Page 11 of 380
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these
symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever
your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
RUNNING
* 0
DAYTIME - a
LAMPS .
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
h
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE -%-
LIGHTER n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL E3
V
Page 67 of 380

Section 2 Features and Controls
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
2-9
2- 14
2-15
2- 16
2-1s
2- 19
2-20
2-21
2-23
2-27
2-28
2-30
2-3
1
Keys
Door Locks
Remote Lock Control TrUIlk
Theft
Universal Theft-Deterrent
PASS-Key(%
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn 2-3 1
2-3
3
2-34
2-34
2-42
2-45
2-48
2-52
2-55
2-55 2-55
2-56
2-60
2-64
2-75 Engine Exhaust
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Cellular Telephone (Option)
Accessory Power Outlet
Sunroof (Option)
Universal Transmitter
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center
2-1
Page 85 of 380

See your retailer or a locksmith who can service the
PASS-Key I1 to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on or PASS-KEY SYSTEM
FAULT appears, you will
be able
to restart your engine if you turn it off. Your
PASS-Key
I1 system, however, is not working properly
and must be serviced
by your retailer. Your vehicle is
not protected by the PASS-Key I1 system.
If you lose
or damage a PASS-Key I1 ignition key,
see your retailer
or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made. In an
emergency, call the Aurora Roadside Assistance
Center at
1-800-442-OLDS (6537). In Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800.
New Vehicle 44Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
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.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
2-19
Page 90 of 380

Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It’s
the best position
to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily. It
is dangerous to get
out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have
to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever
is fully in the PARK (P)
range before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
brake-transaxle shift interlock. You have to fully
apply
your regular brakes bcfore you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN.
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Page 91 of 380

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
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
“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 NEU‘l’RAL (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.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-25
Page 92 of 380

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
Going less than approximately 35 mph (55 km/h),
push your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it
offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0). Here
are some times you might choose THIRD
(3) instead
of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@):
When driving on hilly, winding roads,
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power
but lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(a) or THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND
(2) on hills. It can help control your speed
as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
between gears,
or
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND
(2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If
the selector lever is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle
won’t shift into FIRST
(1) until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a
solid object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-26
Page 93 of 380
Selectable Shift
This button lets you change from a normal driving mode
to a power mode. For general driving conditions, use the
normal mode.
Parking Brake
Press the button on your shift lever so that it’s either in
the NORMAL or the
POWER position. When it’s in the
NORMAL position, the line on the button will be
showing. When in POWER, the line is not showing.
In the NORMAL position, the transaxle shifts at lower
engine speeds. For increased performance, you may
choose the POWER mode.
Setting the parking brake: Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the
parking brake indicator light will come on.
Page 94 of 380

Releasing the parking brake: You will need to use the
PUSH TO RELEASE parking brake pedal. Hold the
regular brake down and push the parking brake pedal
with your left foot. This will unlock the pedal. When
you lift your left foot, the parking brake pedal will
follow
it to the released position.
If you try to drive with the parking brake on, the parking
brake indicator light stays
on. The PARK BRAKE SET
message will appear in the Driver Information Center,
and
a chime will sound until you release the parking
brake or recycle the ignition.
NOTICE:
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
1
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That part
shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake by pushing down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
2-28