0A and 11 Oldsmobile Alero 2002 Owner's Manuals

ii
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem
and the name ALERO are registered trademarks of
General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time
it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name ªGeneral Motors
of Canada Limitedº for Oldsmobile Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will
be there if you ever need it when you're on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propri‡taires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en fran†ais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

iv
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could damage
your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols,
used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the Index:

ªEngine Compartment Overviewº

ªInstrument Panelº

ªComfort Controlsº

ªAudio Systemsº
Also see ªWarning Lights and Gagesº in the Index.

1-
1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1
-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1
-8 Safety Belts: They're for Everyone
1
-12 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
1
-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1
-14 Driver Position
1
-21 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1
-22 Right Front Passenger Position
1
-22 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
1
-28 Rear Seat Passengers1
-31 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1
-34 Center Passenger Position
1
-35 Children
1
-39 Restraint Systems for Children
1
-53 Older Children
1
-56 Safety Belt Extender
1
-56 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1
-56 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to
adjust them
-- and also about reclining seatbacks
and head restraints.
Manual Seats
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don't want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat
is locked in place.

1-3 Power Lift Seat (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, to move the power lift
seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever located
under the front of the driver's seat to unlock it. Slide the
seat to where you want it and release the lever. Try to
move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is
locked into place.
To raise or lower the power lift seat, hold the switch
located on the outboard side of the driver's seat
up or down.

1-4 Six-Way Power Seat Controls (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, the power seat
control is located on
the outboard side of
the driver's seat.
This control allows you to move the seat up, down,
forward, or backward. It will also move the front or rear
of the seat cushion up or down.

Move the seat forward or rearward by pushing the
control toward the front or rear of the vehicle.

Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holding
the control up or down.

Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by
holding the front of the control up or down.

Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by
holding the rear of the control up or down.
Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, turn the knob located on
the inboard side of the driver's seat cushion clockwise
or counterclockwise to adjust support of the lower back.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to
where you want it. Release the lever to lock the
seatback. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the
seatback, and the seatback will go to an upright position.

1-5
But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can't do their job when
you're reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can't do its job because it
won't be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.

1-6 Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Seatback Latches (Two-Door Models)
The front seatbacks fold forward to let people get into
the back seat. The seatback latch is designed for
one
-handed operation.
To fold a front seatback forward, lift the seatback
latch fully without pushing forward on the seatback to
unlock it. Then the seatback will fold forward.
Push the seatback to its original position, and the
seatback will lock.
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

1-7 Easy Entry Seat (Two-Door Models)
The right front seat of your vehicle makes it easy for
people to get in and out of the rear seat.
1. Fold the right front seatback forward by lifting the
seatback latch fully.
2. The seat will slide forward to allow someone to get
into the rear seat area.
3. Push the seatback upright to lock it and slide the seat
fully rearward to lock it.
4. Adjust the seat to the desired position.
5. The front passenger should try to move the seat to
make sure the seat is locked into place.
CAUTION:
If an easy entry right front seat isn't locked,
it can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the person
sitting there could be injured. After you've used
it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat
to be sure it is locked.
Rear Seats
Folding the Rear Seatback (Option)
To fold down the rear seatback, do the following:
1. Pull the release straps
located in the trunk.
The right strap operates
the passenger's side rear
split seat. The left strap
operates the driver's
side rear split seat.
2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of
the vehicle.
To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it
to its original position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latched
securely in the fully upright position.

1-8
Safety Belts: They're for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS),
or air bag system.
CAUTION:
Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts
are fastened properly too.
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people
to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using
a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. See ªSafety
Belt Reminder Lightº in
the Index.