2003 Oldsmobile Alero stop start

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
ANTI -
LOCK
United States Canada
If your vehicle has the anti-lock brake system, the light
will come on when your engine is started and may
stay on for several 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 aqain while Vou’re drivinq, 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
section.
Brake Sy~Sei~7 Viamj~~ Light O/T page 3-28 earlier in this
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to
ON. This is
normal.
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
TRAC
OFF
If your vehicle has 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
I raction system ana your venicie may need service.
When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. -
3-29

If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart
the engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
flashing, follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle
to your dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See
Filling Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
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when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use.
It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check
the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment
and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your \.lehic!e wi!! not pass this inspectinn if the SERV!CE
ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light is on or not
working properly.
3-33

Playing a Compact Disc
With the ignition on, insert a disc partway into the slot,
label side up. The player will pull it in and the disc
should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD when
the ignition is
off, first press the eject button or the RCL
knob.
If you insert a CD with the radio off and the
ignition on,
it will start to play.
When the disc is inserted, the CD symbol will be
displayed.
If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will
be activated each time you play a CD.
As each new track starts to play, the track number will
appear on the display.
If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc
Messages’’ later in this section.
1 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release it to play the passage. The
display will show elapsed time.
2 Fwn {Fw!!!!zrt!): Press 2nd hn!d fhk pnchh!ttC)r? t!
advance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release it to play the passage. The
display will show elapsed time.
4 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the
tracks in random, rather than sequential,
order.
RDM and the track number will appear on the display.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press AUTO EQ to
select the desired equalization setting while playing
a compact disc. The equalization will be automatically
set whenever you play a compact disc. See “AUTO
EQ”
listed previously for more information.
< SEEK > : Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current track
if more than eight seconds have
played. Press the right arrow to
go to the next track. If
you hold either button or press it more than once,
the player will continue moving backward or forward
through the disc.
< SCAN > : Press and hold either arrows for more
than two seconds until SCAN and the track number
appear on the display and you hear a beep. The disc will
go to the next track, play for
a few seconds, th-an go
on to the next track. Press either arrow again to
stop scanning.
RCL (Recall): Push this knob to see how long the
current track has been playing. To change the default
knob until you see the display you want, then hold the
knob until the display flashes. The selected display
will now be the default. While elapsed time is showing,
EL TM will appear on the display.
BAND: Press this buttm tG liste:: tG the radio when a
CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely
inside the radio for future listening.
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3-5 1

Playing a Compact Disc
With the ignition on, insert a disc partway into the slot,
label side up. The player will pull it in and the disc
should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD when
the ignition is
off, first press the eject button or the
RCL knob.
When the disc is inserted, the CD symbol will be
displayed.
If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will
be activated each time you play a CD.
As each new track starts to play, the track number will
appear on the display.
If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc
Messages” later in this section.
1 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track.
You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release it to play the passage. The
display will show elapsed time.
2 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to
advance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced voiume. Helease
it to play the passage. The
display
will show elapsed time.
4 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the
tracks in random, rather than sequential, order.
RDM and the track number will appear on the display.
Press this pushbution again io turn off ranciom mode. AUTO
EQ (Automatic
Equalizer): Press this button to
select the desired equalization setting while playing a
compact disc. The equalization will be automatically set
whenever you play a compact disc. See “AUTO
EQ”
listed previously for more information.
< SEEK > : Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current track
if more than eight seconds have
played. Press the right arrow to go to the next track.
If
you hold this button or press it more than once, the
player will continue moving backward or forward through
the disc.
< SCAN > : Press and hold either arrow for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep and SCAN
appears on the display. The disc will go to the next
track, play for a few seconds, then go on to the
next track. SCAN and the track number will appear on
the display. Press this button again to stop scanning.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see how long the
current track has been playing.
To change the default
on the display (track
or elapsed time), push the
knob until you see the display you want, then hold the
knob until the display flashes. The selected display
will now be the default. While elapsed time is showing,
EL TM will appear on the display.
BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
CD is piaying.
3-63

Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s
reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving
at
60 mph (1 00 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could
be a lot
of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough
space between your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement
or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount
of brake force applied.
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 Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
ANTI -
LOCK
United States
Canada
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel
will come on briefly when you
start your vehicle.
4-6

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. Let’s say the road
is wet and you’re driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here’s what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
4-7

The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger
can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
- the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
0
0
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides
and to crossroads for situations that might affect
your passing patterns.
If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait
for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken center line usually indicates it’s all
right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear).
Never
cross =r so!id !he or! your side of the lane or
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty
of approaching traffic.
0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces your area
of vision, especially
if you’re following a larger
vehicle.
Also, you won’t have adequate space if the
vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep
back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and
don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move
into the other lane. If the way
is clear to pass, you
will have a “running start” that more than makes
up for the distance you would lose by dropping
back. And
if something happens to cause you to
cancel your pass, you need only slow down
and drop back again and wait for another
opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t
trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder
and check the blind spot.
4-1 3

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on
dry roads. And,
if your tires don’t have much tread left,
you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go
slower and be cautious
if rain starts to fall while you are
driving. The sustace may get wet suddenly when your
reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even
if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
4-1 7