key Oldsmobile Alero 2003 Owner's Manuals

The 2003 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual a
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-32
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
...................................... 1-53
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-60
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
................................................. 2-1 4
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-1 6
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-17
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-32
Siorage Areas
......................................... 2-34
Sunroof .................................................. 2-35
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
...................................... 3-1 9
.w .arning Lights, Gages and indicators ......... 3-23
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-38
Features and Controls
..................................... 2-1
Instrument Panel
............................................. 3-1 Driving Your Vehicle
....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
................................................... 4-31
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under
the
Hood ............................................... 5-9
Headlamp Aiming
..................................... 5-47
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-52
Tires
...................................................... 5-53
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-72
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-80
Electrical System
...................................... 5-81
Zapai;iiit=s at-tii ~J~LIIIL~LIUI I> 5-w~
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ...... 5-88
Maintenance Schedule ........................... ... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information
.................... 7-1
Customer
Assistance iniorrnation .................. 7-2
Index ................................................................. 1
Service
and Appearance Care
.......................... 5-1
n.- - -:I: - -1: - .- - .....................

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt
in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, see
Driver Position on page 1-75.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt
- except for one
thing.
If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out
all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking
feature.
if this happens, just iet the beit go back aii
the way and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the
rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
1-23

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
Service Publications
Ordering Information
on page 7- 10.
For up tc .D minutes after the igniti,.i 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.
1-59

Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ............................................................... 2.2
Remote Keyless Entry System
......................... 2.3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
.......... -2-4
Doors and
Locks ............................................. 2-7
Door Locks
................................................... -2-7
Power Door Locks
.......................................... 2-8
Delayed Locking
............................................ -2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
................................................ 2.8
Rear Door Security Locks
.............................. 2-10
Lockout Protection
........................................ 2.11
Leaving Your Vehicle
.................................... 2-1 1
Trunk .......................................................... 2-1 1
Windows .......................... ...................... -2-1 4
Manual Windows
...................................... -2-1 4
Power Windows
............................. ....... 2.15
Sun Visors
............................................... 2.15
Theft-Deterrent Systems
.................................. 2.16
Passlock@
@ ................................................. 2.16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................ 2.17
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2.17
Ignition Positions
.......................................... 2.17 Starting
Your Engine
................................. 2.18
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2.20
Automatic Transaxle Operation
....................... 2.22
Manual Transaxle Operation
........................... 2.25
Parking Brake
.............................................. 2.26
Parking Your Vehicle/Key Removal
.................. 2-29
Engine Exhaust
............................................ 2-30
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
.... 2-30
Mirrors
........................................................... 2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror
................................. 2-32
Outside Remote Control Mirror
....................... 2-32
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-33
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-33
Storage Areas
................................................ 2-34
Glove Box
................................................... 2.34
Cupnoiaerjsj
d-34
Center Console Storage Area ......................... 2-34
Sunroof
......................................................... 2.35
Shifting Into
Park
(P) ..................................... 2-27
Shifting Out
of Park (P) ................................. 2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-29
n e’ ................................................
2- 1

Keys
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.
2-2

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
See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5 for more
information.
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Notice: Your vehicle has a number of new features
that can help prevent theft. 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
spare keys.
Remote Keyless Entry System
If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
i . I nis aevice may nor cause inierfererlce, arid
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
-.
2-3

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

6 (Unlock): The driver’s door will unlock
automatically when this button on the transmitter is
pressed.
If the 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.
(rsy (Remote Trunk Release): The trunk will unlock
when the vehicle symbol on the transmitter is pressed,
as long as the trunk lockout
is not engaged. You
can open the trunk with the transmitter when the vehicle
speed is less than
2 mph (3 km/h), when the parking
brake is engaged, or when the ignition is
off. The interior
lamps will come on for
10 seconds or until the ignition
switch is turned to
ON.
.# (Horn): The horn will sound and the headlamps
and the parking lamps will flash for up to two minutes
when the horn symbol on the transmitter is pressed. The
interior
lamps will come on and remain on while the
horn is sounding and the lamps are flashing. The horn
and lamps 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 keyless entry 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 keyless entry 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
ynlIr 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 a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
2-5

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

Doors and Locks
Door Lcnks
~~ -
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers - especially children - can
easily open
the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door
is locked, the
handle won’t open
it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors aren’t locked. So,
wear safety belts properly and lock the
doors whenever you drive.
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave
it.
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent
this from happening.
Young children who get into unlocked
szcer per!?laK!n! i!?;wies cr e‘!e!? del!!?
0 Outsiders can easily enter through an There are
several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or remote keyless
entry system, if your vehicle
is equipped with this
feature.
If your vehicle has remote keyless entry, you
can only use your key to unlock the driver’s side door.
From tne insiae, you can iock or uniock
ine door by
moving the manual lever forward or rearward.
2-7