brakes Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1996 Owner's Manuals

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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
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BAllERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
UNLOCK w.
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
RUNNING
* 0
DAYTIME
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
# 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
m
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
I@
FUEL la

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
may have a shift lever on
the steering column
or
on the console between
the seats.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic
transaxle vehicles, when you’re in PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N), to protect driveline components from
improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’ in
the Index.
Make sure the shift lever is fully into PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your Oldsmobile has a
brakeLtransaxle shift interlock.
You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the RUN position. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
by
pushing it all the way into PARK (P) while keeping the
2-14

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is for
normal driving. It is the ovetdrive position. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator ppdal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
i
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with
a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than
35 mph (56 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(a) for higher speeds.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0)):
- When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
- When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed
as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
between gears.
6

NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (41 km) at speeds over 55 mph
(88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@) or
THIRD
(3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
FIRST
(1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If the
shift lever is put in
FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against.
a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into.PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on
a hill.
2-17

Parking Brake
- To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
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 any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow
it to the
released position.
2-18

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Oldsmobile has a brake-transaxle shift interlock.
You
.must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the‘RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle Operation” in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P),
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift
leyer button if you have a console shift. Then move
the shift lever out of PARK (P), being sure to press the
shift lever button if you have a console shift.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t,
shift out of PARK
(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to the OFF position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass
or other things that
can burn.
2-22

Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paddle
with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return to your
preset speed.
I
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid
can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips. Cruise
(40 km/h). %
- control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts
off.
2-28 ..

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be
a problem with your
regular brakes. 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.
Vehicle” in the Index.)
, Have the .vehicle towed for service. (See.“Towing Your
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly
if the anti-lock brake system warning
light is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock brake system warning light flashing can lead to an
accident. After you’ve pulled
off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and stays 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 light is on but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
2-48

’ C-ontrol of. a Vehicle
You have three systems ‘that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the ,steering and
,
, .= the &ccelerator. All three systems have‘to do their ‘work
s at the places where the tires meet the road. . ,.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you- have to decide to push on .the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you, have to bring up your
€oot and do it.
Thah reaction time.
Average reacbioPz time is-about 3/4 of a second. But
th&s only an average. It might be less. with :one ‘driver
-and as long as two or three seconds or more wid
mother. Age, physical condition, ,alertness, coordination
. I
is i-mportant. “I
. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly I
’ with the surface of the road (whether it’s’ pavement or
gravel); the condition
of the road.(wet, dry, icy); tire.
tread;
and the bondition of your brakes.
!
I 1
,. ~
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s .
easy to ask more of those controi systems than the tires .~ . 1 ,.
’ . --: and road can provide. That means you can lose control .~ I .*, >.L ... .,
of your vehicle.
L- ._8
8- r- ’ i
I
, -. L. . < I - :’ 7
_.
4-5 -,
:i . .,

~ ~~~~
~ ~~~ ~ Avoid needless heavy braking.
Some people drive
in spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot
of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
_. ~~~~ ~ ~~
~ ~~
Anti-Lock Brakes
Your
vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on or
flash. See “Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.