2002 Oldsmobile Alero Owner's Manuals

2-75 Service Vehicle Soon Light
This light will come on
briefly when you turn
on the ignition.
It will stay on, or come on and a chime will sound if it
detects a problem on the vehicle, such as a Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) or an Automatic Light Control
(ALC) malfunction. If this happens, see your dealer as
soon as possible.
Fuel Gage
United States CanadaYour fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator
nears empty, the light will come on and you will hear a
chime. You still have a little fuel left, but you should get
more soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with your fuel gage:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.

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
the tank.

The indicator moves a little when you turn a corner
or speed up.

The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.

3-
3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
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 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
3
-3 Air Conditioning
3
-4 Heating
3
-4 Defogging and Defrosting Windows
3
-5 Rear Window Defogger
3
-5 Ventilation System
3
-7 Audio Systems
3
-7 Setting the Clock
3
-7AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
with Programmable Equalization and Radio
Data System (RDS)3
-15 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Programmable
Equalization and Radio Data System (RDS)
(If Equipped)
3
-24 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-24 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-25 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-26 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-27 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-27 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-28 Backglass Antenna
3
-28 Chime Level Adjustment

3-2
Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the air conditioning,
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 regulates the fan speed. To select the force
of air you want, turn the knob.
Temperature Knob
The center knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system.Mode Knob
The right knob changes the functions of the system.
The available modes are the following:
(Vent): In this position most of the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets. A small amount of
air comes through the floor outlets. Set the center knob
to the desired temperature for comfort.
(Bi-Level): In this position the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets and through the
floor outlets. Set the center knob to the desired
temperature.
(Floor): In this position most of the airflow comes
through the floor outlets. The rest of the air comes
through the windshield and side window vents. Set the
center knob to the desired temperature for comfort.
(Defog): This position divides the airflow between
the floor outlets and the windshield defroster vent. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in this
position when it is needed to help dry the air in the vehicle.
(Front Defroster): This position directs most of
the airflow through the windshield defroster vent. Some
of the air goes to the floor outlets. The air conditioning
will run automatically in this position when it is needed
to help dry the air in the vehicle.

3-3
Mode Buttons
A/C (Air Conditioning): Press A/C to operate the
air conditioning. The 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.
(Outside Air): Press this button to force the
system to use outside air.
Pressing this button will cancel the recirculation button.
(Recirculation): Press this button to limit the
amount of outside 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 this button will cancel the outside air button.
Recirculation is not available when the defog or front
defroster mode is selected, or when the fan is off. When
recirculation is selected, the air conditioning compressor
will run automatically to help dry the air in the vehicle.
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.
For normal cooling on hot days, use vent mode with the
temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
pressed in.
On very hot days, begin by opening 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.
For quicker cool
-down on very hot days, use vent mode
with the temperature knob all the way in the blue area
and the A/C button pressed in. Begin with the outside air
button pressed for a few minutes, or until the vehicle
begins to feel cool. Then push the recirculation button.
If the recirculation setting is used for long periods of
time, the air in your vehicle may become too dry.

3-4
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 button pressed in. The system
directs slightly warmer air to your lower body.
Heating
On cold days, use floor mode 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 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
knob as desired.To defrost the front window quickly, turn the
temperature knob all the way in the red area. Use front
defroster and adjust the fan to the highest speed. To
warm passengers while keeping the front window clean,
use defog. When you switch to defog or defrost modes
your system will automatically move from recirculation
into outside air. When you move the mode knob back to
vent or bi±level, the system will move back into
recirculation. When the car is turned off and back on the
system will default to outside air automatically.
The recirculation setting in cold weather should be used
only for outside odor control so that fog formation on
the windows is reduced.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents. The side window defogger vents are located
above the side instrument panel vents. To defrost the
side windows, turn the temperature knob all the way in
the red area. Use floor mode 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 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.

3-5 Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
The button is located
at the bottom, on the right
of the climate controls.
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.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use vent mode and 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.

3-6
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 louvers can also be tilted up
and down. To control the amount of airflow through the
outlets, turn the thumbwheel.Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and the area around the windshield
wipers free of ice, snow or any other obstruction,
such as leaves. The heater and defroster will work
better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside
of your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear
of objects to help air circulate throughout
your vehicle.

When an objectionable odor outside the vehicle is
encountered, the recirculation setting can prevent the
odor from being drawn into the vehicle through the
ventilation system. For example, this usage of
recirculation can be helpful when driving through a
long tunnel with poor ventilation. However,
extended use of recirculation in cold or cool
weather can cause window fogging.

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 of its controls to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your
audio system even after the ignition is turned off.
See ªRetained Accessory Power (RAP)º in the Index.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears.
The letters AM or PM will appear on the display. Then,
press and hold MN until the correct minute appears.
The clock may be set with the ignition on or off.
To set the clock to the time of an FM station
broadcasting Radio Data System (RDS) information,
press and hold HR and MN at the same time until
UPDATED appears on the display. If the time is not
available from the station, NO UPDATE will appear on
the display instead.
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
with Programmable Equalization and
Radio Data System (RDS)
Playing the Radio
POWER: Press this knob to turn the system on and off.
VOLUME: Turn the knob clockwise to increase
volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.