fuel Oldsmobile Achieva 1995 Owner's Manuals

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e
TURN
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
TEMP --
ENGINE
CHARGING
I-1
BATTERY SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
Wd
TEMP OIL 9b
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE -%-
RELEASE
RADIO
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
A'R 43
RELEASE TRUNK e
LIGHTER n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
V

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key
in
START for about three seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. If the vehicle starts briefly
but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time
keep the pedal about one-quarter
of the way down
for five
or six seconds.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with your retailer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle’’ in the Index. To
start your
3.1 Liter engine:
I. Without pushing t.he accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it
could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
2-16
-

NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the
way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with your retailer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle’’ in the Index.
Driving Through Deep Standing
Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine.
If you can’t avoid deep puddles or
standing water, drive through them very slowly.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0” F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
2-17

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a): If your automarlc
transaxle has
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE, this position
is for normal driving. If you need more power for
passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down. You’ll shift down
to
the next gear and have more power.
NOTICE:
This NOTICE applies only if you have an
Automatic Overdrive transaxle.
If your vehicle is
so equipped and if it seems to start up rather
slowly,
or if it seems not to shift gears as you go
faster, something may be wrong with a transaxle
system sensor. If you drive very
far that way,
your vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until
then, you can use SECOND
(2) when you are
driving less than
35 mph (55 kmk) and
OWRDRIVE
(0) for higher speeds.
DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3): If your automatic transaxle
does not have OVERDRIVE, this position is for normal
driving, at
all speeds, in most street and highway
situations.
If your automatic transaxle has OVERDRIVE (@),
THIRD (3) is like OVERDRIVE (@), but you never go
into OVERDRIVE
(@).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of OVERDRIVE (a):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower
fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes
off and on.
2-21

NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
5 miles (8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use DRIVE (D) (OVERDRIVE
(0) or
THIRD
(3) if your vehicle has OVERDRIVE (0))
as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
If you have the four-speed transaxle with OVERDRIVE
(a), SECOND (2) will select either first or second gear
depending on vehicle speed. If your vehicle is slowing,
the transaxle will downshift to first gear at
20 to 25 mph
(32 to 40 kdh) for engine braking. You may notice
some variation in shift speed in SECOND
(2) when
accelerating or braking.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy)
than SECOND (2). You can
use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST
(I), the transaxle won’t shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
I NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
1 very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You can damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only
the accelerator
, pedal. This could overheat and damage the
1 transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P)
~ to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-22

SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up 011
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then
slowly let
up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake
pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal
and the brake pedal, and shift into NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE
(R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle
is moving could damage your transaxle.
Also, use REVERSE (Rj, along with the parking brake,
for parking your vehicle.
Up Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
If you have a manual
transaxle, you have an
UP
SHIFT light. This
light
will show you
when
to shift to the
next higher gear for
best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear
if weather, road and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate,
it is normal for the light to go on and
off if you quickly change the position of the accelerator.
Ignore the UP SHIFT light when
you downshift.
2-24

Shift Speeds (Manual Transaxle)
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear
for best fuel economy.
Acceleration Shift Speeds
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd
3rd to 4th
4th to 5th 15 mph (24 km/h)
25 mph (40 km/h)
40 mph (64 km/h)
45 mph (72 km/h)
If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the
engine
is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear.
You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
I NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race
the engine when you
downshift, you can damage the clutch or
transaxle.
2-25
-

The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.

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

NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
Check Gages Light (Gage Cluster)
9 ANTI-
CHECK
Q
OAOES
UI
E 4
This light will come
on briefly when you
are starting the engine.
If it stays on, or if
it
comes on and stays on
while you are driving,
check your various
gages to see if they are
in the warning zones.
Oil Pressure Gage (Gage Cluster)
UP
SHIFT
CHECK
OIL
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa. Oil pressure
may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the red warning zone
indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the red zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low
oil pressure. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
2-66