1998 Oldsmobile Achieva ABS

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist
is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in
the Index.

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front
of you.
You slam
on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at
both rear wheels. The
anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
4-8

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
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.
4-15

Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do
it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
1. Use a flat screwdriver to gently release the tabs on
the trim cover.
2. Using a flat screwdriver, remove the screws holding
the bulb assembly.
3. Use a flat screwdriver to release the tabs holding the
4. Gently remove and replace the bulbs.
socket
in place.
5. Reverse this procedure to reassemble the lamp.
Back-up Lamps
1. Open the trunk lid and locate the back-up lamps on
2. Gently remove the bulbs from the socket.
3. Replace the bulb in the socket.
4. Close the trunk lid.
the
inside
of the lid.
TaiYStop/Turn Signal Lamps
For the type of bulb to use, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
6-34

Engine Compartment Fuse Block
I
Fuse
FP,
INJ
ERLS
The engine compartment fuse block
is located on
the driver’s side of the engine compartment, near
the battery.
ABS
IGN
MOD
Usage
Fuel Pump, Fuel Injectors
Back-up Lamps, Canister Purge
Valve,
EGR, Automatic
Transaxle, Brake-Transaxle Shift
Interlock, Anti-Lock Brakes,
Variable
Effort Steering, Air
Conditioning Compressor, Park
Lock Solenoid
Anti-Lock Brake Solenoids,
Variable
Effort Steering
Ignition System
6-56

Fuse Usage
HVAC BLO MOT Heater/ Air Conditioner-High
Blower, Generator-Voltage
Sense
PCM BATT
CLG
FAN
HDLP STOP LPS PWR
ACC
RR DEFG
ABS
IGN SW Powertrain Computer
Engine Cooling Fan
Lighting Circuits
Power
Accessory, Stoplamp
Circuits, Rear Window Defogger
Anti-Lock Brakes, Variable
Effort Steering
Ignition Switched Circuits
Replacement Bulbs
Outside Lamps Bulb
Headlamp .............................. 9004
Back-up
............................... 2057
High Level Stop .......................... 912
Tail/Stop/Turn
.......................... 3057
Inside Lamps Bulb
Dome .................................. 562

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