1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE service

Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
Security Light
SECURITY
This light will come on
when you turn the key to
START and will stay on
until the vehicle starts.
LOW
WASHER
FLUID
If you’re driving and the security light comes on and
remains on, your Passlock” system is not working
properly. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock and
you should see your retailer.
Cruise Light
CRUISE
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you set your
cruise control. See “Cruise
Control” in the Index.
This light will come on
when your ignition is on to
check
the bulb and will
come on when your washer
fluid
is low.
Change Oil Light
CHANGE
OIL
The CHANGE OIL light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine.
If the light
doesn’t come
on, have
it serviced.
2-64
ProCarManuals.com

If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on after
you
start the engine, have the oil changed. The light may
indicate to change the oil sooner than suggested in your
maintenance schedule, depending on your driving patterns.
This light will come on when the system predicts that the
oil’s remaining useful life is almost up. It alerts you to
change the oil on a schedule consistent with your vehicle’s \
driving conditions. Therefore,
you should change your oil
at the intervals recommended in your maintenance
schedule or when the CHANGE
OIL light comes on,
whichever comes first. See “Engine Oil, When to Change”
and “Maintenance Schedule,” in the Index.
To reset the CHANGE
OIL light, see “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
Fuel Gr 2
0
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel
you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears EMPTY
(E), you still
have a little fuel left,
but
you should get more soon.
Here are some things owners ask about. All these
situations are normal and do not show
a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the service station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage
indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more
or less than half
the tank’s capacity to fill it.
The gage moves a little when you turn the corner or
speed
up.
2-65
ProCarManuals.com

Low Fuel Light
4 0 E,
If your fuel is low, a circular
light on your instrument
panel cluster will come on
and stay on.
It will also come on for
a few seconds when you first
turn on the ignition as a check to show you it’s working.
If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed.
Service Vehicle Soon Light
This light will come on
briefly when the ignition
is
turned to ON to show that SERVICE
VEHICLE
SOON
the bulb is working.
These problems may not be obvious and may affect
vehicle performance or durability. Consult a qualified
Oldsmobile dealership for necessary repairs to maintain
vehicle performance.
2-66
ProCarManuals.com

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly
or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate
that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without
resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on
the display, your cassette tape player needs to be
cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as
soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and
player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
known good cassette to
see if it is the tape or the tape
player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement
in sound quality, clean the tape player.
The recommended cleaning method for your cassette
tape player is the use of a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
The recommended cleaning cassette is available through
your retail facility
(GM Part No. 12344789).
When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning
cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because
your unit is equipped with
a cut tape detection feature
and a cleaning cassette may appear as a broken tape.
If
the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least
three times to ensure thorough cleaning.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject on
its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may
not clean as thoroughly
as the scrubbing type cleaner.
The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning
cassette
is not recommended.
After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds
to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will
display
--- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes
are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
3-27
ProCarManuals.com

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If
you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than
you actually are.
Befi- ~ Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go.
If it needs service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retail facilities all across
North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things
you can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22
ProCarManuals.com

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush
of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Don’t let
it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in
less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0
0
0
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, drive belts, cooling system and brake
adjustment. Each of these
is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but
not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is
just as good
there, but the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery
is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical
shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other
or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
ProCarManuals.com