
If your  vehicle  ever  gets  into  a lot of water -- such as 
water up  to  the  carpeting  or higher 
-- or if water  enters 
your  vehicle  and soaks  the  carpet,  the  air  bag controller 
can  be soaked and  ruined. If this  ever  happens,  and then 
you  start  your  vehicle,  the damage  could make the  air 
bags  inflate,  even if there’s no  crash. You would have  to 
replace  the  air  bags 
as well as the  sensors  and related 
parts. 
If your  vehicle  is  ever  in a flood,  or  if it’s exposed 
to  water  that  soaks  the carpet,  you can avoid  needless 
repair  costs  by turning  off the  vehicle  immediately. 
Don’t let anyone  start the vehicle, even to tow 
it, unless 
the  battery  cables  are  first  disconnected. 
Servicing  Your Air  Bag-Equipped  Vehicle 
Air bags affect how your  vehicle should be  serviced. 
There  are  parts 
of the air bag system in  several places 
around your vehicle.  You don’t  want the system  to 
inflate  while  someone is working on your vehicle.  Your 
retailer  and the Achieva  Service Manual  have 
information  about  servicing  your vehicle  and the  air bag 
system. 
To purchase  a  service manual,  see  “Service  and 
Owner  Publications”  in  the  Index. 
For  up to 10 minutes  after the ignition  key  is 
turned  off and  the battery 
is disconnected,  an  air 
bag  can still  inflate  during  improper  service. You 
can  be  injured 
if you are close  to an  air  bag  when 
it inflates.  Avoid  wires  wrapped with  yellow  tape 
or  yellow  connectors.  They  are probably  part of 
the  air bag  system.  Be sure  to follow  proper 
service  procedures,  and make  sure the person 
performing  work for you  is  qualified  to do 
so. 
The  air  bag system does not need  regular  maintenance. 
1-27  

Section 2 2s and COI :- 11s 
Here you can learn  about  the  many standard  and optional  features  on your vehicle,  and information  on  starting, 
shifting  and braking.  Also explained 
are the  instrument  panel  and the warning systems that  tell  you  if everything  is 
working  properly 
-- and what  to  do  if you have a problem. 
2-2 
2-4 
2-6  2-10 
2-11 
2-  12 
2-13 
2-13 
2-  14 
2- 
17 
2-18 
2-23 
2-24  2-26  Keys 
Door  Locks 
Remote 
Lock  Control 
(If Equipped) 
Trunk 
Theft 
Passlock@ 
New  Vehicle  “Break-In” 
Ignition  Positions” 
Starting  Your Engine 
Engine  Coolant Heater  (If Equipped) 
Automatic  Transaxle  Operation 
Parking  Brake 
Shifting  Into  PARK (P) 
Shifting  Out  of  PARK (P)  2-26 
2-27 
2-27 
2-28 
2-29  2-29 
2-30 
2-37 
2-39 
2-42 
2-43  2-45 
2-46 
2-50  Parking  Over 
Things That 
Burn 
Engine Exhaust 
Running  Your Engine While  You’re Parked 
Windows 
Horn 
Tilt Wheel 
Turn  Signal/Multifunction  Lever 
Exterior  Lamps 
Interior  Lamps 
Mirrors  Storage  Compartments 
Accessory Power  Outlet 
Instrument  Panel 
Warning  Lights, Gages and  Indicators 
2-1  

Keys 
L 
I 
CAUTION: 
Leaving  young  children in a  vehicle  with  the 
ignition  key  is dangerous  for  many  reasons. 
A child  or  others  could  be  badly  injured  or 
even  killed. 
They  could  operate  power  windows  or  other 
controls 
or even  make  the  vehicle  move.  Don’t 
leave  the  keys  in  a  vehicle  with  young  children. 
2-2  

One key 
ignition, 
all  other is used  for  the 
the  doors and 
locks. 
When  a new  vehicle 
is delivered,  the retailer removes 
the key tag  from  the keys,  and gives them to the 
first owner.  [f 
you  need a new  key, go to your Oldsmobile retailer 
for  the correct key code. 
I 
~ NOTICE: 
Your  vehicle  has  a  number  of  new  features  that 
can  help  prevent  theft,  therefore  you  can  have  a 
lot 
of trouble  getting  into  your  vehicle  if  you  ever 
lock  your  keys  inside.  You  may  even  have  to 
damage  your  vehicle  to  get  in. 
So be  sure  you 
have  extra  keys. 
Each  tag has a code on it that tells your retailer or a 
qualified locksmith  how to make  extra keys. Keep the 
tags  in a safe place. 
If you  lose your keys,  you’ll be 
able  to  have  new ones made easily using these tags. 
2-3  

Power  Door  Locks 
With power door  locks, you 
can  lock  or  unlock all the 
doors  of your  vehicle  from 
the  driver  or  front  passenger  door  lock  switch. 
Automatic  Door  Locks 
Just  close  your doors  and turn on  the  ignition.  If  you 
have  an  automatic  transaxle,  all  of the  doors  will lock 
when  you move  your shift  lever  out 
of PARK (P) or 
NEUTRAL (N). If someone needs  to get  out  while  the 
vehicle  is running,  have  that  person use the manual 
or  power  lock.  When  the  door 
is closed  again, it will 
lock  automatically  when you move your shift  lever 
out 
of PARK  (P)  or  NEUTRAL (N). All  doors  will 
automatically  unlock when the key  is  turned  to  the 
OFF position.  If 
you  don’t  want the  doors  to  automatically  unlock 
when  the key  is  turned  to  the  OFF position,  you can 
remove the 
DR UNLK fuse.  For fuse  location, see 
“Fuses and  Circuit Breakers” in  the  Index. 
Rear  Door  Security  Locks 
Your vehicle  is  equipped 
with  rear  door  security 
locks  that help  prevent 
passengers  from  opening 
the  rear  doors 
of your 
vehicle  from  the  inside. 
To 
use one  of these  locks: 
1. Use a key  to move  the  lock  all the way up. 
2. Close the door. 
3. Do the  same  thing  to  the  other  rear  door  lock. 
2-5  

This  device complies  with Part 15 of the FCC  Rules. 
Operation  is  subject  to  the following  two conditions: 
(1) this device  may not cause  harmful  interference, 
and 
(2) this  device  must accept  any interference 
received,  including  interference  that may  cause 
undesired  operation. 
This  device  complies with 
RSS-210 of Industry Canada. 
Operation  is subject  to  the  following  two  conditions: 
(1) this  device  may not cause  interference,  and (2) this 
device  must accept  any interference  received,  including 
interference  that may  cause  undesired  operation of 
the  device. 
Changes  or  modifications  to  this system by other than 
an authorized  service  facility  could  void authorization 
to  use  this equipment. 
This  system has  a  range of about 
3 feet (1 m) up  to 
30 feet (9 m). At  times  you  may  notice  a  decrease  in 
range,  This 
is normal  for any remote  keyless entry 
system.  If the  transmitter  does not work or if  you  have 
to  stand  closer  to  your vehicle  for 
the transmitter  to 
work,  try this: 
Check  to determine if battery replacement  or 
synchronization  is necessary. See 
the instructions 
that  follow. 
Check  the  distance.  You may  be too  far  from  your 
vehicle.  You may  need to  stand  closer  during  rainy 
or  snowy weather. 
Check the  location. Other vehicles  or  objects may be 
blocking  the signal.  Take a few steps to  the left  or 
right, hold the  transmitter higher, and  try again. 
If you’re  still having trouble,  see your retailer  or  a 
qualified technician  for  service. 
Operation 
The following  functions  are  available  with the Remote 
Lock Control  system: 
LOCK:  All doors  will automatically lock when 
the 
LOCK button on the transmitter is pressed.  The interior 
lamps  stay on for  a  few  seconds  after all of the  doors 
are  closed. 
UNLOCK:  The driver’s door  will unlock automatically 
when the UNLOCK button on the  transmitter is pressed. 
If  the UNLOCK button 
is pressed again within  five 
seconds,  all remaining  doors will unlock.  The interior 
lamps  will stay  on for 
40 seconds  or  until the ignition is 
turned 
on. 
2-7  

Trunk Release: The trunk will unlock anytime the 
vehicle symbol  on the transmitter  is pressed and 
the ignition  is 
OFF. If the ignition is on, the trunk 
will  unlock  if the gear selector  is in  PARK 
(P) or 
NEUTRAL 
(N) . The  interior lamps  will come on 
for 
40 seconds  or until the ignition switch  is turned 
to  the 
ON position. 
Matching  Transmitter(s) To Your  Vehicle 
Each remote lock control transmitter is coded  to 
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your  vehicle. 
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be 
purchased through your retailer. Remember to bring  any 
remaining transmitters with  you when  you go to your 
retailer.  When the retailer matches the replacement 
transmitter to your vehicle,  any remaining transmitters 
must also be matched.  Once your retailer has coded the 
new transmitter, the lost transmitter  will  not unlock your 
vehicle, Each vehicle can have only two transmitters 
matched to 
it. 
You  can match your transmitter to as many 1998 
General Motors  vehicles  as  you own, as long as  they 
have  the same Remote Lock Control system. Contact 
your retailer for assistance  with this. 
Battery  Replacement 
Under normal use, the battery  in your remote lock 
control transmitter should last about two  years. 
You can tell the battery is weak  if the transmitter won’t 
work at the normal range in any location. 
If you have  to 
get  close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, 
it’s  probably time  to change the  battery. 
I NOTICE: 
When  replacing  the  battery,  use  care  not  to 
touch  any 
of the  circuitry.  Static  from  your 
body transferred  to  these  surfaces  may  damage 
the  transmitter. 
2-8  

Remote  Trunk  Release  Lockout (If  Equipped) 
Your  remote  trunk  release  may be equipped  with  a 
lockout  feature  to  help  prevent  unauthorized  entry  into 
the  trunk  when leaving  the  vehicle  unattended.  The 
switch  is located on the  inside of the  trunk  lid,  mounted 
to  the  trunk  lid latch. 
To turn  the  lockout  on,  slide 
the switch all  the way  to  the 
right.  To turn  the lockout 
off,  slide  the  switch  all the 
way 
to the  left. 
When the  lockout  is  on,  the remote trunk release, 
located  in  the vehicle, will not  release the trunk  lid. 
However,  the trunk lid can still be opened with the  key. 
If you  have  the  optional Remote Lock Control  feature, 
your  vehicle  is  not  equipped  with  the 
trunk lockout  switch. 
Theft 
Vehicle  theft is big business,  especially  in  some cities. 
Although your  vehicle has a number 
of theft-deterrent 
features,  we know that nothing we  put on it can make 
it  impossible  to  steal.  However, there are ways you 
can help. 
Key  in the  Ignition 
If you  leave  your vehicle  with the keys  inside, it’s  an 
easy  target  for  joy  riders  or  professional thieves 
-- so 
don’t do it. 
When you park your vehicle and open  the driver’s door, 
you’ll hear  a  chime reminding you  to remove your key 
from  the ignition and take  it with  you. Always  do  this. 
And remember  to lock 
the doors. 
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. 
2- 11