
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Passlock TM
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what
if you have to leave your key? What if you
have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
Lock the glove box.
or glove box.
0 Lock all the doors except the driver’s. Your vehicle
is equipped with the Passlock
theft-deterrent system.
Passlock is a passive theft-deterrent system. The system is armed once the key is removed from the ignition.
Passlock enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key.
If a correct key is not used,
fuel is disabled.
During normal operation, the THEFT SYSTEM light
will go
off after the engine is started. If the THEFT
SYSTEM light flashes, wait until the light stops flashing
before starting the engine.
If the THEFT SYSTEM light comes on while the engine
is running, a problem has been detected and the system
may need service. See your retailer for service.
In an emergency, call the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Program at
1-800-442-OLDS (6537).
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New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition
Positions
NOTICE:
Your modern Oldsmobile doesn’t need an
elaborate “break-in.” But
it will perform better
in the long run if you follow these guidelines:
0
0
0 Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle
starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for more
information.
A
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to four positions.
OFF (A): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is
off. It is the only position from
which you can remove the key. This position locks your
ignition and transaxle.
A warning chime will sound if
you open the driver’s door when the ignition is off
and
the key’is in the ignition:
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ACC (Accessory) (B): This position unlocks the
transaxle. It
also lets you use things like the radio and
windshield wipers when the engine is not running.
To
use ACC, push in the key and turn it to the right. Use
this position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed,
but never
try to push-start your vehicle.
ON (C): This position unlocks the ignition and
transaxle.
This position is also where the key returns
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even
when the engine
is not running, you can use ON to
operate your electrical power accessories, and to display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (D): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to
ON for normal driving.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
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.
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.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. 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 key is
in ON. 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.
I 1
I 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.
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:
Do not shift out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing. Your transaxle can be
damaged by doing this and will not be covered by
your warranty. Shift your transaxle according to
the instructions in this manual.
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And,
if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be
sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever-away from PARK (P) without
first
pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully
locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into
PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out
of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
z ~- -bther
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of tne
pressure from the parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK
(P).
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Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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 ON. 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 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 QUt
Of PARK (P) , try this
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the key to OFF.
Apply and hold the regular brake until the end
of Step
4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
1 CAUTION:
Ih
I
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass
or other things that
can burn.
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Auto-Down Switch
The driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature.
This switch is labeled
AUTO. Push the switch back
partway, and the driver’s window will open a small
amount. If the switch is pushed
all the way back, the
window will go all the way down.
Tilt Wheel
To stop the window while it is lowering, move the
switch forward. To raise the window, move and hold
the switch forward.
Lock Out Switch
The driver’s power window controls also include a
lock out switch. Press LOCK
OUT to stop front and
rear passengers from using their window switches. The
driver can still control all the windows with the lock on.
Press the LOCK
OUT button again for normal window
operation.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you.
Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level, then
release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
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Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough
to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will either stop or will resume the delay you
were using before.
To wash your windshield, push in the button at the end
of the stalk until the washers begin.
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