Oldsmobile Cutlass 1998 Owner's Manuals

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index).
Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to
run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling 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 retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
If you have a low engine oil
pressure problem, this light
will stay on after you start
your engine,
or come on
and you will
hear a chime
when you are driving.
This indicates that your engine is not receiving enough
oil. The engine could be low
on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have it fixed immediately.
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a test to
show you it is
working, but the light will
go out when the en-gine is
running. If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on,
you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have
it fixed right away.
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Check Oil Light
Don’t keep ariving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
your warranty.
1 problems can be costly and is not covered by
/ OIL
This light will come on
briefly when you start
your vehicle.
If the light comes on and you hear a chime or stays on
after starting your vehicle, your engine oil level should
be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut
off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on your dipstick and bring
it
to the proper level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
NOTE: A false CHECK OIL light may be generated
when parking on steep grades.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between key on
and engine
crank.
It does not monitor engine oil level when the
engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is
only performed if the engine has been turned
off for a
considerable period
of time allowing the oil normally in
circulation to drain back into the oil pan.

Passlock Warning Light Low Washer Light
This light
will come on
briefly when you
turn the
ignition on. The light
will stay on until the
engine starts.
If the light flashes for several seconds, the passlock
system has entered a tamper mode.
If the vehicle fails to
start, see “Passlock” in the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the passlock
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by passlock,
and you should see your retailer.
Cruise Light
CRUISE
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you set your
cruise control.
LOW
WASH
The LOW WASH light will
come on briefly when you
turn on the ignition.
It will also come on, chime and stay on if the fluid
reservoir is less than one-third full.
Service Vehicle Soon Light
SERVICE
VEHICLE
SOON
This light will come on
briefly when you turn
on the ignition.
It will stay on
if it detects a problem on the vehicle, such
as a
DRL or an ALC malfunction. If this happens, see
your retailer service department as soon as possible.
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Door Ajar Light
When the ignition is on, this
light will stay on until all
doors are closed and
completely latched.
You will hear a brief chime if a door
is unlatched after
the engine is started and the vehicle is not
in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N).
Fuel Gage
UN
0
E 0
0 FUELDOOR 83 D
Your 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
0 It takes a little more or less fuel to
fill up than the
the gage reads full.
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 gage moves a little when you turn a corner or, I
The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
speed up.
the ignition.

Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems I
I
1
~
!
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 3-2
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3
-5
3 -6
3-6
3-7
3-9 Cornfort Controls
Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Heating
Defogging and Defrosting Windows
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilation System
Audio Systems Setting
the Clock
AM-FM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control
(If Equipped) 3-13
3-18 3-20
3 -20
3-21
3-21
3-21
3-21 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
(If Equipped)
Theft-Deterrent Feature Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Care of
Your Compact Disc Player
Fixed Mast Antenna
3-1

Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for you. The climate control system with
air
conditioning uses ozone-friendly R- 134a refrigerant.
With this system, you can control the 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 selects the force of air you want. Turn the
knob to the right to increase fan speed and to the left to
decrease fan speed. To turn the fan
off (which will also
turn the climate control system off), turn the knob all the
way to the left.
In any other setting, the fan will run
continuously. The fan must be on to run the air
conditioning compressor.
Temperature Knob
The center knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system.
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of the
system.
/Ir VENT In this position most of the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets.
A small amount of
air comes through the floor vents. Set the center control
knob to the temperature desired.
.)rr BI-LEVEL: In this position the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets and through the
floor outlets. Set the center control knob to the
temperature desired.
+e
+e

e
+’ FLOOR: In this position most of the airflow
comes through the floor outlet. The rest of the
air comes
through the windshield and side window vents. Set the
center control knob to the temperature desired.
+# DEFOG: This position divides the airflow
between the floor outlets and the windshield
defroster vent.
we
DEFROST This position directs most of the
airflow through the windshield defroster vent. Some of
the air goes to the floor outlets. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically
in this position when
it is needed to help dry the air in the vehicle.
Air Conditioning Compressor Button
Press A/C to operate the air conditioner compressor.
The indicator light will glow when the button is pressed
to indicate that the
air conditioning system has been
turned on.
Recirculation Button
Press REClRCULATION to close all outside vents.
The indicator light on the button will glow when
it is
pressed. RECIRCULATION is available in
all modes,
except DEFOG and DEFROST. It
is not recommended to use
this button in the floor
mode with heat. It
is useful to quickly cool the vehicle
on hot days.
&b Outside Air
Press OUTSIDE AIR to allow the circulation of outside
air in the vehicle. The indicator light on the button
will
glow when pressed. OUTSIDE AIR is available in all
modes including
OFF and is automatically activated in
DEFOG and DEFROST.
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.
On very hot days, open 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.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower
body may not be wm enough.
You can use
BI-LEVEL with the temperature knob in
the middle and the A/C button pushed in. The system
will bring in outside
air and direct slightly warmer air to
your lower body.
I

’ . For quick cool-down on very hot days, use VENT with
’ . the temperature knob all the way in the blue area and the
; A/C and RECIRCULATION buttons pressed. If this
; setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
-1 For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
’: temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button
f pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
Heating
On cold days, use FLOOR and the outside air button
I 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.
I Your vehicle has heat outlets that are directed toward
I
. : the rear seat. Keep the area under the front seats
’ I 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 OF (- 18 O C) or lower). An
engine coolant heater warms the coolant your engine
and heating system use to provide heat. See “Engine
’ . Coolant Heater” 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
control as desired.
To defrost the front window quickly, rotate the
temperature control knob all the way in the red area.
Use DEFROST and adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To warrn passengers while keeping the front window
clean, use DEFOG.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents. The side window defogger vents are located
on the outside of the side instrument panel vents. To
defrost the side windows rotate the temperature control
knob all the way in the red area. Use
FLOOR and adjust
the fan to the highest speed. To control fogging of the
windows rotate the temperature control knob all the
way in the red area. Use DEFOG 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. For added airflow to the side
windows aim the side vents toward the windows and
close the center vents.
RECIRCULATION will not work in DEFROST and
DEFOG. This is done to prevent recirculation of humid
inside air and allow the system to work properly.

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
to remove fog from the
rear window.
Press the defogger switch. 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
5 lninutes 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 to 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.
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3-6