The 1997 Oldsrnobile Eighty Eight Owner’s Manual I 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains“SRS” the system. 2-1 Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your Oldsmobile. 3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. 4-1 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. 5-1 Problems on the Road This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. 6- 1 Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly and looking good. 7-1 Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. 8-1 Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page8-8. 9-1 Index Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You canit use to quickly find something you w’ant to read. i We support voluntary I technician certification. b I 1 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, theGM Emblem, WE SUPPORT OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN and the name EIGHTY EIGHT are registered CERTIFICATIONTHROUGH trademarks of General Motors Corporation. National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE This manual includesthe latest information at the timeit EXCELLENCE was printed.We reserve the right to make changesin the product after that time without further notice.For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name 'General Motors of Canada Limited"for Oldsmobile For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a Division wheneverit appears in this manual. French Lahguage Manual: Please keep this manualin your Oldsmobile,so it will Aux propriCtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous be there if you ever needit when you're on the road.I€ procurer un exemplairede ce guide enfiangais chez you sell the vehicle, please leavethis manual init so the votre concessionaireou au: new owner canuse it. DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, OntarioL5T IC7 Litho in U.S.A. ) Copyright General Motors Corporation 1996 Part No. 22652544 B First Edition All Rights Reserved How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manualfrom beginning end when theyfirst receive their new vehicle.If you do this, it will help you learn aboutthe features and These mean thereis something that could hurt controls for your vehicle.In this manual, you’llfind you or other people. that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. In the caution area, we tell you whatthe hazard is. Then Index we tell you what todo to help avoid or reducethe A good place to lookfor what you needis the Index in hazard. Please read these cautions.If you don’t, you or the back of the manual. It’s an alphabeticallist of all others could be hurt. that’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll You will also find a circle find it. with a slash through init this book. This safety Safety Warnings and Symbols symbol means “Don’t,” You will find a numberof safety cautionsin this book. “Don’t do this,” or “Don’t We use a box andthe word CAUTION to tell you let this happen.’’ about things that could hurt youif you were to ignore the warning. iii Vehicle DamageWarnings In thenotice area, wetell you about something that can damage your- vehicle.Many times, this damage would Also in this.book youwill find these notices: not be covered by your warranty, and it couldbe costly. But the notice will tellyou what to do to help avoid NOTICE: the damage. When you read other manuals, you mightsee CAUTION These mean thereis something that could and NOTICE warnings in merent colors or in damage your vehicle. Werent words. You’ll also see warning labelson your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. I iv Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are usedon an for you and your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: your passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is WINDSHIELD CAUTION driven: Q POSSIBLE A FUSE INJURY COOLANT - TEMP - DOOR LOCK TURN PROTECT UNLOCK SIGNALS t EYES BY e BAITERY LIGHTER m SHIELDING CHARGING I-1 SYSTEM CAUSTIC WINDSHIELD HORN FASTEN DEFROSTER )tr SEAT BRAKE BELTS (a) BURNS COOLANT SPEAKER WINDOW b DEFOGGER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE e,FUEL SPARK OR ,\I/, la FLAME VENTILATING COULD FAN EXPLODE FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK (@) $0 BRAKES BATTERY V NOTES 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls Power .Seat(If Equipped) This section tellsyou about the seats-- how to To adjust the power seat: adjust them-- and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints, Seat Control (A): Raise the front of the seatby holding Manual Front Seat the front of the switch up. Lower the frontof the seat by holding the frontof the switch down. You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to 4- adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicleis moving. The sudden movement could startle and Raise the rearof the seatby holding the rearof the confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you switch up. Lower the rearof the seatby holding the rear don't want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when of the switch down. the vehicle is not moving. Move the seat higher by holding the switch up. Lower the seatby holding the switch down. Pull up on the control bar underfront the of the seat to Move the seat forwardby holding the switch forward. unlock it. Slide the seat to whereyou want it. Then Move the seat backby holding the switch back. release the bar andtry to move the seat with your body, Seatback Control (B): Tilt the seatback forwardby to make sure the seat is lockedinto place. holding the switch forward. Tilt the seatback backward by holding the switch back. 1-2 Reclining Front Seatbacks I'II j I To adjust the seatback,lift the lever on the outer sideof the seatand move the seatback to where you want it. But don't have a seatbackrechid if your vehicle moving.is Release the lever lock to the seatback.Pull ..up on the lever rind the seatwill go to an upright position. Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicleis in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle CAUTION: (Continued) 1-3 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone -AUTION: (C itinued) This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts up, your safetybelts can’t do their jobwhen properly. It also tells you some things you should not do you’re reclined like this. with safety belts. The shoulderbelt can’t do its jobbecause it And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), won’t be against yourbody. Instead, itwill be in or air bag system. front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or otherinjuries. The lapbelt can’t do itsjob either. In a crash the belt could go up over yourabdomen. The belt forces would be there, notat your pelvic bones. Don’t let anyone ride wherehe or she can’t wear This could cause serious internal injuries. a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and For proper protection when the vehicle is in you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well can be much worse. You can hit things inside the back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured orkilled. In thesame crash,you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your Head Restraints safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts Slide the head restraint up or downso that the top.of the are fastened properlytoo. restraint is closest tothe top of your ears. This position reduces the chanceof a neck injury in a crash. On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and rearward also. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why:They work. You never knowif you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a It is extremely dangerousto ridein a cargo area, crash, you don’tknow if it will bea bad one. inside or outsideof a vehicle. In a collision, A few crashes are mild, and some crashes canso be people riding in these areasare more likely to be serious that even buckled aup person wouldn’t survive. seriously injured orkilled. Do not allow people to But most crashes are in between. In many of them, , ride in any areaof your vehicle that is not people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk equipped with seats and safetybelts. Be sure away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt everyone in yourvehicle is in a seat andusing a or killed. safety beltproperly. After more than25 years of safety beltsin vehicles, the facts are clear.In most crashes bucklingup does matter ..