1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass air condition

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
0 Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems I
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In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be ~
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3-2 3-2
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3
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3 -6
3-6
3-7
3-9 Cornfort Controls
Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Heating
Defogging and Defrosting Windows
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilation System
Audio Systems Setting
the Clock
AM-FM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control
(If Equipped) 3-13
3-18 3-20
3 -20
3-21
3-21
3-21
3-21 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
(If Equipped)
Theft-Deterrent Feature Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Care of
Your Compact Disc Player
Fixed Mast Antenna
3-1

Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for you. The climate control system with
air
conditioning uses ozone-friendly R- 134a refrigerant.
With this system, you can control the ventilation and heating in your vehicle. Your vehicle
also has
the flow-through ventilation system described later
in this section.
Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
% Fan Knob
The left knob selects the force of air you want. Turn the
knob to the right to increase fan speed and to the left to
decrease fan speed. To turn the fan
off (which will also
turn the climate control system off), turn the knob all the
way to the left.
In any other setting, the fan will run
continuously. The fan must be on to run the air
conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The center knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system.
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of the
system.
/Ir VENT In this position most of the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets.
A small amount of
air comes through the floor vents. Set the center control
knob to the temperature desired.
.)rr BI-LEVEL: In this position the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets and through the
floor outlets. Set the center control knob to the
temperature desired.
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e
+’ FLOOR: In this position most of the airflow
comes through the floor outlet. The rest of the
air comes
through the windshield and side window vents. Set the
center control knob to the temperature desired.
+# DEFOG: This position divides the airflow
between the floor outlets and the windshield
defroster vent.
we
DEFROST This position directs most of the
airflow through the windshield defroster vent. Some of
the air goes to the floor outlets. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically
in this position when
it is needed to help dry the air in the vehicle.
Air Conditioning Compressor Button
Press A/C to operate the air conditioner compressor.
The indicator light will glow when the button is pressed
to indicate that the
air conditioning system has been
turned on.
Recirculation Button
Press REClRCULATION to close all outside vents.
The indicator light on the button will glow when
it is
pressed. RECIRCULATION is available in
all modes,
except DEFOG and DEFROST. It
is not recommended to use
this button in the floor
mode with heat. It
is useful to quickly cool the vehicle
on hot days.
&b Outside Air
Press OUTSIDE AIR to allow the circulation of outside
air in the vehicle. The indicator light on the button
will
glow when pressed. OUTSIDE AIR is available in all
modes including
OFF and is automatically activated in
DEFOG and DEFROST.
Air Conditioning
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later in
this section.
On very hot days, open the windows
long enough to
let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes
for your vehicle to cool down, which should help
fuel economy.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower
body may not be wm enough.
You can use
BI-LEVEL with the temperature knob in
the middle and the A/C button pushed in. The system
will bring in outside
air and direct slightly warmer air to
your lower body.
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’ . For quick cool-down on very hot days, use VENT with
’ . the temperature knob all the way in the blue area and the
; A/C and RECIRCULATION buttons pressed. If this
; setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
-1 For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
’: temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
f pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
Heating
On cold days, use FLOOR and the outside air button
I with the temperature knob all the way in the red area.
The system will bring in outside air, heat it and send it
to the floor outlets.
I Your vehicle has heat outlets that are directed toward
I
. : the rear seat. Keep the area under the front seats
’ I clear of obstructions so the heated air can reach the
rear seat passengers.
:If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can
use it to help your system provide warm air faster
when it’s cold outside
(0 OF (- 18 O C) or lower). An
engine coolant heater warms the coolant your engine
and heating system use to provide heat. See “Engine
’ . Coolant Heater” in the Index.
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Defogging and Defrosting Windows
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
For each setting, adjust the temperature
control as desired.
To defrost the front window quickly, rotate the
temperature control knob all the way in the red area.
Use DEFROST and adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To warrn passengers while keeping the front window
clean, use DEFOG.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents. The side window defogger vents are located
on the outside of the side instrument panel vents. To
defrost the side windows rotate the temperature control
knob all the way in the red area. Use
FLOOR and adjust
the fan to the highest speed. To control fogging of the
windows rotate the temperature control knob all the
way in the red area. Use DEFOG and adjust the fan
to the highest speed.
To defog the side windows while using air conditioning
use BI-LEVEL and adjust the fan to the highest speed and press the
A/C button. For added airflow to the side
windows aim the side vents toward the windows and
close the center vents.
RECIRCULATION will not work in DEFROST and
DEFOG. This is done to prevent recirculation of humid
inside air and allow the system to work properly.

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
to remove fog from the
rear window.
Press the defogger switch. The indicator light will
glow. The rear window defogger will turn itself
off
after about 10 minutes after the first time the button is
pressed, and after
5 lninutes each additional time the
button is pressed. You can turn the defogger off by
pressing
the button again or turning off the ignition.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid on the rear window.
NOTICE:
Don’t use a razor blade or anything else sharp on
the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut
or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle.
Your vehicle also has the
flow-through ventilation system.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the
air conditioning
fan is running.
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Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, Driving at Night
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.
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.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need additional wiring. Check with your retailer. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
NOTICE:
Do not tow on steep continuous grades exceeding
6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher than normal
engine and transaxle temperatures may result
and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops are
very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the indicator
is in the red area, turn
off the air conditioning to reduce
engine load (see “Engine Overheating” in the Index).
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