light Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 s Owner's Guide

Rear Window Defogger
cl The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid
remove fog from the
window. to
rear
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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
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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.
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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassette, or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned after every
50 hours
of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at
fault.
If this other cassette has no improvement in sound
quality, clean the tape player.
Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action
non-abrasive cleaning cassette. This system uses a
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as
the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
It is normal for the
cartridge to eject while cleaning. Insert the cassette at
least three times to ensure a thorough cleaning.
A
scrubbing action cleaning cassette is available through
your Oldsmobile retail facility. You
may use a non-scrubbing action wet-type cleaner
which uses a cassette with
a fabric belt to clean the tape
head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject. It may
not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.
Cassettes are subject
to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette
tape is in good condition before
you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges
or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged.
If the mast should ever become
slightly bent,
you can straighten it out by hand. If the
mast
is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should
replace it.
Check every once in
a while to be sure the mast is still
tightened to the fender.
Rear Window Defogger Antenna (Option)
This particular rear window defogger also serves as a
radio antenna. If you have this option, do not apply
aftermarket glass tinting. The metallic film in some
tinting materials will interfere with or distort the
incoming radio reception.
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you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That
means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don‘t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder
to push down. If your engine
stops, you
will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up,
it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will
be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Oldsrnobile has an advanced electronic braking
system that
will help prevent a braking skid.
I LOCK @)
ANTI-
CHECK
OABES
This light on the
instrument panel
will
come on briefly when
you start your vehicle. When you
start yo~~r vehicle, or when
you begin to drive
away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal
moves a little while this is going on.
This is the ABS
system testing itself.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light
will stay on or flash.
See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light”
in the
Index.
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Off-Road Recovery Passing
You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below
the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can turn the steering wheel up to
1/4 turn until the
right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn
your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
I
r/// edge of paved surface
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The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes
back
into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is
a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane
as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration
or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face
to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
-- the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and
to crossroads for situations that might affect your
passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever
about making
a successful pass, wait for a better time.
0 Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines.
If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken
center line usually indicates it’s all right to
pass
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid
line on your side of the lane
or a double solid line,
even
if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.
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Driving at Night 0
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Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired
--
by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here
are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need
to slow
down and keep more space between you and other
vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light
up only so much road ahead,
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and
rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see
the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can
also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you
are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
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You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It
can take
a second or two, or even several seconds, for
your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced
with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower
the high beams, or
a vehicle with misaimed headlamps),
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the
approaching lights.
Keep your windshield and all
the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out, Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt
on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less
of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way,
it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t
even aware of it.
Driving in the Rain
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City Driving One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic
on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to
traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown
part of the city just as you would for a cross-country
trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red
light.
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Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow
a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move
to the proper
lane well in advance. If
you miss your exit do not, under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re
not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs
service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retail Fdcilities all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
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Driving on Snow or ,Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very
careful.
Include an
ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a
couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
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