User manual OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT 1998

The 1998 Oldsrnobile Eighty Eight Owner's Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tellsyou how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the "SRS" system. 2-1 3-1 4- 1 5- 1 Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. Problems on the Road This section tells what do if you have a problem while driving, such a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. to as 6- 1 7-1 8-1 Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how keep your vehicle running properly and looking good. to Maintenance Schedule This section tellsyou when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile assistance and how to get service and owner publications. for It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-8. 9- 1 Index Here's an alphabetical listing almost every subjectin this manual. You can use it to quickly find of something you want to read. i We support voluntary technician certification. Oldsmobile GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem and the name EIGHTY EIGHT are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includesthe latest information at the time it was printed.We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motorsof Canada Limited"for Oldsmobile Division whenever it appears this manual. in WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION THROUGH National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Please keep this manual your vehicle,so it will be in Aux proprigtaires canadiens:Vous pouvez vous there if you ever need when you're on the road. If you procurer un exemplaire de guide en franpis chez it ce sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in the new it so votre concessionaireou au: owner can use it. DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 MeyersideDr. Mississauga, OntarioLST 1B9 Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 22656195B First Edition @Copyright General Motors Corporation 1997 All Rights Reserved ii How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manual beginning from If to end when they receive their new vehicle. you first do this,it will help you learn aboutthe features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. These mean there something that could hurt is you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. you don't, you or If others could be hurt. I Index A good place to look what you needis the Indexin for back of the manual. It'san alphabetical listof what's in the manual, and the page number where you'll it. find 1 You will also find circle a Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number safety cautionsin this book. of We use a box and word CAUTION to tell you the about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. with a slash through in it this book. This safety symbol means "Don't," "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen." iii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also in this book you will find these notices: In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and could be costly. it to do But the notice will tell you what to help avoid the damage. see When you read other manuals, you might CAUTION n and NOTICE warningsi different colors or in Merent words. I NOTICE: These mean there something that could is damage your vehicle. You'll also see warning labelson your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. iv Vehicle Symbols These are someof the symbols you may on your vehicle, find For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS A These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: These symbols are on some of your controls: WINDSHIELD WIPER Thes'e syfibols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS e WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER COOLANT TEMP BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM -FI-1 FUSE LIGHTER t n )tr FASTEN SEAT BELTS BRAKE (a) HORN COOLANT WINDOW DEFOGGER a () @ SPEAKER SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BAllERY ,\I/, FOG LAMPS ENGINE OIL PRESSURE e, FUEL 30 b B V VENTILATING FAN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES b % NOTES Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about seats in your Oldsmobile and how to use your safety properly. You can the belts not also learn about some things you should do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 1-5 1-9 1-10 1- 10 1- 17 1-18 1-18 1-24 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're Everyone for Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Center Passenger Position 1-26 1-29 1-3 1 1-34 1-47 1-50 1-50 1-50 Rear Seat Passengers Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Children for and Small Adults Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls This section tellsyou about the seats-- how to adjust them -- and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Pull up on the control bar under the front seat to of the you unlock it. Slide the seat to where want it. Then and your release the bar try to move the seat with body, is to make sure the seat locked into place. Manual Front Seat Power Seat (If Equipped) To adjust the power seat, read the following instructions. Seat Control(A): Raise the front of the seatby holding the front of the switchup. Lower the front the seat of by holding the front the of switch down. , CriUTION: h You can lose control the vehicle if you to of try adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is moving. Thesudden movement could startle and confuse you,or make you push a pedal when you don't wantto. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving. 1-2 Raise the rear of the seat by holding rear of the the switch up. Lower rear of the seat by holdingthe rear the of the switch down. the Move the seat higher by holding switch up. Lower the seat by holding the switch down. Move the seat forward by holding the switch forward. Move the seat back by holding switch back. the Reclining Front Seatbacks Seatback Control(B): Tilt the seatback forward by holding the switch forward. Tilt seatback backward the by holding the switch back. To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of the seat and move seatback to where you want the it. Release thelever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the to lever and the seat will go an upright position. 1-3 I Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't their job when do you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't dojob because it its won't be against your body. Instead, it will bein front of you, In a crashyou couldgo into it, receiving neckor other injuries. The lap belt can't do its either, In a crash the job belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not your pelvic bones. at This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehiclein is motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and your safety belt properly. wear But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or downthat the top the so of This restraint is closest to the top of your ears. position reduces the chanceof a neck injury in a crash. 1-4 On some models, the head restraints forward and tilt rearward also. CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to in a cargo ride area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likelyto be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in anyarea of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats safety belts. Be sure and everyone in your vehicle is in a and using a seat safety belt properly. Safety Belts: They'refor Everyone This part of the manual tells you how use safety belts to things you should notdo properly. It also tells you some with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. IA CAUTION: Don't let anyoneride where heor she can't wear a safety belt properly. you are in acrash and If you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. can hit things inside the You vehicle or be ejected from it. can be seriously You injured or killed. In the samecrash, you might not beif you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. 1 Your vehicle has a light that comes onas a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as as fast it goes. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to They work. wear safety belts. Here's why: You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know it will be a bad one. if A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can so be serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashesare in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's a seat just on wheels. 1-6 I Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.The rider doesn't stop. 1-7 The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, could be the windshield. it .. or the instrument panel ... 1-8 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts and the Answers -@' Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident ifI'm wearing a safety belt? A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, much greater if is you are belted. @ If my vehicle has air bags, why shouldhave to I wear safety belts? A: or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as vehicle does. the You get more time to stop. stop over more distance, You take the forces. That's why and your strongest bones safety belts make such good sense. Air bags arein many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; they work with so safety belts-- not insteadof them. Every air bag system ever offered sale has required the use for of safety belts. Even if you're a vehicle that has air in bags, you still have to buckle to get the most up protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-9 If I'm a good driver, andI never drive far from home, why shouldI wear safety belts? First, you'll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We'll start with the driver position. A: You may be an excellent driver, but you're in an if accident -- even one that isn't your fault you and -your passengerscan be hurt. Being a good driver doesn't protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within miles (40 km) of 25 home. Andthe greatest numberof serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds less than40 mph of (65 km/h). Safety belts arefor everyone. Driver Position This part describes the driver's restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver hasa lap-shoulder belt. Here's how wear to it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat (tosee how, see "Seats" in the Index) so you can sit up straight. How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This partis only for peopleof adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller If children and babies. a childwill `beriding in your vehicle, see the part ofthis manual called "Children." Follow those rules for everyone's protection. 1-10 L 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull belt across you. the Don't let it get twisted. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. P l up on the latch plate to make sure is secure. If ul it the belt isn't long enough, see "Safety Belt Extender'' at the end of this section. Make surethe release button onthe buckle is positioned so you would beable to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. worn low and snugon The lap partof the belt should be the hips, just touching the thighs.a crash,this applies In force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd be less likely If to slide under the lap belt. you slid under it, the belt This would apply force at your abdomen. could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or crash. 1-11 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Before you begin to drive, move shoulder belt the adjuster to the height that is rightyou. for To move it down, squeeze the release handle and move the height adjuster to the desired position. can move You on the adjusterup just by pushing up the bottomof the to release handle. After you move the adjuster where 1-12 @ What's wrong with this? You can be seriously hurt your shoulder belt if is too loose.In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly as much protection this way. 1-13