2000 Oldsmobile Alero Owner's Manuals

3-3
FRONT DEFROSTER: This position directs
most of the airflow through the window 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.
OUTSIDE AIR: Press this button to force
the system to use outside air.
Pressing the OUTSIDE AIR button will cancel the
RECIRCULATION button.
RECIRCULATION: Press this button to limit
the amount of fresh air entering your vehicle. This is
helpful when you are trying to limit odors entering your
vehicle. Press it again to turn off the recirculation.
Pressing the RECIRCULATION button will cancel the
OUTSIDE AIR button.
RECIRCULATION is not available when the DEFOG
or FRONT DEFROSTER mode is selected.
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. The fan knob must be set to a speed for the
air conditioning to operate.
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 warm enough.
You can use BI
-LEVEL with the temperature knob
in the middle and the A/C indicator light glowing.
The system will bring in outside air and direct slightly
warmer air to your lower body.
For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C indicator
light glowing. The system will bring in outside air and
cool it.

3-4 Heating
On cold days, use FLOOR and the outside air button
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.
Your vehicle has heat ducts that are directed toward the
rear seat. Keep the area under the front seats clear of
obstructions so that 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
F (
-18
C) or lower). An engine
coolant heater warms the coolant your engine and
heating system use to provide heat. See ªEngine
Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
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, turn the temperature
control knob all the way in the red area. Use FRONT
DEFROST and adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To warm passengers while keeping the front window
clean, use DEFOG.
If you select RECIRCULATION while in VENT,
BI
-LEVEL or FLOOR modes, humid air can recirculate
inside the vehicle and allow moisture to form on the
windows. If this happens, either press the A/C button
to on or select DEFROST or the DEFOG modes.
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, turn 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, turn
the temperature control knob all the way in the red area.
Use DEFOG and adjust the fan to the highest speed.

3-5
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 so that the indicator light is
glowing. For added airflow to the side windows aim the
side vents toward the windows and close the center vents.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
to remove fog from
the rear window.Press the defogger button. 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 five minutes 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.

3-6 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.
You will find air outlets in the center and on the sides of
your instrument panel.You can direct the airflow side to side by moving the
sliding levers. The outlet can be tilted up and down also.
To control the amount of airflow through the outlets,
turn the thumbwheel.
Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.

When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob to FLOOR and the fan to the highest
speed for a few moments before driving off. This
helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture
and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of
your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air circulate throughout
your vehicle.

To prevent circulation of outside air, press the
recirculation button. This will close all outside vents.

3-7
Audio Systems
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the
most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it
first. Find out what your audio system can do and how
to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears.
The letter A or P may appear on the display for
AM or PM. Then, press and hold MN until the
correct minute appears. The clock may be set with
the ignition on or off.
AM-FM Stereo
Playing the Radio
PWR
-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on
and off. To increase volume, turn the knob clockwise.
Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.

3-8
RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station
being played or to display the clock. To change what is
normally shown on the display (station or time), press
the RECALL button until you see the display you want,
then hold the RECALL button until the display flashes.
If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock
will show for a few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM
-FM: Press this button to switch between AM,
FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored
position when you're not using it.
SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will
mute while seeking.
SCAN: Press this button and release it to listen to
stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station,
stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station.
Press the button again to stop scanning. The sound
will mute while scanning, and SCAN will appear on the
display. If you press SCAN for more than two seconds,
the radio will change to P SCAN mode. P SCAN will
appear on the display.PUSHBUTTONS: The five numbered pushbuttons let
you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to
15 stations (five AM, five FM1 and five FM2). Just:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM
-FM to select the band.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons.
The sound will mute. When it returns, release the
button. Whenever you press that numbered button,
the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
P SCAN: Press SCAN for more than two seconds, and
P SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to
the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, stop
for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station.
Press SCAN again to stop scanning.

3-9
Setting the Tone
BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the
knob to increase or decrease bass.
TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Then pull
the knob all the way out. Turn it to increase or decrease
treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to
decrease the treble.
Push the knob back into its stored position when you're
not using it.
Adjusting the Speakers
BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the
knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers.
The middle position balances the sound between
the speakers.
FADE: Press the knob lightly so it extends. Then pull
the knob all the way out. Turn it to move the sound to
the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances
the sound between the speakers.
Push the knob back into its stored position when you're
not using it.AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)
Playing the Radio
PWR VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on
and off. To increase volume, turn the knob clockwise.
Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.

3-10
RCL: Press this button briefly to recall the station
being played or to display the clock. To change what is
normally shown on the display (station or time), press
the RCL button until you see the display you want, then
hold the RCL button until the display flashes. If you
press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will
show for a few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM,
FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored
position when you're not using it.
SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will
mute while seeking.
SCAN: Press this button and release it to listen to
stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station,
stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station.
Press the button again to stop scanning. The sound
will mute while scanning, and SCAN will appear on the
display. If you press SCAN for more than two seconds,
the radio will change to P SCAN mode. P SCAN will
appear on the display.PUSHBUTTONS: The five numbered pushbuttons let
you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to
15 stations (five AM, five FM1 and five FM2). Just:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM FM to select the band.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press TONE to select the equalization that best suits
the type of station selected.
5. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons.
The sound will mute. When it returns, release the
button. Whenever you press that numbered button,
the station you set will return and the tone that
you selected will also be automatically selected for
that button.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
P SCAN: Press SCAN for more than two seconds, and
P SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to
the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, stop
for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station.
Press SCAN again to stop scanning.