1997 Oldsmobile Achieva warning light

Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Oldsmobile in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk. Include
an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and
a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
4-26

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
Move the switch to the right
to make your front and rear
turn signal lights flash on
and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, move the switch to the left.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, your turn
signals won't work.
5-2

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Oldsmobile’s instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage” in the Index.
You will also find a
LOW COOLANT level warning light on your
Oldsmobile’s instrument panel. See “Low Coolant
Warning Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
/r CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
I i
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.

When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine how
often you should check the
fluid level
in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper fluid.
See “Owner Checks
and Services” and
“Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
How to Check
If you can see fluid in the reservoir, the level is acceptable.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
new DEX-COOL@engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or
150,000 miles (240
000 km), whichever occurs first,
if you add only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating’’ in
the Index.
A 50150 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Oldsmobile will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system.
If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at
all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings
are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings.
You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done
on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill
on the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work
is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
BRAKE
U.S. Canada
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
6-31

Your Oldsmobile has front disc brakes and rear
drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except Some driving conditions or climates
may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
See “CaliperKnuckle Maintenance Inspection” in
Section
7 of this manual under Part C “Periodic
Maintenance Inspections.”
when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
I
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to prevent
brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake
pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM specifications.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires are removed
for rotation or changing. When you have the front brake
pads replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of this
manual under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections”.

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)

Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlet ......... ....... 2-54
AirBag
..................................... 1-21
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-25
How it Works
...... ... ............ 1-23
Location
.................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1-22, 2-6 1
Servicing
................................... 1-26
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-24
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-25
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-24
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-18
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-62
Alignment and Balance, Tire
... ................ 6-46
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
... .............. 6-53
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-24
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-63, 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti-Theft, Radio
.............................. 3-19
Appearancecare
............................... 6-48
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-55
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Armrest, Storage
............................... 2-51
Ashtrays
....... .. ................... 2-53 Audio Equipment. Adding
. . ...... 3-21
Audio Systems
........... ........... 3-6
Auto-Down Window
... ...... 2-34
Automatic DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Overdrive
................................... 2-23
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-16
Transaxle
................................... 2-16
Transaxle Check
.................. ........ 7-42
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 6-19
Transaxle Park Mechanism Check
................ 7-44
Automatic Transaxle Operation
.................... 2-21
Shifting
..................................... 2-21
Backing up with a Trailer
..................... 4-40
Battery
..................................... 6-35
Charging System Indicator Light
. . .......... 2-62
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement. Remote Lock Control
............... 2-9
Saver
...................................... 2-48
Warnings
.................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-28
9-1