light Oldsmobile Achieva 1998 s User Guide

If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal a
turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index) or contact your Oldsmobile retailer
service department).
Turn Signal On Chime
A warning chime signal will come on if you have left
your turn signal
on for more than 3/4 mile (1 km).
Headlamp HighLow Beam
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are on, a light on the instrument
panel also will be on.
The headlamp high/low beam indicator may flash if the
Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) system is experiencing
a problem or if a headlamp is malfunctioning.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by moving the
stalk with the wiper symbol on it up or down,
For a single wiper cycle, push the stalk down to
MIST, then release it. For more cycles, hold the stalk
down longer.
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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.
Windshield Washer
’
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain
or snow.
Nlove 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.
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk toward you until
the washers begin.
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Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have
to step on the
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
Exterior Lamps
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal,
if you have a manual transaxle; OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasine the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
I
Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up one position
to turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
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Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up two positions
to turn on: The
DRL system
will make your high-beam neadlamps
come
on at a reduced brightness when:
0 Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 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.
0 The engine is running,
0 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).
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 vehicle is in
PARK (P) and the parking
brake is engaged.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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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 headlamps that you were last using 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.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity 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.
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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 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.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from
the driver’s seat.
% CAUTION:
‘--l
I
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut
too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.
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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 vehicle is equipped with this cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explained on the
following pages. Be sure to read them.
United States version shown, Canada similar

Tachometer
The tachometer shows your
Q 1 OQI engine speed in revolutions
9 5 6 7 c’o per minute (rpm). d 8 \3
RPM X 1000
0
I
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.
AIR
BAG
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.
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.
Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come
on when you start the
engine, then it should
go out.
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