steering Oldsmobile Intrigue 2001 s User Guide

2-38
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the CRUISE
button on the right side
of the instrument panel
to turn it on. A light on
the button will indicate
that the system is on.2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the COAST SET
button on your steering
wheel and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster will
come on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. It will go off when you do the following:

Step lightly on the brake pedal,

press CLEAR on the steering wheel or

press the CRUISE button on the instrument panel.

2-39
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course shuts off
the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
press the RES ACCEL button on your steering wheel.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the COAST SET button on the steering wheel,
then release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You'll now cruise at the higher speed.

Press the RES ACCEL button on the steering wheel.
Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want
and then release the button. (To increase your speed
in very small amounts, press the RES ACCEL button
briefly and then release it. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
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
COAST SET button on the steering wheel briefly
and then release it. 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.

2-40
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:

Step lightly on the brake pedal,

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.Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the multifunction lever
on the left of the steering wheel. They control the
following systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

2-54
Emergency Button: In an emergency situation,
press the emergency service button. Upon receiving the
call, an advisor at the center will locate your vehicle and
assess the situation. If necessary, the advisor will alert
the nearest emergency service provider.
Call ANSWER/END Button: Use this button
to answer a call. (If you are receiving a call, the audio
system will mute, and the ring will be heard). Press this
button at the end of a call to disconnect and return the
audio system to its previous settings. This button will
also cancel a call if one of the buttons is accidentally
pressed or if the automatic redial function is activated.
Volume Control: You can control the volume of the
OnStar system using either the volume control knob on
the radio or by using the audio steering wheel controls
(if equipped).
Telltale Light: This light will indicate the status of
the system. A solid green light will come on when you
start the vehicle to let you know that the system is on
and is ready to make or receive calls.
If the light blinks green it means that an incoming or
outgoing call is in progress. Press the Call ANSWER/END
button if you notice the light blinking and you are not on
a call.
The light will be red in the event of an OnStar system
malfunction. If this occurs press the OnStar button to
attempt to contact an advisor. If the connection is made,
the advisor will assist you with steps to take to make
sure that the system is functioning properly. If you
cannot contact the advisor, take your vehicle to your
dealership as soon as possible for assistance.

2-59
Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast
you're going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
The main components of your instrument panel are listed below:
A. Side Window Defogger Vents
B. Instrument Panel Outlets
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Windshield Wipers/Washer Fluid Lever
F. Cruise Control (CRUISE) Button
G. Hazard Button
H. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
I. Instrument Panel Dimmer Thumbwheel
J. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped)
K. Trunk Lid Release Button
L. Storage BinM. Trip Odometer
N. Tilt Wheel Lever (behind the steering wheel)
O. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
P. Horn
Q. Cruise Control Switches (RES ACCEL, CLEAR,
COAST SET)
R. Ignition Switch
S. Accessory Power Outlets
T. Comfort Controls
U. Audio System
V. Glove Box

2-68 Precision Control System (PCS) Warning
Light (Option)
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly as you start your engine.
If the light doesn't come on then, have it serviced so it will
be ready to warn you if there's a problem.
If the PCS warning light comes on, it means there
may be a problem with your Precision Control System.
When this light comes on, so will the TRAC OFF light
and both the Precision Control System and the Traction
Control System will not be functioning. If these lights
come on, try to reset the system (stop; turn off the
engine; then start the engine again). If the PCS and
TRAC OFF lights remain on, it means there is a
problem and you should see your dealer for service.
Reduce your speed and drive accordingly.
Low Traction Active (LOW TRAC) Light
Your LOW TRAC
(Low Traction Active)
light may come on for one
of the following reasons:

The Precision Control System (PCS) (if equipped)
is active and is adjusting brake pressure to help your
vehicle continue to go in the direction in which you
are steering. The PCS activates when the computer
senses that your vehicle is starting to spin, as might
happen if you hit a patch of ice or other slippery
surface on the road, and assists the driver by
selectively applying any one of the vehicle's brakes.
The system is designed to help you in bad weather
or other difficult driving situations by making the
most of whatever road conditions will allow. When
the system is on, you may hear a noise or feel a
vibration in the brake pedal. This is normal.

The optional Traction Control System is active
and is limiting wheel spin. You may feel the system
working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions
may exist, so adjust your driving accordingly.

3-
3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Air Conditioning with Electronic Controls
3
-4 Air Conditioning
3
-5 Air Conditioning with Automatic and
Auxiliary Temperature Control (If Equipped)
3
-9 Rear Window Defogger
3
-10 Ventilation System
3
-11 Audio Systems
3
-11 Setting the Clock
3
-11 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control3
-15 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone
Control (If Equipped)
3
-22 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-24 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
3
-24 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-24 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-25 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-26 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-26 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-27 Backglass Antenna

3-24 Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, you can
control certain radio
functions using the
buttons on your
steering wheel.
VOL: Press the up or down arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
SEEK: Press this button to tune to a higher radio station.
When playing a cassette tape or compact disc, press SEEK
to hear the next selection. There must be at least a
three
-second gap between selections on a cassette tape.
PROG: Press this button to tune in a higher preset radio
station. When playing a cassette tape, press PROG to
hear the other side of a tape that is playing. When
playing a CD, this button will seek to the next selection.
Understanding Radio Reception
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).
Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals,
causing the sound to come and go.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.

4-
4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Control System (Option)
4
-12 Steering
4
-14 Off-Road Recovery
4
-14 Passing
4
-16 Loss of Control
4
-17 Driving at Night4
-19 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-22 City Driving
4
-23 Freeway Driving
4
-24 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-25 Highway Hypnosis
4
-25 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-27 Winter Driving
4
-31 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-31 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-33 Towing a Trailer

4-6
Control 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 accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
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
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.