IThe 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Owner’s Manual Seats and Restraint Systems .............................................................. 1-1 This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly.It also explains the “SRS” system. FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1 This section explains ‘howto start and operate your Oldsmobile. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems..................................................... 3-1 This section tells you howto adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1 Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1 This section tells you what todo if you have a problem while driving, such asflat a tire or overheated engine, etc. Service and Appearance Care............................................................ 6-1 Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly and looking good. Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 7-1 This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1 This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobilefor assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also givesyou information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page8-7. Index ................................................................................ 9-1 Here’s an alphabetical listingof almost every subjectin this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. i We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS,GM and theG$ Emblem, WE SUPPORT OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem VOLUNTARYTECHNICIAN and the name EIGHTY-EIGHT are registered CERTIFICATION THROUGH trademarks of General Motors Corporation. National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE This manual includes the latest information at the ittime 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 Motorsof Canada Limited”for Oldsmobile For Canadian OwnersWho Prefer a Division wheneverit appears in this manual. French Language Manual: Please keepthis manual in your Oldsmobile,so it will Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous be there if you ever needit when you’re on the road.If procurer un exemplaire dece guide en frangais chez you sell the vehicle, please leave this manualin it so the votre concessionaireou au: new ownernewit.usecan 1 -DGNMarketing Services Ltd. ,4 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, OntarioLST 1C7 I Litho in U.S.A. @Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995 Part No. 22640104.A First Edition All Rights Reserved D. I. II How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner’s manualfrom beginning to end when theyfirst receive their new vehicle.If you do this, it will help you learn aboutthe features and These mean thereis something thatcould hurt controls for your vehicle. Inthis manual, you’ll find that you or other people. pictures and words work together explain to things quickly. Index In the caution area,we tell you what the hazard is. Then A good place to lookfor what you need isthe Index in we tell you what todo to help avoid or reduce the the back of the manual. It’s an alphabeticallist of all hazard. Please read these cautions.If you don’t, youor that’s in the manual, andthe page number where you’ll others could be hurt. find it. You will also find a circle Safety Warnings and Symbols with a slash throughit in You will find a numberof safety cautionsin this book. this book. This safety We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about symbol means “Don’t,’’ things that could hurtyou if you were to ignorethe “Don’t do this,” or “Don’t warning. let this happen.” iil r Vehicle Damage Warnings not be cov&&dby your warranty, andit could be costly. But the notice will tellyou what todo to help avoid the Also in this book youwill find these notices: damage. I When you read other manuals, you 'might see CAUTION NOTICE: and NOTICE warnings in different colors orin different words. These mean there is something that could You'll also see warning labelson your vehicle. They use damage your vehicle. the same words, CAUTIONor NOTICE. In the notice area, wetell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times,this damage would iv Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbolsyou 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 used on an for you and your lights: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: your passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is CAUTION driven: POSSIBLE WIPER A FUSE INJURY w COOLANT - TEMP - DOOR LOCK TURN PROTECT EYES BY UNLOCK SIGNALS e e BATTERY LIGHTER m SHIELDING CHARGING I-1 SYSTEM CAUSTIC BATTERY FASTEN WINDSHIELD HORN DEFROSTER )a( ACID COULD .SEAT BRAKE CAUSE BELTS (a) BURNS COOLANT SPEAKER. AVOID WINDOW a SPARKS OR c> POWER DEFOGGER FLAMES WINDOW ENGINE OIL w, PRESSURE FUEL*e3 SPARK OR ,\I/, FLAME COULD EXPLODE FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK (@) $0 BRAKES BATTERY V NOTES vi. Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you’llfind information about the seatsin your Manual Front Seat Oldsmobile and howto use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some thingsyou should not do ’ I with air bags and safety belts. A CAUTION: I Seats and Seat Controls I You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to This section .tells you aboutthe seats -- how to adjust them -- and also about reclining seatbacks and adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is head restraints. moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you pusha pedal when you don’t want ‘to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when thevehicle is not moving. ~ .- Pull up on the control bar under the frontof the seat to unlock it.Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the bar,and try to movethe seat with your body, to make surethe seat is locked into place. 1-1 Power Seat (Option) Reclining Front 'Seatbacks -1 -1 To adjust the power seat: Seat Control (A): Raise the front of the seatby holding the front of the switch up. Lower the front of the seat by holding thefront of the switch down. Raise the rearof the seatby holding the rear of the switch up. Lower the rear of the seatby holding the rear of the switch down. Move the seat higher by holding the switch up. Lower To adjust the seatback, lift the leveron the outer side of the seatby holding the switch down. the seat and move the seatbackto where you want it. Move the seat forwardby holding the switch forward., Release the lever to lock the seatback.hll up on the 'I lever and the seat will to go an upright position. Move the seat back by holding the switch back. Seatback Control(B): Tilt the seatback forwardby holding the switch forward. Tiltthe seatback backward bv holding the switch back. Sitting ina reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do theirwhen job you’re reclined likethis. The shoulder beltcan’t do its job because it won’t be against yourbody. Instead, itwill be in frwt of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap beltcan’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, notat your pelvic bones: This could cause serious internal injuries. But don’t have a seatback reclinedif your vehicle For proper protectionwhen the vehicle is in is moving. motion,’have the seatback upright. Then sit well back inthe seat and wear yoursafety belt properly. 1-3 Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or downso that the top of the restraint is closest to the topof your ears.This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. Don’t let anyone ride wherehe orshe can’t wear On some models,the head restraintstilt forward and a safety beltproperly. If you are in a crash,and rearward also. you’re not wearinga safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone vehicle or be ejected fromit. You can be seriously This part of the manual tells youhow to use safety belts injured orkilled. In the same crash,you might properly. It also tells you some things you should not-do not be if you are buckled up. Alwaysfasten your with safety belts. safety belt, and check that yourpassengers” belts hdit explains the Supplemental Restraint System are fastened properlytoo. (SRS), or air bag system. L comes on as a reminder to buckle ug. (See “Safety When you ridein or on anything, you go as fast as A. ._ Belt Reminder Light” h It goes. the Index.) In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why:They work. You never know if you’ll bein a crash.If you do have a crash, you don’t know ifit will be a bad one. A few crashesare mild, and some crashes can sobe serious thateven buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes arein between. In manyof them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’sjust a seat After more than25 years of safety beltsin vehicles, on wheels.