2002 Oldsmobile Alero Owner's Manual - Page 140

Mode Buttons A/C (Air Conditioning): Press A/C to operate the air conditioning. The light will glow when the button is pressed to indicate that the air conditioning system has been turned on. The fan knob must be set to a speed for the air conditioning to operate. (Outside Air): Press this button to force the system to use outside air. Pressing this button will cancel the recirculation button. (Recirculation): Press this button to limit the amount of outside air entering your vehicle. This is helpful when you are trying to limit odors entering your vehicle. Press it again to turn off the recirculation. Pressing this button will cancel the outside air button. Recirculation is not available when the defog or front defroster mode is selected, or when the fan is off. When recirculation is selected, the air conditioning compressor will run automatically to help dry the air in the vehicle. Air Conditioning The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. For normal cooling on hot days, use vent mode with the temperature knob in the blue area and the A/C button pressed in. On very hot days, begin by opening the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your vehicle to cool down, which should help fuel economy. For quicker cool-down on very hot days, use vent mode with the temperature knob all the way in the blue area and the A/C button pressed in. Begin with the outside air button pressed for a few minutes, or until the vehicle begins to feel cool. Then push the recirculation button. If the recirculation setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your vehicle may become too dry. 3-3