engine coolant Oldsmobile Achieva 1998 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
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
ACID COULD
&
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 lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
PAEJN&
pf
WARNING A
HAZARD
FLASHER
RUNNING
.‘:**o
DAYTIME LAMPS
***
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 -
CHARGING BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
Wb
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
I
LIGHTER
HORN
)b.
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
V

Section 2 2s and COI :- 11s
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained
are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2-2
2-4
2-6 2-10
2-11
2- 12
2-13
2-13
2- 14
2-
17
2-18
2-23
2-24 2-26 Keys
Door Locks
Remote
Lock Control
(If Equipped)
Trunk
Theft
Passlock@
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions”
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P) 2-26
2-27
2-27
2-28
2-29 2-29
2-30
2-37
2-39
2-42
2-43 2-45
2-46
2-50 Parking Over
Things That
Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Windows
Horn
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Accessory Power Outlet
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2-1

Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2.4L Engine
3100 Engine
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 1 8 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.

! To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
1 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 11 0-volt AC oatlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated
for
at least 15 amps.
I
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list.everyhng here, we ask that you contact
your retailer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The retailer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
P
R
N
ID1
3
2
1
Your automatic transaxle
has a
shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
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.
2-18

0 The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If the system is turned on and the warning light
stays on after your parking brake
is fully released, it
means there’s a problem with the system.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system
is turned on and the parking brake is fully
released, your vehicle needs service.
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
LOW
TRAC
When your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin, this light
will come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist
if the Enhanced
Traction System active light comes
on, so adjust your
driving accordingly. The light will stay
on for a
few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
there to tell you when the system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your
engine is too hot! It means
that your engine coolant
has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems
on the Road,’’ this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

I
I
1
I
Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on
and stays on, the vehicle
pulled
off the road and the
coolant level checked.
LOW should promptly be
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
(Check Engine Light)
I
CHECK
ENGINE
I
United States
CHECK
Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The CHECK
ENGINE light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent.
This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
I NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be
as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
2-55

BI-LEV: Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting
brings in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. The
cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body
through the instrument panel outlets, but slightly
warmer air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times this temperature difference
may be more apparent than others.
The air conditioner compressor is enabled in all three
air conditioning positions.
VENT: Use when outside temperatures are mild, and
little heating or cooling is needed. Airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets. Set the center
control knob to the temperature desired.
HEAT This setting brings heated air through the heater
ducts, and some through the windshield defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater) and use it during cold weather,
0 “F (- 18 O C)
or lower, your heating system will more quickly provide
heat because the engine coolant
is already warmed. See
“Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
DEFOG: This setting divides airflow equally between
the heater ducts and the windshield defroster vents.
DEF: This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents located
on top of the
instrument panel.
Air Conditioning
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle
also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later
in this section.
Your system has three air conditioner settings in
addition to the standard climate control system.
Before using your air conditioner
on very hot days,
open the windows long enough to let hot inside air
escape. This reduces the amount of work your air
conditioner’s compressor will have to do, which
should help fuel economy.
Heating
On cold days, use HEAT with the temperature knob all
the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system
uses to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater”
in the Index.

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage” in the Index. You will also find a
LOW COOLANT level warning light on your vehicle’s
instrument panel. See “Low Coolant Warning Light” in
the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn
it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign
of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine
if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
5-15

Cooling System
When YOU decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
2.4L Engine
3100 Engine
A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
5-17

I
L AUTION
-
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not running and
can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above FULL COLD.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
5-18