warning light OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 1997 Owners Manual

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used
on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BAllERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATIERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
FOG LAMPS
# 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
(
These symbols
are used on
warning
and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER
HORN
)cr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL B
V
ProCarManuals.com

Section 2 Features and Controls
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-8
2-11
2-13
2-13
2- 14
2-
15
2- 17
2-2
1
2-21
2-25
2-26
Here
you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Oldsmobile, and infomation 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.
Important Information About Keys
Door Locks Operation of Child Security Locks
Remote Lock Control
Battery Replacement for Remote
Lock Control
Preventing Theft of Your Vehicle
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Tips on Starting Your Engine
Using the Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Second-Gear Start
Parking Brake Guidelines Important Information on Engine Exhaust
Operation of Your Windows 2-27
2-28
2-29
2-30
2-32
2-35
2-36
2- 37
2-39
2-41
2-45
2-46
2-50 Adjusting
the Tilt Steering Wheel
Functions of the Multifunction Lever
How to Use the High/Low-Beam
Headlamp Changer
Windshield Wipers and Fluid Using Cruise Control
Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (Dm) and
Automatic Light Control
(ALC)
Interior Lamps
Rearview Mirrors Storage Compartments
Sunroof
Instrument Panel Overview
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages
2-1
~
ProCarManuals.com

ACC (Accessory) (B): This position unlocks the
transaxle. It
also lets you use things like the radio and
windshield wipers when the engine is not running.
To
use ACC, push in the key and turn it to the right. Use
this position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed,
but never
try to push-start your vehicle.
ON (C): This position unlocks the ignition and
transaxle.
This position is also where the key returns
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even
when the engine
is not running, you can use ON to
operate your electrical power accessories, and to display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (D): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to
ON for normal driving.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Oldsmobile
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Your 3100 Engine
1. Without pushing 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Second-Gear Start
Your vehicle is equipped with a second-gear start
feature. Place the shift lever in SECOND
(2) gear to
provide more traction when you are starting on ice
or other slippery surfaces. The transaxle will be in
SECOND
(2) gear when the vehicle begins to move.
After starting in SECOND
(2) gear, place the shift lever
in THIRD
(3) or DRIVE (D).
This feature is only for improved traction only when
the road surface is slippery and
is not intended for
continuous use or when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow
or gravel.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning
light will come on. To
release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down on the
parking brake pedal with your left foot.
If the parking
brake
is not released when you begin to drive, a chime
will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could
also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com

To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
A warning chime signal will come on if you have left
your turn signal on for more than
3/4 mile (1 km).
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow
flashes rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrow doesn’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
Headlamp High/Low Beam
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high
beam, push forward on the
turn signaUmultifunction
lever.
To change the
headlamps from high beam
to low beam, pull the turn
signal lever backward.
When the high bearns are
I I on, a light on the instrument
panel also will be on.
Flash to Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver
in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signaYmultifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them
off.
ProCarManuals.com

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your Oldsmobile is equipped with this cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages \
that are explained
on the following pages. Be sure to read them.
I 2-48
ProCarManuals.com

Tachometer
I
4
RPM
x 1000
The tachometer shows your engine speed in revolutions
per minute
(rpm).
I NOTICE:
Do not run your engine at speeds in the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions.
As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you
know they're working. If you
are familiar with this section, you should not be
alarmed when this happens.
ProCarManuals.com

Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s
advice. Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt
is already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds, then
it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt
is already buckled,
neither the chime nor the
light will come on.
2-51
ProCarManuals.com

Brake System Warning Light
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part
can still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
ON. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s
a
problem.
If the light and chime come on while you are driving,
pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer
to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing
Your Vehicle’’
in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come
on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will
come on when you turn
your ignition on or start your engine and it
will
stay on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on and the chime sounds, 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 Oldsmobile 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 “Brake System Warning
Light” earlier in
this section.
ProCarManuals.com