ignition OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1998 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: OLDSMOBILE, Model Year: 1998, Model line: INTRIGUE, Model: OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1998Pages: 340, PDF Size: 17.93 MB
Page 76 of 340

Ignition Positions
A
hB
Your ignition switch is located on the instrument panel.
With the ignition key
in the switch, you can turn the
switch to four positions:
OFF (A): Before you put the key into the ignition switch,
the switch is in OFF. It’s also the only position from which
you can remove your
key. This position locks your
ignition and transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
ACC (B): This position lets you use things like the
radio and windshield wipers when the engine is off.
Your steering wheel will unlock. Use
ACC if you must
have your vehicle pushed
or towed. This position lets
you turn off the ignition.
ON (C): This position is where the key returns after you
start the vehicle. With the engine
off, you can use ON to
display some of your warning and indicator lights.
START (D): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in OFF, ACC or ON and the
key is in the ignition.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in OFF and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
2-16
ProCarManuals.com
Page 77 of 340

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.
I 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.
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.
I 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.
2. If your engine 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
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to
15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
2-17
ProCarManuals.com
Page 81 of 340

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI). You must
fully apply your regular brakes before
you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition
is in ON. 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 pushed down. Then move the shift
lever out
of PARK (P), being sure to press the shift lever
button. See “Shifting Out
of PARK (P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift
to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N)
when your vehicle is being towed.
Shifting out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N)
while your engine is “racing” (running at high
speed) is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out
of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com
Page 85 of 340

Shifting Into PARK (P)
It can be 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.
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, use the steps that
follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever and push the lever all
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
the way toward the front of the vehicle.
2. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave with the ignition key in your hand, your
vehicle is in
PARK (P).
2-25
ProCarManuals.com
Page 87 of 340

Shifting Out of Park (P)
lour vehicle nas a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock
(BTSI). You must fully apply your regular brakes before
you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in
ON. 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 lever button
as you maintain brake application.
Then move
the shift lever out of PARK (P) into the gear
that you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK(P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACC.
2. Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
r
-
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.
2-27
ProCarManuals.com
Page 89 of 340

It can be 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’ve 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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If
you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
Windows
Power Windows
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition is on. In addition, each
passenger door has a switch for its own window.
The driver’s window switch has an auto-down fe.ature.
This switch is labeled AUTO. Tap the switch back, and
the driver’s window will open a small amount.
Tf the
switch is moved all the way back, the window will go all
the way down.
2-29
ProCarManuals.com
Page 97 of 340

The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pressing the COAST/SET button
on the steering wheel.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the COAST/SET button on the steering wheel
until
you reach the lower speed you want, then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
COASTBET button on the steering wheel for less
than a half second. Each time you do this, you’ll go
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to cancel the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal,
0 Press CLEAR on the steering wheel or
Press the CRUISE button on the instrument panel.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 98 of 340

Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the multifunction
lever on the left
of the steering wheel. They control
these systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Turn the end of the lever to this symbol to turn on
the headlamps and other operating lamps.
zoo=
- Turn the end of the lever to this symbol to turn
on the parking and other operating lamps without the
headlamps.
Turn the end of the lever to
OFF to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when you turn the ignition switch to
OFF or ACC
with the lamps on.
2-38
ProCarManuals.com
Page 99 of 340

Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on.
The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t
be lit up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on.
When it’s bright enough outside, your headlamps will
go
off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in
OFF. Then start your
vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps will
stay off until
you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps
To turn the fog lamps on,
press the fog lamp switch.
A light will glow on the
switch
to let you know that
they are on. (Your parking
lamps must be on, or your
fog lamps won’t come on.)
Press the switch again to
turn the fog lamps off.
The fog lamps will go
off whenever you change to
high-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams,
the fog lamps will come on again.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com
Page 100 of 340

Interior Lamps Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped).
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
then turn off automatically about
25 seconds after you
close it.
If you press UNLOCK and don’t open a door,
the lamps will turn off after about
40 seconds.
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel lights by
moving the interior lamps
dial. Turn the dial up
to
increase the brightness of
the instrument panel lights.
Turn the dial down to
decrease the brightness.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps
are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle.
You can also turn these
lamps
on by turning the interior lamps dial all the
way up. Illuminated entry includes
a feature called
theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don’t just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they
go out. The delay
time is canceled
if you turn the ignition key to ON, so
the lamps will dim out right away. When the ignition is
on, illuminated entry is inactive, which means the
courtesy lamps won’t come on unless a door is opened.
2-40
ProCarManuals.com