1998 Oldsmobile Achieva mirror

Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load
is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.

Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The main fuse panel is located on the left side of the
instrument panel. To access the fuses, open the fuse
panel door. Fuse
PWR WDO
TURN
INT LPS
Usage
Power Window (Circuit Breaker)
Turn Signal Lamps
Alarm Module (Illuminated Entry,
Warning Chimes, Overhead Lamps,
Mapmeading Lamps, Glove
Box
Lamp, Trunk Lamp, Radio, Power
Mirrors), Anti-Lock Brakes, Variable
Effort Steering
6-54

Tires ....................................... 6-49
Vinyl
....................................... 6-46
Wheels
..................................... 6-49
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-47
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
Clock. Setting the
................................ 3-6
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-2
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-20
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3- 1 1
Compact Disc Player Care ........................ 3-20
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-36
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 4-6
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-42
Coolant Heater. Engine
............................... 2-17
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
....................... 6-25
Cooling System
................................ 5-17
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-33
Cruise Light
................................... 2-59
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2
SurgeTank
.................................. 5-17
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone Users ......... 8-4
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-50
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-50
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-38
DeadBattery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety ..................... 8.8. 8.9 Defensive Driving
............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-5
Defogging
..................................... 3-4
Defrosting ..................................... 3-4
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-59
Dolby
B Noise Reduction ........................ 3-14
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-4
Driver Position
................................. 1 . 12
Driving
City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-27
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain .................................. 4-17
Night
...................................... 4-15
OnCurves
.................................. 4-10
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-38
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-23
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-19
WetRoads .................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
................................ 4-37
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Electrical Equipment. Adding
..... 2- 15. 2- 16. 3-19. 6-52
Electrical System
............................... 6-52
9-3

Headlamps .................................... 2-37
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-32
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-31
OnReminder
................................ 2-38
Wiring
..................................... 6-53
Heating
........................................ 3-3
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-36
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-9
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-19
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-3 1
Ho~ ......................................... 2-29
If a Tire Goes Flat
.............................. 5-24
Ignition Positions
............................... 2- 13
Transaxle Lock Check
......................... 7-33
Illuminated EntryExit System
..................... 2-40
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-37
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-42
Inspections Brakesystem
................................ 7-35
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-34
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-34
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-34
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-34
Steering
.................................... 7-34
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance
................... 7-34 Suspension
.................................. 7-34
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-34
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-46
Brightness Control
............................ 2-39
Cleaning
.................................... 6-46
Cluster
..................................... 2-48
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-54
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-39
Jack. Tire
.................................... 5-26
Jumpstarting
................................... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-31
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels Certification
................................. 4-31
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-52
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-31
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-52
Lamps
........................................ 2-37
Exterior
.................................... 2-37
Interior
..................................... 2-39
OnReminder
................................ 2-38
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-25
Lighter
....................................... 2-44
Lights Air Bag Readiness
............................ 1-23
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2.53, 4.7
9-5

Lights (Continued) Brake System Warning
.................... 2.52. 6.3 1
Brake System Warning. ABS ............... 2-53. 6-28
Charging System Indicator
...................... 2-5 1
CheckEngine ................................ 2-55
Check Gages
................................ 2-60
CheckOil
................................... 2-58
Cruise
...................................... 2-59
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
............... 2-57
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
....... 2-54. 4-9
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
..... 2-53. 4-9
ETS Warning
............................ 2-53. 4-9
Interior
..................................... 2-39
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-55
LowWasher
................................. 2-59
Passlock Warning
............................. 2-59
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-7. 2-51
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-3 1
Lock-Out Switch ............................... 2-29
Locks
......................................... 2-4
Automatic Door
............................... 2-5
Cylinders
................................... 7-31
Door
........................................ 2-4
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................. 7-33
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-3 1
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-5
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-5
Trunk
...................................... 2-10
Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-55
Low Washer Light
.............................. 2-59
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-36
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-3 1
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-59
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-37
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Introduction
.................................. 7-2
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-30
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-34
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-36
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short TripKity Definition
....................... 7-5
Maintenance, Underbody
......................... 6-50
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-40
Long
TripMighway Definition
................... 7-6
Organization
.................................. 7-3
Short TripKity Intervals
........................ 7-5
Making Turns with a Trailer
...................... 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-55
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-2
Manual Lumbar Support
.......................... 1-3
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-42
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-42
Inside DayNight Rearview
..................... 2-42
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-42
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-45
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-23
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-30
Neutral, Automatic Transaxle
.................... 2-20
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-13
Nightvision
................................... 4-16
9-6

Odometer .................................... 2-49
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 12
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-12
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-20
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-15
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-30
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8-10
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-50
Park Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2- 18
Shifting Into
................................. 2-24
Shifting Out
of ............................... 2-26
AtNight
.................................... 2-12
Brake
...................................... 2-23
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-33
Lots
....................................... 2-12
Over Things That
Burn ........................ 2-26
With a Trailer
................................ 4-39
Passenger Position
.............................. 1-21
Passing
....................................... 4-13
Passing with a Trailer
............................ 4-37
Passlock
...................................... 2-12
Passlock Warning Light
.......................... 2-59
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-34
Power
Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-45
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Option Fuses
................................ 6-53
Remote Control Mirror ........................ 2-42
Parking
Seat
......................................... 1-4
Steering
.................................... 4-10
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-25
Windows
................................... 2-28
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-20
Problems on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner ................... 8-10
Radio Reception
.............................. 3-18
Radios
........................................ 3-6
Rain. Driving In
................................ 4-17
Reading Lamps
................................ 2-40
Rear Door Security Locks
........................... 2-5
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-28
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-28
Towing
..................................... 5-13
Window Defogger
............................. 3-5
Rear Seat Cupholder
............................ 2-43
Rear Window Defogger Antenna
................... 3-21
Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-42
Inside Daymight
............................. 2-42
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-4
Recommended Lubricants and Fluids
............... 7-36
Recreational Vehicle Towing
...................... 4-29
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning
.................... 6-58
Remote
Fuel Door Release
............................. 6-6
Lock Control
................................. 2-6
Trunk Release Lockout
........................ 2-11
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-32
9-7

Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings
.............................. iv
Dimensions
................................. 6-59
Identification Number
......................... 6-52
Loading
.................................... 4-31
Storage
..................................... 6-31
Ventilation System
............................... 3-5
Visor Vanity Mirrors
............................ 2-45
Visors. Sun
.................................... 2-45
warning Devices
............................... 5-2
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators
............... 2-50
Warrantyhformation
............................. 8-8
Washer Fluid. Windshield ........................ 6-26
Washing Your Vehicle
........................... 6-48
Weatherstrips
.................................. 6-48
Wheel Alignment
.................................. 6-42
Nut Torque
............................. 5-33. 6-58 Replacement
................................. 6-42
Used Replacement
............................ 6-43
Wrench
..................................... 5-26
Windows
..................................... 2-28
Auto-Down
................................. 2-29
Lock-Out Switch
............................. 2-29
Power
...................................... 2-28
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-32
Fluid
.................................. 2.32. 6.29
HuidLevelCheck
............................ 7-30
Windshield Wiper
.............................. 2-31
Blade Replacement
........................... 6-36
Fuses
...................................... 6-53
Wiper Blades. Cleaning
.......................... 6-47
Wiring. Headlamp
.............................. 6-53
WreckerTowing
................................. 5-8
Wrench. Wheel
................................. 5-26
Winter
Driving
................................. 4-25
Your Vehicle and the Environment
................. 7-2
9-11