traction control Oldsmobile Achieva 1997 Owner's Manuals

When you apply your brake or the clutch pedal, the
cruise control shuts off.
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads.
On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and
you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on Setting Vruise Contra]
If you
leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might hit
a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep
the cruise control switch
OFF until you want to
use
it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.

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 have used and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
The main components
of your instrument panel are:
A. Vent
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and Horn
D. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
E. Instrument Cluster
E Rear Window Defogger
G. Climate Control System
H. Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
I. Glove Box
J. Gear Shift Lever
K. Ashtray
L. Audio System
M. Windshield Wipermasher Stalk
N. Ignition Switch
0. Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Switch
(If Equipped)
P. Fog Lamps Switch (If Equipped)
Q. Hood Release Lever
R. Instrument Panel Intensity Control/Interior Lamps
S. Fuse Panel
2-57

As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front
of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.
Enhanced Traction System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has the optional four-speed automatic
transaxle,
it also has an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transaxle
to limit wheel spin.
LOW
TRAC
This light will come on
when your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin. See “Enhanced
Traction System Active
Light” in the Index.
You
may feel or hear the system
working, but this is normal.
The Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transaxle only as high
as the shift lever position you’ve
chosen,
so you should use the lower gears only when
necessary. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
4-9

Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control’’ accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver
or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws
of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction
you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle
at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. Refer to
“Enhanced Traction system” in the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
4-11

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road
to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek
an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
Oldsmobile’s three control systems. In
the braking skid,
your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering
skid, too much speed or steering in
a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration
skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the Enhanced Traction System, remember:
It helps avoid only
the acceleration skid.
If you do not have the Enhanced Traction System, or if
the system is off, then an acceleration skid is also best
handled by easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle
to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if
it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
You may
not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface”
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-15

To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when
it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
CAUTION: (Continued)
I CAUTION: (Continuc
handle properly, and you could have a cradh.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
thowh-
Tt was developed for use on your vehicle.
- -
Jniform I 11 lit A
The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, which grades tires by treadwear, traction
and temperature performance.
(This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades are molded
on the sidewalls
of most passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading system does not apply to deep tread,
winter-type snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare
tires, tires with nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
1
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling
one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
6-45

Fuse
PWR ST
RDO IGN HTR-A/C
CRUISE
TAIL LPS
LTR
WIPER
02
DR UNLK
ALARM
Usage
Power Seat
Radio
Heater/Air Conditioning Blower,
Daytime Running Lamps, Automatic
Lamp Control
Cruise Control
Parking Lamps, Taillamps,
Sidemarker Lamps, License Lamps,
Instrument Panel Lights, Underhood
Lamp, Headlamp Warning Alarm
Cigarette Lighter, Auxiliary
Power Outlet
Windshield Wipers/Washers
Heated Oxygen Sensors
Automatic Door Unlock
Automatic Transaxle, Automatic Door
Unlock, Alarm Module (Illuminated
Entry, Warning Chimes), Traction
Telltale, Rear Window Defogger,
Remote Lock Control
Fuse
FOG/FTP
PRNDL
DR LK
2
AIR BAG
HORN
INST STOP HAZ
PCM
DR LK
1
INST LPS
RR DEF
HDLP
Usage
Fog Lamps
Instrument Cluster, Powertrain
Computer, Park-Lock Solenoid,
Electronic PRNDL
Door Locks
Air Bag-Power Horn, Service Tool Power
Instrument Cluster
Stoplamps, Hazard Lamps,
Anti-Lock Brakes
Powertrain Control Module
Door Locks, Remote Lock Control
Instrument Panel Lights, Fog Lamps
Rear Window Defogger
Headlamps, Daytime Running Lamps (Circuit Breaker)

Latches. Seatback ................................ 1-6
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-30
Lighter
....................................... 2-53
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1.22. 2.6 1
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ............ 2.63. 4.7
Brake System Warning
.................... 2.62. 6.31
Charging System Indicator
...................... 2-62
Check Engine
................................ 2-66
CheckOil
................................... 2-70
Cruise
...................................... 2-71
Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light
............... 2-69
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
....... 2.65. 4-9
ETS Warning .......................... 2- 64. 4. 10
Interior
..................................... 2-46
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-66
Low Washer
................................. 2-71
Passlock Warning
............................. 2-70
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1.8. 2.61
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-33
Lock-Out Switch
............................... 2-34
Automatic Door
............................... 2-5
Cylinders ................................... 7-42
Door
........................................ 2-4
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-42
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-5
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-6
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-44
Trunk
...................................... 2-10
CheckGages
................................ 2-71
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
.... 2.64. 4.10
Upshift
.................................... 2-71
Locks
......................................... 2-4 Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-66
Low Washer Light
.............................. 2-71
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-47
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-42
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-63
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-49
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Introduction
.................................. 7-2
Long Tripmighway Definition ................... 7-6
Long Tripmighway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Organization
.................................. 7-3
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-41
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-45
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-47
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short Trip/City Definition ....................... 7-5
Short Trip/City Intervals
........................ 7-5
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-54
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-41
Making Turns
with a Trailer ...................... 4-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-66
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-2
Manual Lumbar Support .......................... 1-3
Manual Remote Control Mirror
.................... 2-49
ManualTransaxle
............................... 2-16
Shifting
..................................... 2-25
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-16
Manual Transaxle Check
......................... 7-42
Manual Transaxle Fluid
.......................... 6-22
Methanol
...................................... 6-4

Theft-Deterrent Feature. CD Player ................ 3- 19
Thermostat
.................................... 6-28
Third Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-23
Third Gear. Manual Transaxle
..................... 2-26
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-35
Time. Setting the
................................ 3-6
Tire Chains
.................................... 6-47
Tire Loading
................................... 4-33
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-33
Tires
......................................... 6-40
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-45
BuyingNew
................................. 6-44
Chains
..................................... 6-47
ChangingaFlat
.............................. 5-22
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53
Compact Spare
............................... 5-32
Inflation
.................................... 6-41
Inflation Check
............................... 7-41
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-42
Loading
.................................... 4-33
Pressure
.................................... 6-41
Temperature
................................. 6-46
Traction
.................................... 6-45
Treadwear
................................... 6-45
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-45
Used Replacement Wheel
...................... 6-47
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-43
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-46
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-43
THEFTLOCK
TM ................................ 3- 19
TopStrap
..................................... 1-37
TorqueLock
................................... 2-30
Torque. Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-29. 6-62 Towing
FromtheFront
............................... 4-30
From the Rear
............................... 4-31
Recreational Vehicle
.......................... 4-32
Towing
a Trailer ................................ 4-35
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-8
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 4-30
Manual Transaxle
............................. 4-31
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear
................ 4-32
Trailer BaclungUp
................................. 4-40
Brakes
..................................... 4-39
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-40
Driving
with ................................. 4-39
Following Distance When Driving a
.............. 4-39
Hitches
..................................... 4-38
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-41
Making Turns with a
.......................... 4-40
ParlungonHills
.............................. 4-41
Passing with
a ............................... 4-39
Safety Chains
................................ 4-39
Tongueweight
............................... 4-37
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-38
Towing
..................................... 4-35
Turnsignals
................................. 4-40
Weight
..................................... 4-37
Automatic
............... 2- 16. 2-2 1. 6. 19.7.42. 7.44
Manual
...................... 2- 16.2.25.6.22. 7.42
Transmitters. Remote Lock Control
.................. 2-7
Transportation. Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-4
Transaxle
9-10