2004 Oldsmobile Alero headlamp

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
.......................................1-32
Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)
......................................1-54
Restraint System Check
............................1-60
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-16
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
Storage Areas
.........................................2-34
Sunroof
..................................................2-35
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-19
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-23
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-39Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
................. 5-9
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-48
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-53
Tires
......................................................5-54
Appearance Care
.....................................5-81
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-89
Electrical System
......................................5-89
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-95
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Oldsmobile Alero Owner ManualM

W(Unlock):Press this button once to unlock the
driver’s door. If the button is pressed again within five
seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior
lamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition is
turned on. The parking lamps will flash twice to
indicate unlocking has occurred.
V(Remote Trunk Release):Press this button to
open the trunk, if the trunk lockout is not engaged. You
can open the trunk with the transmitter when the
vehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h), when the
parking brake is engaged, or when the ignition is off. The
interior lamps will come on for 10 seconds or until the
ignition switch is turned to ON.
L(Remote Alarm):Press this button to make the
horn sound and the headlamps and the parking lamps
flash for up to two minutes. The interior lamps will
come on and remain on while the horn is sounding and
the lamps are flashing. Turn off the horn and lamps
by pressing the remote alarm button again or by turning
the ignition to ON.
Programmable Horn Chirp
When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to
lock the doors or use the delayed locking feature
the parking lamps will flash and the horn will chirp.
Disable the programmable horn chirp by pressing and
holding either of the door lock switches in the unlock
position for 10 seconds with the ignition ON and all of
the doors closed. When you hear the horn chirp,
programming is complete.
Reactivate the horn chirp feature by repeating the
above procedure.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent
another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
2-5

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjust
the height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects the
mirror to the windshield. Second, adjust the angle of
the mirror, by moving the mirror to a position that allows
you to see out of the back window.
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, move the
lever toward you to the night position. To return the mirror
to the daytime position, move the lever away from you.
Outside Remote Control Mirror
The outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so you
can see a little of the side of your vehicle when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Adjust the driver’s outside mirror with the control lever
on the driver’s door.
To adjust your passenger’s mirror, sit in the driver’s seat
and have a passenger adjust the mirror for you.
Outside Power Mirrors
If your vehicle has power
mirrors these controls are
located on the driver’s door.
First move the selector switch left or right depending on
which mirror you want to adjust. Then use the arrows
on the control pad to move the mirror in the desired
direction.
2-33

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
•Turn and Lane-Change Signals
•Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
•Flash-to-Pass
•Exterior Lamps Control
For information on the exterior lamps, seeExterior
Lamps on page 3-14.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
3-6

To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
flash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-90.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the
turn signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal
lever to the off position.
Headlamps
The lever on the left side of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps.
O(Exterior Lamps):Turn the outside part of the
lever with the symbol on it, to operate the lamps.
3-7

The exterior lamps control has three positions:
<(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps, together with the
following.
•Sidemarker Lamps
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
3(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
AUTO:Turn the control to this position to turn the
headlamps, taillamps and parking lamps on and
off automatically while the ignition is on, by sensing how
dark it is outside. For more information see Automatic
Headlamp System later in this section.
Headlamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door and turn off the ignition
while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a warning
chime.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
will come on if the ignition
is in ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

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