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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 “General Motors of
Canada Limited” 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.
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O.
Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s
in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
Litho
in U.S.A. @Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/03/02
Part No. 22691532
A First Edition All Rights Reserved
ii

Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part
is
behind the child. If the child wears the belt in
CAUTION: (Continued) this --ay,
in a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force
to the child’s
pelvic bones in a crash.
Infants and Young Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes
infants and all other children. Neither the distance
traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes
the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,
the law in every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up to some age
must be restrained while in a vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,
they should have the protection provided by appropriate
restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s
adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.
Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
1 -34

Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system.
If the
transmitter does not work or
if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
e
e
e
e
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check to determine
if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4.
If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
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 keyless
entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
The following functions are
available with the keyless
entry system:
@ (Lock): All doors will automatically lock when this
button on the transmitter is pressed. The interior
lamps will turn
off after all of the doors are closed. If all
of the doors are closed, the parking lamps will flash
twice and the horn will chirp to indicate locking
has occurred.
2-4

Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about four years.
You can tell the battery
is weak if the transmitter won’t
work at the normal range in any location.
If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it’s probably time to change the battery.
Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage the
transmitter.
To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry
transmitter do the following:
1. Use a flat object like a coin to separate the bottom
half from the top half of the transmitter.
2. Remove the battery and replace it with the new
one. Make sure the positive side of the battery
faces
up. Use one three-volt, CR2032, or
equivalent, type battery.
3. Put the two halves back together. Make sure the
cover is on tightly,
so water won’t get in.
2-6

Starting Your 2.2L L4 ECOTECTM
Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at
a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start, wait about 15 seconds and
try again to start the engine by turning the ignition
key to START. Wait about
15 seconds between
each try.
When your engine has run about
10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Don’t
“race” your engine when it’s cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°F or O’C), let
the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
iioor and hoiding
it there as you noia the key in
START for about three seconds.
If the vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six
seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Nofice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine
might not perform properly.
Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine warms up.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If the engine doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down while you turn the key to START.
Do this until
the engine starts. As soon as it does, let go of
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2-1 9

The system may also be 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 Automatic
Headlamp System
so that driving under bridges or bright
overhead street lights does not affect the system. The
DRL and Automatic Headlamp 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 system off, set the parkin9
brake while the ignition is
off. Then start the vehicle.
The system will stay
off until you release the parking
brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
Headlamps Off in PARK (P)
To turn the headlamps off when it is dark outside, turn
the exterior lamps control
to the parking lamp position.
In this position, the parking lamps, sidemarker lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps and instrument panel
lights will be on, but the headlamps will be off.
To turn on the headlamps along with the other lamps
when it is dark outside, turn the exterior lamps control
to
the AUTO or headlamp position.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature will continue to
illuminate the headlamps for
20 seconds after the key is
turned to
OFF, then the headlamps will automatically
turn off.
To override the
20 second delayed headlamp feature
while it is active turn the turn signal/muItifunction
lever up one position and then back
to AUTO.
Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, the button for your fog
lamps is located on the instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel, beside the instrument panel
brightness thumbwheel.
When using the fog lamps, the ignition must be on as
well as the parking lamps or the low-beam headlamps.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
Press the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
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headlamps are turned on. When the high beams
are turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
3-1 5

Low Oil Level Light
LOW
OIL
If your vehicle is equipped
with a
3400 V6 engine,
then you
will have a LOW
OIL light in your
instrument panel cluster.
This light will come on briefly when you start your
vehicle.
If the light stays on after starting your vehicle, or comes
on and chimes while you are driving, your engine
oil
level should be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut
off for several minutes and is on a level
surface. Check the oil level on your dipstick and bring it
to the proper level. See
Engine Oil on page 5-15.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between when the key is on and
the engine is cranking. It does not monitor engine oil level
when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level
check is only performed
if the engine has been turned off
for a considerable period of time allowing the oil normally
in circulation to drain back into the oil pan.
Change Engine Oil Light
CHANGE
OIL
The CHANGE OIL light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine. If the light
' doesn't come on, have it
~ serviced.
I I
If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on after
you start the engine, have the oil changed.
To reset the CHANGE
OIL light, see Engine Oil on
page 5- 15.
3-35

RCL (Recall): Push this knob to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time.
Pushing this knob with the ignition
off will display
the time.
For XMTM (USA only,
if your radio is equipped with
XMTM Satellite Radio Service), pressing this button while
in XMTM mode to retrieve various pieces of information
related to the current song or channel. By pressing
and releasing the RCL button, you may retrieve
four different categories of information: Artist,
Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel
NumberKhannel Name.
For DAB (Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with
DAB), pushing this knob switches the display between
channel name and PTY name.
To change the default on the display, push the knob
until you see the display you want, then hold the knob
until the display flashes. The selected display will
now be the default.
Finding a Station
BAND: Press this button to switch between AM, FMI,
FM2, or XMI, XM2 (USA only,
if your radio is
equipped with XMTM Satellite Radio Service) or DAB1 or
DAB2 (Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with
DAB). The display will show your selection.
TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations.
For DAB (Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with
DAB), the TUNE knob allows you to navigate the
DAB frequency range. Turning this knob will tune up or
tune down the range. The radio will display the letter
L with a number next to it (1 through 23). Each L number
refers to a frequency and there can be multiple
stations contained in one frequency. It may also take a
few seconds, once you have tuned to a frequency,
for that frequency to gather all of the stations.
Depending on how many stations are within a frequency,
with every tune up or down, you may be tuning to
another station or to another frequency. The display
will
show your selections.
< SEEK > : Press the right or the left arrow to go to
the next or to the previous station and stay there.
The radio will seek only to stations that are in the
selected band and only to those with a strong signal.
3-44

Playing a Compact Disc
With the ignition on, insert a disc partway into the slot,
label side up. The player will pull it in and the disc
should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD when
the ignition is
off, first press the eject button or the RCL
knob.
If you insert a CD with the radio off and the
ignition on,
it will start to play.
When the disc is inserted, the CD symbol will be
displayed.
If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will
be activated each time you play a CD.
As each new track starts to play, the track number will
appear on the display.
If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc
Messages’’ later in this section.
1 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release it to play the passage. The
display will show elapsed time.
2 Fwn {Fw!!!!zrt!): Press 2nd hn!d fhk pnchh!ttC)r? t!
advance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release it to play the passage. The
display will show elapsed time.
4 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the
tracks in random, rather than sequential,
order.
RDM and the track number will appear on the display.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press AUTO EQ to
select the desired equalization setting while playing
a compact disc. The equalization will be automatically
set whenever you play a compact disc. See “AUTO
EQ”
listed previously for more information.
< SEEK > : Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current track
if more than eight seconds have
played. Press the right arrow to
go to the next track. If
you hold either button or press it more than once,
the player will continue moving backward or forward
through the disc.
< SCAN > : Press and hold either arrows for more
than two seconds until SCAN and the track number
appear on the display and you hear a beep. The disc will
go to the next track, play for
a few seconds, th-an go
on to the next track. Press either arrow again to
stop scanning.
RCL (Recall): Push this knob to see how long the
current track has been playing. To change the default
knob until you see the display you want, then hold the
knob until the display flashes. The selected display
will now be the default. While elapsed time is showing,
EL TM will appear on the display.
BAND: Press this buttm tG liste:: tG the radio when a
CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely
inside the radio for future listening.
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3-5 1

RCL (Recall): Push this knob to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time.
Pushing this knob with the ignition off
Will display
the time.
For XMTM (USA only,
if your radio is equipped with
XMTM Satellite Radio Service), pressing this button while
in XMTM mode to retrieve various pieces of information
related to the current song or channel. By pressing
and releasing the RCL button, you may retrieve
four different categories of information: Artist,
Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel
NumberEhannel Name.
For DAB (Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with
DAB), pushing this knob switches the display between
channel name and PTY name.
To change the default on the display, push the knob
until you see the display you want, then hold the knob
until the display flashes. The selected display will
now be the default.
Finding a Station
BAND: Press this button to switch between AM, FM,
FM2, or XMI
, XM2 (USA only, if your radio is equipped
with XMTM Satellite Radio Service) or DABI, DAB2
(Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with DAB). The
display will show your selection.
TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.
For DAB (Canada only,
if your radio is equipped with
DAB), the TUNE knob allows you to navigate the
DAB frequency range. Turning this knob will tune up or
tune down the range. The radio will display the letter
L with a number next to it (1 through 23). Each L number
refers to a frequency and there can be multiple
stations contained in one frequency. It may also take a
few seconds, once you have tuned to a frequency,
for that frequency
to gather all of the stations.
Depending on how many stations are within a frequency,
with every tune up or down, you may be tuning to
another station or to another frequency. The display will
show your selections.
< SEEK > : Press the right or the left arrow to go to
the next or to the previous station and stay there.
The radio will seek only to stations that are
in the
selected band and only to those with a strong signal.
3-54