light Oldsmobile Achieva 1997 s User Guide

For steady wiping at low speed, move the stalk up to
the
(1) position. For high-speed wiping, move the stalk
up further, to
(2). To stop the wipers, move the stalk
to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain
or snow.
Move the stalk to
DELAY? then rotate the inner band and
choose the delay you want. Rotate the inner band
up for
shorter delay times between wiper cycles. Rotate the band
down for a longer delay time between wiper cycles.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow
or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk toward you until
the washers begin.
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accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
or clutch pedal takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transaxle; OR
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up one position
to turn on:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
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Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up two positions
to turn on:
Headlamps
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch to
OFF to turn all of the lamps off.
Lamps 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.
Daytime Running Lamps
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.
The DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
The engine is running,
The headlamp switch is in the OFF position,
0 The light sensor detects daytime light,
0 The parking brake is released and
0 The shift lever is not in PARK (P) on an
automatic transaxle.
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker,
park lamps and instrument panel lights will not be
illuminated.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain off any time
your automatic transaxle vehicle is
in PARK (P) and the
parking brake
is engaged.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain off any time
your manual transaxle vehicle is in NEUTRAL
(N) and
the parking brake is engaged.
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Automatic Light Control (ALC)
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top
of the instrument panel under the defroster grill,
so be sure it is not covered which will cause the
nighttime lights to be
on continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, your ALC will turn
on
your low-beam headlamps at the normal brightness
along with other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, park lamps and instrument panel lights.
There is a 20-second delay in the transition between
daytime and nighttime operation
of the DRL and the
ALC systems.
If the light sensor senses a reduction in
lighting that lasts longer than 20 seconds,
it will activate
the nighttime lamps.
If you are driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather, a tunnel or
fueling your vehicle in a low light area, the ALC will
turn on your low-beam headlamps at a normal
brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, park
lamps and the instrument panel lights.
The radio lights
will be dimmer.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
The button for your fog
lamps is beside the
instrument panel
intensity control.
Push
the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps
are on.
When using fog lamps, the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps must be on.
The fog lamps will turn
off whenever the high-beam
headlamps are turned
on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensitv Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel cluster
lights by rotating the
INT LIGHTS switch.
Rotating the wheel to
MAX will turn on the
courtesy lamps.
Illuminated Entry System
When you lift the outside handle of either front door or
open either rear
door, the lamps inside your vehicle will
go on. These lamps will fade out after about 40 seconds,
or when the ignition
is turned on after all doors have
been closed. If the ignition was recently turned
off, the
lamps will fade out after four seconds. These lamps will
also
go on when you press the DOOR or UNLOCK
button
on the optional Remote Lock Control transmitter.
If the ignition has been off for less than two minutes,
the lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about
15 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.

Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lights behind you, move the lever
toward you to the night position.
Power Remote Control Mirror
(If Equipped)
This selector knob, located
on the driver’s side door,
controls both outside
rearview mirrors.
Select the mirror you want to adjust by rotating the knob
to the left or right. Adjust each mirror
so that you can
just see the side
of your vehicle when you are sitting in a
comfortable driving position..
Turn the knob to the center to turn the remote control
mirror off.
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Ashtray and Lighter
Lift the cover to reveal the front ashtray in the front
storage armrest.
To open the rear ashtray, rotate it in either direction. Lift
it out by pushing down on the snuffer.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers or other flammable things into
your ashtrays. Lit cigarettes
or other smoking
materials could ignite them, causing a
damaging fire.
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself.
I NOTICE:
If you hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating, it won’t be able to back away
from the heating element when
it’s ready. That
can make it overheat, damaging the lighter and
the heating element.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your Oldsmobile is equipped with this cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explained
on the following pages. Be sure to read them.
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Tachometer
The tachometer shows your
Q‘ 000
d 8
engine speed in revolutions
o 5 6 7% per minute (rpm).
\3
NOTICE:
Do not run your engine at speeds in the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one
of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar
with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay
on for about
20 seconds,
then it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the chime nor the
light will come on.
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 sensor, the air bag modules, the wiring and the
crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
This light will come on
when you
start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system is ready. AIR
BAG
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
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