2003 Oldsmobile Alero key

A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s door
when the ignition is
off and the key is in the ignition.
Notice: If your key seems stuck in OFF and
you can’t turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key;
if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only
with your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
B (ACCESSORY): This position unlocks the transaxle.
It also lets you use things like the radio and windshield
wipers when the engine is not running. To use
ACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise to the first
position. Use this position
if your vehicle must be pushed
or towed, but never try to push-start your vehicle.
C (ON): This position is where the key returns to after
you start your engine and release the key. The
ignition switch stays in ON when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can
use
ON to operate your electrical accessories and to
display some instrument panel warning lights.
D (START): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON for normal driving.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow the radio to
continue
to work up to 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned to OFF.
Your radio will work when the ignition key is in ON or
ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from ON
to OFF,
the radio will continue
to work up to 10 minutes or
until the driver’s door is opened.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transaxle
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice: Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transaxle
The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor
and start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start
if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down
- that’s a safety feature.
2-1 8

Starting Your 2.2L L4 ECOTECTM
Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at
a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start, wait about 15 seconds and
try again to start the engine by turning the ignition
key to START. Wait about
15 seconds between
each try.
When your engine has run about
10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Don’t
“race” your engine when it’s cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°F or O’C), let
the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
iioor and hoiding
it there as you noia the key in
START for about three seconds.
If the vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six
seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Nofice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine
might not perform properly.
Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine warms up.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If the engine doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down while you turn the key to START.
Do this until
the engine starts. As soon as it does, let go of
thn Lnn, 11 vz nGy.
2-1 9

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for a maximum of 15 seconds. This clears
the extra gasoline from the engine.
If the engine
still won’t start or starts briefly but then stops again,
repeat Step
1 or 2, depending on temperature.
When the engine starts, release the key and the
accelerator pedal.
Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine
might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater
2-20

4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.
PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
It igerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See “Shifting Into Park (P)” in the
Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift
lock control system. You have to apply your regular brake
before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition key
is
in ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
2-22

Manual Transaxle Operation
1 3 5
2 4 R
This is your shift pattern.
The clutch must be fully
pressed in when shifting a
manual transaxle to
ensure the transaxle is
fully in gear.
Here's how
to operate your transaxle:
FIRST
(1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST
(1) when you are going less
stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST
(I), put the
shift lever into NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into
FIRST (1).
+hot 9fl mnh (99 bmIh\. !f \In11 hqxm rrnmn +n CJ t-nmnlntn LIIUL LV lllpll \VL 1\I11~j yuu llLlSU "WIIIU L" u "Wlllyl-I"
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up
Then, slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
Gr: the acceIeratGr pedzl 2nd shift Intc SECOND (2).
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND
(2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle
stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE
(R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and lift up on the ring on the shift lever to shift into
REVERSE
(R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
Notice: Shift into REVERSE (R) only after your
vehicle
is stopped. Shifting into REVERSE (R) while
your vehicle
is moving could damage your
transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your
. . .- .- a.. warrarlty.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.
Once the shift lever is in REVERSE
(R), the ignition can
be turned to OFF and the key removed.
2-25

Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-36.
1g Inti Park (P)
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
It can be dangerous to get t of yc r vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t
move, even when you’re on fairly level ground,
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
6.E p& yt :G#436;i’. if ye.;’;e p6~w.~zg
If your vehicle is an automatic transaxle, do the following
to shift into PARK (P):
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
Hold in the button on the shift lever.
Push the shift lever all the way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
2-27

If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift Parking Over Things That Burn
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the regular brake until the end of
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle.
5. Shift to the drive gear you want.
6. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Step
5.
Parking
Your Vehicle/Key Removal
Before leaving your manual transaxle model vehicle,
fully press the clutch pedal in, move the shift lever into
REVERSE
(R) and firmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed in REVERSE
(R)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the
ignition key to
OFF, remove the key and release the
clutch. See
Manual Transaxle Operation on page 2-25.
-, ,,,rigs that can burn COLJ touc,, .rot ex..,ust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things
that can burn.
2-29

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
The hazard warning
flasher is located near
the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn't in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and
off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
3-6