fuel 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

Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your key?
0
0
0
0
0
0
If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close all windows.
Slide the remote trunk release lockout switch all
the way to the right.
Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Passlock@
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock
theft-deterrent system. 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 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 retailer for service.
In an emergency, call the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Center at
1-800-442-OLDS (6537).
Passlock is a passive theft-deterrent system. The system
is armed once the key is removed from the ignition.
Passlock enables fuel
if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used,
fuel is disabled.
2-12

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.

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@): If your automatic
transaxle has AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@), 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.
0 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.
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 ((9):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
between gears.
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 kmh) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(0) for higher speeds.

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.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (41 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@) or
THIRD
(3) as much as possible. Don’t shift
into
SECOND (2) unless you are going slower
than
65 mph (105 km/h) or you can damage
your engine.
With an automatic overdrive transaxle,
SECOND (2)
will select either first or second gear depending on
vehicle speed.
If your vehicle is slowing, the transaxle
will downshift to first gear at
20 to 25 miles per hour
(32 to 40 km/h) for engine braking. You may notice
some variation in shift speed in SECOND
(2) when
accelerating
or braking. FIRST
(1): This
position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND
(2). You
can use it
on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the selector lever is put in FIRST (I), the transaxle
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a
solid object. You can damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into PARK
(P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-22

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.
2-39

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 SignaUMultifunction Lever
C. Horn
D. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
E. Instrument Cluster
E Rear Window Defogger
G. Climate Control System
H. Glove Box
I. Gear Shift Lever
J. Ashtray
K. Audio System
L. Windshield Wipermasher Stalk
M. Ignition Switch
N. Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Switch
(If Equipped)
0. Hood Release Lever
P. Instrument Panel Intensity Controlhterior Lamps
Q. Fuse Panel
2-47

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

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is
on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t
come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in
one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Retailer
or qualified service center
diagnosis and service may
be required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible. If
the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
“If the Light
Is On Steady’’ following.
If the light continues to flash, when it
is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
retailer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine
if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A
loose or missing fuel cap will allow
fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
2-56

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine
is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn
on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
This light can come on briefly, which is normal and
doesn’t show
a problem:
a
a
As a bulb check, the light comes on when you turn
your key to
RUN and goes off when the engine is
started. If it doesn’t, be sure to have it fixed
so it
will be there to warn you.
For the four cylinder engine, when idling at a stop
sign, the light may blink on and then off. In addition,
if
you make a hard stop, the light may come on for
a moment.
But, when this light
comes on and stays on, it means oil
isn’t going through your engine properly. You could be
low on oil, or you might have some other oil problem.
2-57