2004 Oldsmobile Alero brake

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Blocks. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-90.
B. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-22.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-24.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-4.
E. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-39.
F. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-19.
G. Side Window Defogger Vent. See “Defogging and
Defrosting” inClimate Control System on page 3-19.
H. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped). See “Fog Lamps”
inExterior Lamps on page 3-14.
I. Instrument Panel Brightness Thumbwheel. See
“Instrument Panel Brightness” inInterior Lamps on
page 3-16.J. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-6.
K. Hood Release Handle. SeeHood Release on
page 5-10.
L. Cruise Control Switches (If Equipped). SeeCruise
Control on page 3-10.
M. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-5.
N. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-17.
O. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. SeeWindshield
Wiper Lever on page 3-9.
P. Enhanced Traction System Button (If Equipped).
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
Q. Transaxle Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-22.
R. Parking Brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-27.
S. Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power Outlet. See
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-19.
T. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlets on page 3-18.
3-3

Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, push in the button at the end
of the lever until the washers begin.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will continue to wipe about three times or
will resume the speed you were using before.
Cruise Control
If your vehicle has this feature, the cruise control
buttons are located on the steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h).
The cruise control will turn off when any of the following
occur:
•The brakes are applied,
•the clutch is applied (manual transaxle),
•the parking brake is applied, or
•the brake system warning light is on.
3-10

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset
it. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can press the cruise control RES ACCL
(Resume/Accelerate) button briefly.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
If you press the RES ACCL button longer, the vehicle
will keep going faster until you release the button
or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster,
don’t hold down the RES ACCL button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
•Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the CST SET button, then release the
button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
•Press the RES ACCL button. Hold it there until you
get up to the speed you want, and then release the
button. To increase your speed in very small
amounts, press the RES ACCL button briefly and
then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on
the cruise control by pressing the CST SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
•Press the CST SET button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.
•To slow down in very small amounts, press the
CST SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you’ll
go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
3-12

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are five ways to turn off the cruise control:
•Step on the brake pedal.
•Press the cruise control CANCEL button.
•Press the cruise control RES ACCL button and the
CST SET buttons at the same time.
•Press the cruise control ON OFF button. The
indicator light above the cruise control button
will turn off.
•Push the clutch pedal if your vehicle has a manual
transaxle.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-13

Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See “Headlamps” underTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-6.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
•The ignition is on,
•the exterior lamps control is in AUTO or the parking
lamps only position,
•the light sensor detects daytime light,
•the parking brake is released, and
•the shift lever is not in PARK (P) on vehicles with
an automatic transaxle only.
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, parking lamps and instrument panel lights
will not be illuminated unless you have turned the
exterior lamps control to the parking lamp position.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
3-14

Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic
Headlamp System will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel under the defroster grill, so
be sure it is not covered which will cause the system
to be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also be on when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a tunnel.
This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the Automatic
Headlamp System so that driving under bridges or bright
overhead street lights does not affect the system. The
DRL and Automatic Headlamp Systems will only be
affected when the light sensor sees a change in lighting
lasting longer than this delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright as
usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See “Instrument
Panel Brightness Control” underInterior Lamps
on page 3-16.
To idle your vehicle with the system off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is off. Then start the vehicle.
The system will stay off until you release the parking
brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
Headlamps Off in PARK (P)
To turn the headlamps off when it is dark outside, turn
the exterior lamps 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 exterior lamps control to
the AUTO or headlamp position.
3-15

Up-Shift Light
If your manual transaxle
vehicle has this feature
this light comes on
when you need to shift to
the next higher gear.
SeeManual Transaxle
Operation on page 2-25.
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.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.
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.
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. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-31.
United StatesCanada
3-28

{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
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
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
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. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-28.
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.
United States
Canada
3-29