1998 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manuals

GM Participation in an Alternative
Dispute Resolution Program
This program is available in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Canadian owners refer to your Warranty
and Owner Assistance Information booklet for
information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration
Plan (CAMVAP). General Motors reserves the right to
change eligibility limitations and/or to discontinue its
participation in this program.
Both Oldsmobile and your Oldsmobile retailer are
committed to making sure you are completely satisfied
with your new vehicle. Our experience has shown that, if a
situation arises where
you feel your concern has not been
adequately addressed, the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
described earlier
in this section is very successful.
There may be instances where an impartial third party
can assist in arriving at a solution to
a disagreement
regarding vehicle repairs
or interpretation of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. To assist in resolving these
disagreements, Oldsmobile voluntarily participates in
BBB AUTO LINE. BBB AUTO
LINE is
an out-of-court program
administered by the Better Business Bureau system to
settle automotive disputes. This program is available
free
of charge to customers who currently own or lease a
GM vehicle.
If you are not satisfied after following the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure, you may contact the BBB using
the toll-free telephone number, or write them at the
following address:
BBB AUTO
LINE
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite
800
Arlington, VA 22203- 1804
Telephone: 1-800-955-5 100
To file a claim, you will be asked to provide your name
and address, your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
and a statement of the nature
of your complaint.
Eligibility is limited by vehicle age and mileage, and
other factors.
8-7

We prefer you utilize the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure before you resort to AUTO LINE, but you
may contact the BBB at any time. The BBB will attempt
to resolve the complaint serving as an intermediary. If
this mediation is unsuccessful, an informal hearing will
be scheduled where eligible customers may present their
case to an impartial third-party arbitrator.
The arbitrator will make a decision which you may
accept or reject.
If you accept the decision, GM will be
bound by that decision. The entire dispute resolution
procedure should ordinarily take about
40 days from the
time
you file a claim until a decision is made.
Some state laws may require you
to use this program
before filing a claim with a state-run arbitration program
or in the courts. For further information, contact the
BBB at 1-800-955-5100 or the Oldsmobile Customer
Assistance Network at 1-800-442-6537.
Warranty Information
Your vehicle comes with a separate warranty booklet
that contains detailed warranty information.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause
a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
in addition to
notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles,
it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your retailer or
General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA,
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
Box 8880
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 352
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify
us. Please call us at 1-800-442-6537 or write:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Network
P.O.
Box 30095
Lansing, MI 48909 In Canada, please
call
us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
Or, write:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario LlH 8P7
Ordering Service and Owner
Publications in Canada
Service manuals, owner’s manuals and other service
literature are available for purchase for all current and
past model General Motors vehicles.
The toll-free telephone number for ordering information
in Canada is 1-800-668-5539.
8-9

1998 OLDSMOBILE SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order,
or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1998 OLDSMOBILE
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering, body, etc. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE
UNIT REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments and specifications for the
1998 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$40.00
SERVICE BULLETINS
Service Bulletins give technical service information needed
to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the
diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ORDER FORM SHOWN ON
THE FOLLOWING PAGE AND MAIL TO:
Helm, Incorporated PO. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 0.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Service Publications are available for current and past
model GM vehicles. To request an order form, please
specify year and model name of the vehicle.
OR ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover)

r
ORDER TOLL FREE Orders will be mailed within 1 O.days of receipt. Please allow ade uate time for postal
(NOTE: For Credit Card Holders Only) service. If further informatlon IS needed, write to the address s s, own below or call
(Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM EST) information within 30 days of delivery. On returns, a re-stocking fee may be applied 1-800-782-4356 1-800-782-4356. Material cannot be returned for credit without p\
acking slip with return
FAX Orders Only 1-31 3-865-5927 against the original order.
PUBLICATION FORM
NUMBER
'I
9
9
a
S
H
I
P
T
0
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name, an\
d also the
name of the person to whose attention the shipment should be sent.
Mail completed order form to:
For purchases outside
USA. please write to the above address for quotation. HELM, INCORPORATED P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
(CUSTOMER'S NAME) (AlTENTION)
(STREET ADDRESS-NO P.O.
BOX NUMBERS)
(CITY) (STATE)
(ZIP CODE)
DAYTIME TELEPHONE NO.
0
AREA CODE
GM-OLD-ORD98 *(Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring
obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.)
-
P
A
Y
M
E
N
T
-
Check or Money
Order payable to
Helm, Inc. (USA funds
only - do not send cash.)
[7 Mastercard
0 VISA
n
1
1
TOTAL MATERIAL
Michigan Purchasers
add 6% sales tax
Canadian Postage
U Discover I
Expiration rl m Check here if your billing address
Date molyr: is different from your shipping
address shown,
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents
are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. To cover Canadian postage, add $1 1.50 plus the US. order processing.

b NOTES
8-12

Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlet ......................... 2-45
AirBag
....................................... 1-21
Adding Equipment
............................ 6-52
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-25
How it Works
................................ 1-23
Location
.................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1.23. 2.5 1
Servicing ................................... 1-27
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-25
What Will You See After it Inflates
............... 1-25
When Should it Inflate ......................... 1-24
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-17
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-58
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-42
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-49
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-2 1
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.51. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti.Theft. Radio
.............................. 3- 16
Appearancecare
............................... 6- 44
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-5 1
Arbitration Program .............................. 8-7
Armrest. Storage
............................... 2-43 Ashtrays
...................................... 2-44
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-19
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-29
Automatic Transaxle Check
....................... 7-31
Automatic Transaxle Park Mechanism Check
......... 7-33
Automatic Door Locks
............................ 2-5
Automatic Light Control
......................... 2-39
Automatic Overdrive
............................ 2-21
Automatic Transaxle
............................ 2-18
Shifting
..................................... 2-18
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-14
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
........................ 6-18
Automatic Transaxle Operation
.................... 2-18
Backing
up with a Trailer ....................... 4-37
Battery
....................................... 6-31
Charging System Indicator Light
................. 2-51
Jumpstarting
................................. 5-3
Replacement, Remote Lock Control
............... 2-8
Saver
...................................... 2-41
Warnings
.................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-27
9-1

Center Console Cupholder ........................ 2-43
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-30
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Replacing System
Parts ........................ 6-3 1
System Warning Light
.................... 2-52, 6-28
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-32
Brake System Warning Light
................. 2-52, 6-31
Brake System Warning Light,
ABS ............ 2-53, 6-28
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking in Emergencies
.......................... 4- 10
Break-In, New Vehicle
.......................... 2-13
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-39
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-32
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-57
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-6
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-58
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2-10,2-27,4-28, 4-36
Care of Your Compact Disc Player
................. 3-20
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-3 1
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3-7, 3-11
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3- 19
Cassette Tape Player Errors ................... 3-9, 3-13
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3- 16
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-23
PedalTravel
................................. 6-30
Wear
....................................... 6-29
Braking
........................................ 4-6
BTSICheck
................................... 7-32 Center Console Storage
Area
...................... 2-43
Center Rear Passenger Position
.................... 1-34
Certification Label
.............................. 4-31
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-25
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-55
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-60
Check Oil Light
................................ 2-58
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-53
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-50
Child Restraints
................................ 1-39
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-44
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-46
Securing in the Passenger Seat Position
........... 1-48
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-48
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-44
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-53
Chains.
Tire
................................... 6-43
TopStrap
................................... 1-44
WheretoPut
................................ l-43
Cleaner, Air ................................... 6-17
Cleaning AluminumWheels
............................ 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-45
Glass
....................................... 6-47
Inside
of Your Oldsmobile ...................... 6-45
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-46
Outside
of Your Oldsmobile .................... 6-48
Special Problems
............................. 6-45
Leather ..................................... 6-46
Stains
...................................... 6-45
9-2