2001 Oldsmobile Alero ignition

1-27
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
2-1
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 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-11 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-16 Trunk
2
-19 Theft
2
-20 Passlock

2-20 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-21 Ignition Positions
2
-22 Starting Your Engine
2
-24 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-26 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-29 Manual Transaxle Operation
2
-31 Parking Brake
2
-32 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
-34 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)2
-34 Parking Your Vehicle/Key Removal
(Manual Transaxle Models Only)
2
-35 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-35 Engine Exhaust
2
-36 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transaxle)
2
-37 Tilt Wheel
2
-37 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-45 Exterior Lamps
2
-47 Interior Lamps
2
-49 Mirrors
2
-50 Storage Compartments
2
-51 Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped)
2
-51 Sun Visors
2
-52 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-53 Sunroof (Option)
2
-54 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-58 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-4
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-5
One key is used for the
ignition and all locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the key has a bar
-coded
key tag. This tag may be removed by your dealer before
it is delivered.Each tag has a key code on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tag in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able
to have one made easily using this tag. If you need a
new key, go to your dealer for the correct key code.
See ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index for
more information.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft, therefore you can have
a lot of trouble getting into your vehicle if you
ever lock your keys inside. You may even have
to damage your vehicle to get in. So be sure you
have extra keys.

2-9
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory it was
programmed in Mode 1. To determine the current mode
or to change to a different mode, do the following:
1. Put an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle in REVERSE (R) with the parking brake
engaged and turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press and hold the lower part of the power door lock
switch for 10 seconds. Release the switch when you
hear the chime.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is in.
You can change the mode by pressing and holding
the lower part of the power door lock switch (two
chimes for Mode 2, three chimes for Mode 3 and
four chimes for Mode 4).
4. Repeat Step 2 until you hear the number of chimes
that matches the mode you want.
The mode you selected is now set.Delayed Locking
This feature will allow the driver to delay the actual
locking of the vehicle. This feature will not operate if
the key is left in the ignition. See ªAnti
-Lockout
Protectionº later in this section.
When the lower part of the driver's power door lock
switch is pressed, with the key removed from the
ignition and the driver's door open, three chimes will
be heard. The doors will not lock. Seven seconds
after the driver's door has been closed, all of the doors
will lock and the parking lamps will flash. The horn
will also chirp if the horn chirp feature is enabled.
See ªProgrammable Horn Chirpº in the Index for
more information.
If the driver opens another door before the seven
seconds, the doors will not lock until seven seconds
after the last door is closed.
If the lower part of the power door lock switch is
pressed twice when leaving the vehicle, or the
LOCK button on the remote keyless entry transmitter
is pressed, the doors will lock immediately.
If the power door lock switch is pressed to unlock,
the doors will not lock automatically.

2-11 Anti-Lockout Protection
Anti-lockout protection is intended to provide enhanced
security and convenience. This feature prevents a driver
who has left the keys in the ignition from locking the
doors, using the power door locks while any door
is open.
To override this feature, when the key is in the ignition
and any door is open, hold down the power door lock
switch for three seconds.
This feature cannot guarantee that you will never be
locked out of your vehicle. If you don't leave the keys
in the ignition, or if you use the manual door lock or
the remote keyless entry transmitter, you could still lock
your keys inside your vehicle. Always remember to take
your keys with you.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving your vehicle, open your door and
set the locks from the inside, then get out and close
the door.
Remote Keyless Entry System
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from about 3 feet (1 m)
up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry
transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Your remote keyless entry operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.

2-13
UNLOCK: The driver's door will unlock automatically
when the UNLOCK button on the transmitter is pressed.
If the UNLOCK button is pressed again within five
seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior
lamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition is
turned on. The parking lamps will flash twice to indicate
unlocking has occurred.
:The trunk will unlock when the vehicle symbol
on the transmitter is pressed, as long as the trunk
lockout is not engaged. You can open the trunk with
the transmitter when the vehicle speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h), when the parking brake is engaged,
or when the ignition is off. The interior lamps will
come on for 10 seconds or until the ignition switch is
turned to ON.
: The horn will sound and the headlamps and the
parking lamps will flash for up to two minutes when the
horn symbol on the transmitter is pressed. The interior
lamps will come on and remain on while the horn is
sounding and the lamps are flashing. The horn and
lamps can be turned off by pressing the horn symbol
button again or by turning the ignition to ON.Programmable Horn Chirp
When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to
lock the doors or use the delayed locking feature the
parking lamps will flash and the horn will chirp.
The programmable horn chirp can be disabled by
pressing and holding either of the door lock switches
in the unlock position for 10 seconds with the ignition
ON and all of the doors closed. When you hear the
horn chirp, programming is complete.
To reactivate the horn chirp feature, repeat the
above procedure.
Radio Personalization
Your vehicle can store different radio preset stations
and other settings depending on which remote keyless
entry transmitter is used to unlock the doors. The radio
will recall all the stored settings associated with that
transmitter. Any radio setting changes will be assigned
to the transmitter last used to unlock the doors.
See ªPersonal Choice Radio Controlsº in the Index
for more information.
This feature can be disabled by your dealer.
See your dealer for more information.

2-17 Remote Trunk Release
Press the remote trunk release button, located on the
driver's door, to release the trunk lid.
Make sure the remote trunk release lockout feature is
not activated. Also, the remote trunk release will only
work when either the ignition is off, the parking brake is
engaged or the vehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h).
Remote Trunk Release Lockout (If Equipped)
Your remote trunk release is equipped with a lockout feature
to help prevent unauthorized entry into the trunk when
leaving the vehicle unattended. The switch is located on the
inside of the trunk lid, mounted to the trunk lid latch.
To turn the lockout on, slide the switch all the way to the
left. To turn the lockout off, slide the switch all the way
to the right.
When the lockout is on, the remote trunk release switch
on the driver's door will not release the trunk lid. However,
the trunk lid can still be opened with the key, but not with the
remote keyless entry transmitter (if equipped).