2001 Oldsmobile Alero brake light

2-46
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the ALC
systems so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
ALC systems will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
To idle your vehicle with the ALC system off, set the
parking brake while the ignition is off. Then start the
vehicle. The ALC system will stay off until you release
the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Headlamps Dim to Park (If Equipped)
To turn the headlamps off when it is dark outside, turn
the headlamp control to the parking lamp position. In
this position, the parking lamps, sidemarker lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps and instrument panel
lights will be on, but the headlamps will be off.
To turn on the headlamps along with the other lamps
when it is dark outside, turn the headlamp control to the
AUTO or headlamp position.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature will continue to
illuminate the headlamps for 20 seconds after the key is
turned to OFF, then the headlamps will automatically
turn off.
To override the 20 second delayed headlamp feature
while it is active turn the turn signal/multifunction lever
up one position and then back to AUTO.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
The button for your fog lamps is located on the
instrument panel, to the left of the steering wheel, beside
the instrument panel intensity control.
When using the fog lamps, the ignition must be on as
well as the parking lamps or the low
-beam headlamps.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
Push the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the high
-beam
headlamps are turned on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.

2-55
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Blocks
B. Vents
C. Instrument Panel Cluster
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button
E. Audio System
F. Climate Control System
G. Side Window Defogger Vent
H. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped)
I. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
J. Turn Signal/Multifunction LeverK. Hood Release Handle
L. Cruise Control Switches
M. Tilt Wheel Lever
N. Ignition Switch
O. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
P. Enhanced Traction System Button
Q. Transaxle Shift Lever
R. Parking Brake
S. Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power Outlet
T. Accessory Power Outlet

2-60 Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come
on when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as a check to
show you it is working.
When the engine is running, the light should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving and
you hear a chime, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Up-Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
(If Equipped)
This light comes on when
you need to shift to the next
higher gear. See ªManual
Transaxle Operationº in
the Index.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.

2-61
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it doesn't come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.

2-62 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
United States Canada
With the anti
-lock brake system, the light will come on
when your engine is started and may stay on for several
three seconds. That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
With the Enhanced Traction
System (ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly
as you start the engine.
If the warning light doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.
If the warning light stays on, or comes on when you're
driving, there may be a problem with your Enhanced
Traction System and your vehicle may need service.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

2-63
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the ETS button
on the center console near the gear shift lever, the
warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. See ªEnhanced Traction Systemº
in the Index for more information.

The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay on if your parking brake doesn't release fully. If
the system is turned on and the warning light stays
on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means there's a problem with the system.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.

If the vehicle is driven on a severely rough road, the
warning light may come on momentarily but will go
off again when the vehicle leaves the rough surface.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on and the parking brake is fully
released, your vehicle needs service.
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
When your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin, this light will
come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if the Enhanced
Traction System active light comes on, so adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
This light will also come on when the anti
-lock brake
system is active.
The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
there to tell you when the system is active.

2-65 Low Tire Pressure Light (If Equipped)
The tire pressure
monitor system can
alert you to a large
change in the
pressure in one tire.
After the system has ªlearnedº tire pressures with
properly inflated tires, the LOW TIRE PRESSURE light
will come on if the pressure in one tire becomes 12 psi
(83 kPa) lower than the other three tires. The tire
pressure monitor system won't alert you if the pressure
in more than one tire is low, if the system is not yet
calibrated, or if the vehicle is moving at less than
15 mph (25 km/h), faster than 75 mph (120 km/h), on
rough roads or during turns. The light may also come on
if you are driving on partially cleared pavement.When the LOW TIRE PRESSURE light comes on, you
should stop as soon as you can and check all your tires
for damage. (If a tire is flat, see ªIf a Tire Goes Flatº in
the Index.) Also check the tire pressure in all four tires
as soon as you can. See ªInflation
- Tire Pressureº in
the Index.
The light will stay on (while the ignition is on) until you
reset (calibrate) the system. See ªTire Pressure Monitor
Systemº in the Index.
The LOW TIRE PRESSURE light also comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light
doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be there to
tell you if the pressure in a tire is low or high.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the tire pressure monitor system may not be working.
See your dealer for service. Also, see ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.

4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
United States Canada
If there's a problem with the anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.