ignition Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 s Owner's Guide

The main components of your instrument panel are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Side Vent
Instrument Panel Intensity Controlflnterior Lamps
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
Instrument Cluster
Horn
Windshield WiperNasher Stalk
Center Vents
Climate Control System
Side Vent 11.
Glove
Box
12. Audio System
13. Lighter
14. Gear Shift Lever
15. Ashtray
16. Ignition Switch
17. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
18. Fuse Panel (Under Instrument Panel)
19. Parking Brake Release Handle
20. Hood Release Lever
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors and module, the
wiring and the diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light
flash for a few
seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN or START.
Then the light should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Charging System Light
WASH
I FLUID
The CHARGE light
will come on when
you turn on the
ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show
you it is working.
Then it should go out. If it stays on, or
co !s on while
you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive
a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-60

Voltmeter (Gage Cluster)
8
Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
FASTE d
VOLTS 1-J BELTS
LOW
When the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition
of your charging system. Readings between
the red warning zones indicate the normal operating
range.
Readings in either red warning zone indicate
a possible
problem
in the electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
When your engine
is not running, but the ignition is on
(in the RUN position), the gage shows your battery’s
state
of charge in DC volts.
I LOCK (@I
ANTI-
This light comes on
when you need to shift
to the next higher gear.
See “Manual
Transaxle” in the
Index.
2-61

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
‘A CHECK
OAQES
With the anti-lock
brake system,
this
light will come on
when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for
three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the
light doesn’t come
on, have it fiied
so it
will be ready to warn
you
if there is a
problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. 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.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine,
turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays 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 Oldsmobile needs service.
If
the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
2-63

Low Coolant Level Warning Light
LOW
WASH
FLUID
LOW
COOLANT
1
If this light comes on and
stays on, the vehicle should
promptly be pulled off the
road and the coolant level
checked.
See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index. If there are visible
signs of steam, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index
before opening the hood. Have your vehicle serviced as
soon as you can.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon
Light)
I
LY
SERVICE
ENOINE
SOON
A computer monitors
operation of your fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems.
This light should come on when the ignition
is on, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show you it is
working. If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right
away. If
it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle in for service
soon.
2-65

I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by your
warranty.
Oil Warning Light (Standard Cluster)
If you have a low
engine
oil pressure
problem,
this light will
stay on after you start
your engine, or come on 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.
The oil light could also come on in two other situations:
0
0 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 you
turn the
ignition to START.
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.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This is normal.
2-67

Check Oil Light
80
Your engine is
equipped with
an oil
level monitoring
system. When the
ignition key is turned
on, the CHECK
OIL
light will briefly flash.
If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface
and turn the engine
off. Check the oil level using the
engine oil dipstick. (See “Engine Oil” in the Index.)
If
the light does not flash, have the low oil level sensor
system repaired
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
I NOTICE:
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.
2-68

Tachometer (Gage Cluster) Fuel Gage
The tachometer shows your engine speed in revolutions
per minute
(rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not run your engine at speeds in the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left, when the ignition is
on. When the indicator nears
E (EMPTY), 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:
0 At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
the
gage reads
F (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.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed
up.
The gage doesn’t go back to E (EMPTY) when you
turn
off the ignition.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
1 CHAROE I
I3
LOW
WASH
LEVEL
COOLANT
The LOW WASH
FLUID light will come
on when you turn on
the ignition, and the
fluid container is less
than one-third full.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad
mud splash can block your vision. You could hit another
vehicle or
go off the road. Check your washer fluid level
often.

Rear Window Defogger
cl The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
remove fog from the
window. to
rear
1
Press the defogger switch. The indicator light will glow.
If your vehicle is traveling under
45 mph (70 km/h), the
rear window defogger will turn off automatically after
about
10 minutes of use. If your vehicle is traveling
over
45 mph (70 km/h), the defogger will operate
continuously. You can turn the defogger off by turning
off
the ignition or pressing the switch again.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid on the rear window.
NOTICE:
Don’t use a razor blade or something 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.
Flow-Through Ventilation System
Your Oldsmobile’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air
will also enter the vehicle when the fan is running.
Ventilation Tips
0
0
0
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or
any other obstruction (such
as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work far better, reducing the
chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter
a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
fan control to
HTGH for a few moments before
driving
off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow
and moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear
of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
3-4