wheel OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1999 User Guide

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CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will continue to wipe for about three times or
will resume the speed you were using before.
Cruise Control
The cruise control buttons are located on the
steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes or the parking brake or the
BRAKE light is on or you have low brake fluid, the
cruise control will turn off.
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CAUTION:

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.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
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.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See ªEnhanced
Traction Systemº in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
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. Press the cruise control ON OFF button. The
indicator light on the button will turn on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the CST SET button and release it. The
CRUISE light on the instrument panel will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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2-41 Automatic Light Control (ALC)
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic Light
Control (ALC) will turn on your headlamps along with
other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
park lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the defroster grill, so be
sure it is not covered. This will cause the ALC system to
be on whenever the ignition is on.
The ALC system may also come on when driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a
tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the ALC
systems so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
ALC systems will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
To idle your vehicle with the ALC system off, set the
parking brake while the ignition is off. Then start the
vehicle. The ALC system will stay off until you release
the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature will continue to
illuminate the headlamps for 20 seconds after the key is
turned to OFF.
To turn off the delayed headlamps feature, turn the turn
signal/multifunction lever up one position and then back
to OFF.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
The button for your fog lamps is located on the
instrument panel, to the left of the steering wheel, beside
the instrument panel intensity control.
When using the fog lamps, the ignition must be on as
well as the parking lamps or the low
-beam headlamps.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
Push the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the high
-beam
headlamps are turned on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel cluster
lights by moving the
thumbwheel up to increase
intensity and to down to
decrease intensity. The
thumbwheel is located on
the instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.
Courtesy Lamp Control
When the thumbwheel for the instrument panel intensity
control is moved up, the dome lamp, the mirror reading
lamps (if equipped) and the footwell lamps will turn on.
Move the thumbwheel down to turn the lamps off.
Illuminated Entry/Exit System
When you lift the driver's door handle or open the
driver's door, the lamps inside your vehicle will go on.
These lamps will fade out after about 10 seconds, or
when the ignition is turned on after all doors have been
closed. These lamps will also go on when you press the
trunk release or UNLOCK button on the remote lock
control transmitter (if equipped).
The lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about
10 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.
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2-43 Mirror Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
Press the switch on the lower front portion of the mirror
to turn on the lamps. Press the other side of the switch to
turn the lamps off.
Three-Position Dome Lamp
The switch on this lamp has three positions. The ON
position will turn on the light. The DOOR position will
turn on the light whenever a door is opened or when the
instrument panel intensity control thumbwheel is moved
up. The OFF position will shut off the lamp completely,
even when a door is opened.
Trunk Lamp
The trunk lamp comes on when you open your trunk.
Battery Saver
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature
designed to protect your vehicle's battery.
When any interior lamp (trunk, mirror reading lamps,
footwell, dome lamp or glove box) is left on when the
ignition is turned off, the battery saver system will
automatically shut the lamp off after 20 minutes.
This will avoid draining the battery.
To reactivate the interior lamps, do one of the following:

Lift the driver's door handle.

Open any door.

Press any remote lock control transmitter button
(if equipped).

Press the power door lock switch.

Press the remote trunk release.
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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're using, and many other things you'll need to drive safely and economically.
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Fuse Panels
B. Vents
C. Instrument Cluster
D. Hazard Warning Button
E. Audio System
F. Climate Control
G. Auxiliary Power Accessory Outlet
H. Cigarette Lighter/Power Accessory Outlet
I. Parking BrakeJ. Transaxle Shift Lever
K. Enhanced Traction System Switch
L. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
M. Ignition Switch
N. Cruise Control Switches (If Equipped)
O. Tilt Wheel Lever
P. Hood Release Handle
Q. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
R. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
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If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
With the Enhanced Traction System (ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly as you start the engine. If
the warning light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so
it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.
If the warning light stays on, or comes on when you're
driving, there may be a problem with your Enhanced
Traction System and your vehicle may need service.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
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The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the ETS button
on the center console near the gear shift lever, the
warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. (See ªEnhanced Traction
Systemº in the Index for more information.)

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
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.
This light will also come on when the anti
-lock brake
system is working.
The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
there to tell you when the system is active.
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3-6 Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow
-through ventilation system.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.
You will find air outlets in the center and on the sides of
your instrument panel.You can direct the airflow side to side by moving the
sliding levers. The outlet can be tilted up and down also.
To control the amount of airflow through the outlets,
rotate the thumbwheel.
Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.

When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob to FLOOR and the fan to the highest
speed for a few moments before driving off. This
helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture
and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of
your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air circulate throughout
your vehicle.

To prevent circulation of outside air, press the
recirculation button. This will close all outside vents.
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Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet.
You're driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here's what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at
both rear wheels.The anti
-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and
road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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