1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS air condition

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you
if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the
air bag sensor, the air
bag modules, the wiring
and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air
bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine
or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The
air bag readiness light should flash
for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to
warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come
on when you turn
on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as a check to
show you it is worhg.
Then it should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving and
you hear
a chime, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have
it checked right away. Driving while
this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-52
ProCarManuals.com

I
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine
may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will
also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the .amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is
On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
retailer or qualified service center for service.
2-56
ProCarManuals.com

Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your\
Oldsmobile.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3-6 3-7
3-7
3-9 Climate Controls
Air Conditioning
Heating
Tips for Defogging and Defrosting
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilation System and Tips Setting the Clock
AM-FM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo With Cassette
and ATC 3-14
3- 19
3-21
3-21
3 -22
3-22
3-23
3-23 AM-FM
Stereo With CD Player and Cassette
and ATC
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Adding Sound Equipment to Your Vehicle
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Antenna
ProCarManuals.com

decrease fan speed. To turn the fan off (which will also
turn the climate control system
off), turn the knob all the
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for you. The climate control system with air
conditioning uses ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems, you can control the ventilation and heating in your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Climate Control System with Air Conditioning
sf Fan Knob
The left knob selects the force of air you want. Turn the
knob to the right to increase fan speed and to the left to way to
the left. In any other setting, the fan will
run
continuously. The fan must be on to run the air
conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The center knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system.
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of the system.
/J VENT In this position the airflow comes through
the instrument panel outlets. Set the center control knob
to the temperature desired.
+# BI-LEVEL In this position the aifflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets and through the
floor outlets. Set the center control knob to the
temperature desired.
+' FLOOR In this position the airflow comes
through the
floor outlet. Set the center control knob to
the temperature desired.
-bo
*e
0
-3-2
ProCarManuals.com

Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use
VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow-through ventilation system.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the
air conditioning
fan is running.
Ventilation Tips
a
a
0
a
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode
knob to FLOOR and the fan to the highest
speed for a few moments before driving
off. This
helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture
and reduces the chance of fogging the inside
of
your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear
of
objects. This helps air circulate throughout
your vehicle.
To prevent circulation of outside air, press the
recirculation button. This will close all outside vents.
3-6
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction
is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want
to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface
is slippery until your
vehicle
is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues --
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make a “mirrored surface”
-- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
I
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired - by
alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
4-14
ProCarManuals.com

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Oldsmobile retailer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a
turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will
also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash
for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers
behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
I NOTICE:
Do not tow on steep continuous grades exceeding
6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher than normal
engine and transaxle temperatures may result
and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops are
very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 kmk) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage.
If the indicator
is in the red area,
turn off the air conditioning (if you
have
this option) to reduce engine load (see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index).
4-38
ProCarManuals.com

If Y :-team. Is (- --- 9~ Fron ur Engine
If you get the overheat warmng but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
~
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for two
or three minutes while you’re parked,
to see
if the warning stops. But then, if you still have
the warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out
ofthe vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the’hood but to get service
help right away.
5-13
ProCarManuals.com