamped
in a
straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use the vehicle’s
steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the drive wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels (see speed and distance restrictions later in
this section) or your transaxle will be damaged. If these
limits must be exceeded, then the drive wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.

ianging a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people.
You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST
(1) or REVERSE (R).
3. I'urn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear
of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle,
at the opposite end. The following
steps will tell
you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-22

To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200"
F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24
km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may have
to drive 1Qnger.
the Fluil
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in
PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing
for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The
automatic transaxle dipstick handle is red.
Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull
it back out again.

Fuse
PWR ST
RDO IGN HTR-A/C
CRUISE
TAIL LPS
LTR
WIPER
02
DR UNLK
ALARM
Usage
Power Seat
Radio
Heater/Air Conditioning Blower,
Daytime Running Lamps, Automatic
Lamp Control
Cruise Control
Parking Lamps, Taillamps,
Sidemarker Lamps, License Lamps,
Instrument Panel Lights, Underhood
Lamp, Headlamp Warning Alarm
Cigarette Lighter, Auxiliary
Power Outlet
Windshield Wipers/Washers
Heated Oxygen Sensors
Automatic Door Unlock
Automatic Transaxle, Automatic Door
Unlock, Alarm Module (Illuminated
Entry, Warning Chimes), Traction
Telltale, Rear Window Defogger,
Remote Lock Control
Fuse
FOG/FTP
PRNDL
DR LK
2
AIR BAG
HORN
INST STOP HAZ
PCM
DR LK
1
INST LPS
RR DEF
HDLP
Usage
Fog Lamps
Instrument Cluster, Powertrain
Computer, Park-Lock Solenoid,
Electronic PRNDL
Door Locks
Air Bag-Power Horn, Service Tool Power
Instrument Cluster
Stoplamps, Hazard Lamps,
Anti-Lock Brakes
Powertrain Control Module
Door Locks, Remote Lock Control
Instrument Panel Lights, Fog Lamps
Rear Window Defogger
Headlamps, Daytime Running Lamps (Circuit Breaker)

Starter Switch Check
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be
injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see “Parking around the
vehicle.
Brake”
in the Index if necessary) and the regular brake.
NOTE:
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. On automatic transaxle vehicles, try to start the
engine in each gear. The starter should work only in
PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the starter works in
any other position, your vehicle needs service.
On manual transaxle vehicles, put the shift lever in
NEUTRAL
(N), push the clutch down halfway and
try to start the engine. The starter should work only
when the clutch
is pushed down all the way to the
floor.
If the starter works when the clutch isn’t
pushed all the way down, your vehicle needs service.
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI) Check
(Automatic Transaxle)
I
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly.
If it does, you or others could be
injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked
on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake (see “Parking Brake”
in the Index if necessary).
NOTE: Be ready to apply the regular brake
immediately
if the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the RUN
position, but don’t start
the engine. Without applying
the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of PARK (P), your vehicle’s
BTSI
needs service.
7-43

Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
With an automatic transaxle, the key should turn to
LOCK only when the shift lever is in PARK (P).
With a manual transaxle, the key should turn to LOCK
only when the shift lever is in REVERSE (R).
On vehicles with
a key release button, try to turn the key
to
LOCK without pressing the button. The key should
turn to
LOCK only when you press the key button.
On all vehicles, the key should come out only
in LOCK.
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle PARK (P)
Mechanism Check
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin
to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there
is room in front of your vehicle in case
it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle begin to move. Park
on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot
on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
0
0
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N),
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is held by the parking
brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK
(P). Then
release all brakes.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
7-44