ignition Oldsmobile Alero 2000 Owner's Manuals

1-29
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
-- or if water enters
your vehicle and soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you start your vehicle, the damage could make the air
bags inflate, even if there's no crash. You would have
to replace the air bags as well as the sensors and related
parts. If your vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it's exposed
to water that soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless
repair costs by turning off the vehicle immediately and
disconnecting the battery cables. Don't let anyone start
the vehicle under any circumstances. See your dealer
for service.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part
of the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
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 Keys
2
- 4 Door Locks
2
- 9 Remote Lock Control (If Equipped)
2
- 13 Trunk
2
- 15 Theft
2
- 16 Passlock

2- 16 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
- 17 Ignition Switch
2
- 18 Starting Your Engine
2
- 20 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
- 22 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
- 25 Manual Transaxle Operation
2
- 27 Parking Brake
2
- 28 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
- 30 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
- 30 Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle Models Only)2
- 31 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
- 31 Engine Exhaust
2
- 32 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transaxle)
2
- 33 Windows
2
- 34 Tilt Wheel
2
- 34 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
- 41 Exterior Lamps
2
- 44 Interior Lamps
2
- 46 Mirrors
2
- 47 Storage Compartments
2
- 48 Ashtray and Lighter (If Equipped)
2
- 48 Sun Visors
2
- 49 Auxiliary Power Accessory Outlet
2
- 49 Sunroof (If Equipped)
2
- 50 Instrument Panel - Your Information System
2
- 54 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-2
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-3
One key is used for the
ignition and all locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the key has a
bar
-coded key tag. This tag may be removed by
your dealer before it is delivered.Each tag has a key code on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tag in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able
to have one made easily using this tag. If you need a
new key, go to your dealer for the correct key code.
In an emergency, call the Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Center at 1
-800-442-OLDS (6537).
(In Canada, call 1
-800-268-6800.)
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft, therefore you can have a
lot of trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in. So be sure you
have extra keys.

2-5 Power Door Locks
With the power door locks, you can unlock or lock all
of the doors of your vehicle from the driver or front
passenger door lock switch.
Push the top of the switch to unlock all of the doors.
Push the bottom of the switch to lock all of the doors.
Automatic Door Locks
Just close your doors and turn on the ignition. All of
the doors will lock when you move your shift lever
out of PARK (P) to REVERSE (R) for an automatic
transaxle. All of the doors will lock when the vehicle
speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h) for a manual
transaxle. If someone needs to get out while the vehicle
is running, have that person use the door lock. When
the door is closed again, it will lock automatically when
the vehicle reaches about 5 mph (8 km/h). All doors
will automatically unlock when the shift lever is moved
to PARK (P) and when the key is turned to OFF.
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
Programmable Automatic Door Locks is a standard
feature intended to provide enhanced security and
convenience by automatically locking and unlocking
the doors.

2-7
Disconnecting the vehicle battery for up to one year will
not change the programmed mode of the Programmable
Automatic Door Locks.
The operating mode of the Programmable Automatic
Door Locks will be changed when the driver performs
the following sequence with the doors closed and the
vehicle's ignition key is turned to ON. Perform the
following procedure for an automatic transaxle in
PARK (P) and manual transaxle in REVERSE (R)
and the parking brake engaged.
To change the mode:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock
switch for 10 seconds. Release the switch when you
hear the chime.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is in.
You can change the mode by pressing and holding
LOCK on the power door lock switch (two chimes
for mode 2, three chimes for mode 3 and four
chimes for mode 4).
3. Repeat Step 1 until you hear the number of chimes
that matches the mode you want.
The mode you selected is now set.Delayed Locking
The Delayed Locking feature is standard and makes
it easier to use your power door locks at any time
either manually or with the power door lock switches.
This feature will not operate if the key is left in the
ignition. See Anti
-Lockout Protection later in
this section.
When the driver leaves the vehicle and the driver's
door is open and pushes the power door lock switch to
LOCK, three chimes will be heard. The doors will not
lock. Seven seconds after the driver's door has been
closed, all of the doors will lock, the parking lamps
will flash and the horn will sound.
If the driver opens another door before the seven
seconds, the doors will not lock until seven seconds
after the last door is closed.
If the power door lock switch is pressed to LOCK
twice when leaving the vehicle, the doors will
lock immediately.

2-9 Anti-Lockout Protection
Anti-Lockout Protection is a standard feature intended
to provide enhanced security and convenience. This
feature prevents a driver who has left the keys in the
ignition from locking the doors using the power door
locks while any door is open.
To override this feature, when the key is in the ignition
and a door is open, hold the power door lock switch in
the lock position for three seconds.
This feature cannot guarantee that you will never be
locked out of your vehicle. If you don't leave the keys in
the ignition, if you use the manual door lock, or if you
use the remote lock control transmitter (if equipped),
you could still lock your keys inside your vehicle.
Always remember to take your keys with you.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving your vehicle, open your door and
set the locks from the inside, then get out and close
the door.
Remote Lock Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from about 3 feet (1 m)
up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote lock control
transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Your remote lock control operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada.

2-11
UNLOCK: The driver's door will unlock automatically
when the UNLOCK button on the transmitter is pressed.
If the UNLOCK button is pressed again within five
seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior
lamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition is
turned on. The parking lamps will flash twice to indicate
unlocking has occurred.
: The trunk will unlock anytime the vehicle
symbol on the transmitter is pressed, the trunk lockout
is not engaged and the ignition is to ON along with
the shift lever to PARK (P) and the parking brake is
engaged or the ignition is to OFF. The interior lamps
will come on for 10 seconds or until the ignition switch
is turned to ON.
: The horn will chirp and the headlamps and the
parking lamps will flash for up to one minute when the
horn symbol on the transmitter is pressed. The interior
lamps will come on for about 10 seconds or until the
ignition is turned to ON. This can be turned off by
pressing the horn symbol button again or by turning
the ignition to ON.Programmable Horn Chirp
When you use the remote lock control transmitter to
lock the doors or use the delayed locking feature the
parking lamps will flash and the horn will chirp.
The programmable horn chirp can be disabled by
pressing and holding either of the door lock switches in
the unlock position for 10 seconds with the ignition ON
and all of the doors closed. When you hear the horn
chirp, programming is complete.
To reactivate the horn chirp feature, repeat the
above procedure.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote lock control transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.

2-14 Remote Trunk Release
The remote trunk release button is located on the
driver's door. Push the remote release button to release
the trunk lid. Make sure the remote trunk release lockout
feature is not activated.
The trunk will unlock when the remote trunk release button
is pressed, the remote trunk release lockout is to OFF and

the ignition is to ON, the shift lever is to PARK (P)
or the parking brake is engaged and

the ignition is to OFF.
Remote Trunk Release Lockout
Your trunk release is equipped with a lockout feature to
help prevent unauthorized entry into the trunk when the
vehicle is left unattended. The switch is located on the
inside of the trunk lid, mounted to the trunk lid latch.
To turn the lockout on, slide the switch all the way to the
left, to ON. To turn the lockout off, slide the switch all
the way to the right, to OFF.
When the lockout is on, the remote trunk release button
on the driver's door will not release the trunk lid. However,
the trunk lid can still be opened with the key, but not with
the remote lock control transmitter (if equipped).

2-15
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft
-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your ignition and transaxle will be locked. And
remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
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?

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.

Move the trunk release lockout switch to the
ON position.

Lock the glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.

If your vehicle has a remote lock control system,
take the transmitter with you.