tow Oldsmobile Achieva 1997 Owner's Manuals

How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the steering wheel or the
instrument panel. Air bags supplement
the protection
provided by safety belts.
Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would
not help you
in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. Air
bags should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then
only in moderate to
severe frontal
or near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components
of the air bag module in the
steering wheel hub for
the driver’s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for a short time. The parts
of the bag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to
touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from
vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does
it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with
a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
0 Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces.
In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at
a time.
What if
a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child
is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide. If the
child
is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see
“Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” in the Index.
If the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child’s face or neck, you might
want to place the child in the center seat position,
the one that has only a lap belt.

During normal operation, the SECURITY light will go
off after the engine is started. If the engine stalls and the
SECURITY light flashes, wait until the light stops
flashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to
release the key from the
START position as soon as the
engine starts.
If you are driving and the SECURITY
light comes on, you
will be able to restart the engine if
you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock system
is not working properly and must be serviced by your
retailer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock at this
time. You may also want
to check the fuse (see “Fuses
and Circuit Breakers” in the Index). See your
Oldsmobile retailer for service.
If the SECURITY light comes on while the engine is
running, a problem has been detected and the system
may need service. See your dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Program
at 1 -800-442-OLDS (6537).
New Vehicle cCBreak-InSS
NOTICE:
Your modern Oldsmobile doesn’t need an
elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform better
in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings.
See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.

Ignition Positions
c
I
1
D
B
i
A i E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
ACCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio and windshield wipers when the engine is
off.
To use ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn it
toward
you. Your steering wheel will stay locked.
LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is in
LOCK. It is also the only
position
in which you can remove the key. This locks
your steering wheel, ignition and transaxle (on
automatic transaxle models).
OFF (C): This position unlocks the steering wheel and
ignition, but does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must be
pushed or towed, but never try
to push-start your
vehicle. A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when
the ignition is off and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns after
you start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the RUN position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
RUN to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
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Starting Your 2.4 Liter Engine
1, Without pushing the 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.
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 it doesn’t start right away, and if the weather is
very cold (below
-20” F or -29” C), push the
accelerator pedal about one-quarter
of the way down
while you turn the key to START.
Do this until the
engine starts.
As soon as it does, let go of the key.
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 engine 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.

Starting Your 3100 Engine
1. Without pushing the 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
up to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline
from the engine.
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 engine 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.
2-18

Automatic Transaxle Operation
P
R
N
02
3
2
1
Your automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to
use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is
not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless
you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
2-21

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine.
You Oldsmobile has a brake-trmsaxle
shift interlock. You have to apply your regular brake
before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition
key
is in the RUN position. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push the shift
lever
all the way into PARK (P) -- as you maintain brake
application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you
wish. (Press the shift lever button before moving the
shift lever.) See
“Shifting Out of PARK (P)” later in
this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see “If
You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
r
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running
at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out of
PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-22

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): If your automatic
transaxle has AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(a), this
position is for normal driving.
If you need more power
for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 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 (56 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(0) for higher speeds. THIRD
(3): This
position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@). Here
are some times you might choose THIRD
(3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
0 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.
2-23

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning
ght will come on.
To release the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the
BRAKE RELEASE lever.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes
to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in t.he Index. That section shows
what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
2-28