ignition Oldsmobile Aurora 2001 s Owner's Guide

2-29
Parking Brake
Your vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake. To set the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with
your right foot. Push down
the parking brake pedal
with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on while the parking brake is set and a single
chime will be heard.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. This will release the
parking brake pedal. When you lift your left foot, the
parking brake pedal will follow it to the release position.
If you try to drive approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) with
the parking brake on, the brake light stays on and a
chime sounds until you release the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section
shows what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

2-30
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you're pulling a trailer,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake by pushing down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the
lever all the way forward.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-32
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you
ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try the following:
1. Turn the key to the LOCK ignition position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center
as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

2-37
Turn the headlamp control to this symbol to turn on
the following:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turning the headlamp control to AUTO will turn the
headlamps, taillamps and parking lamps on and off,
while the ignition is on, by sensing how dark it is outside.
Turn the headlamp control back to off to turn all of the
lamps off.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low
-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting, and taillamps
when it is bright enough outside, the headlamp control
is in AUTO and after the windshield wipers have been
in use for approximately six seconds.To operate the wiper
-activated headlamps the headlamp
control must be in AUTO. If the wiper
-activated
headlamps are on and the ignition switch is turned to
RUN, the wiper
-activated headlamps will continue.
When you turn the key to LOCK, the wiper
-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. The wiper
-activated
headlamps will also turn off if you turn the headlamp
switch to OFF or turn off the windshield wipers.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high,
push the lever away from you until you hear a click.
Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
If the fog lamps are on when you turn on the
high
-beam headlamps, the fog lamps will turn off.
The fog lamps will turn back on when you turn off the
high
-beam headlamps.

2-38 Lamps On Reminder
If the headlamp switch is left on, you'll hear a warning
chime when you turn the ignition off, remove the key
from the ignition and open the driver's door.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Your high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay
on as long as you hold the lever there. Release the lever
to turn them off.
If your headlamps are on, and on high beam, your
headlamps will switch to low beam when the lever is
released. To get back to high beam, push the lever
away from you.
Fog Lamps
To turn on only the front
fog lamps, turn the fog
lamp band to the single
fog lamp symbol. To turn
on both the front and rear
fog lamps, turn the fog
lamp band to the double
fog lamp symbol.
Turning on the front fog lamps only will automatically
activate the parking lamps. Turning on the front and rear
fog lamps will automatically activate the parking lamps
and headlamps.
To turn off the fog lamps, turn the band to OFF. The
front fog lamps will also turn off when you turn on your
high
-beam headlamps, but will turn on again when you
switch to low beams.

2-44
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 Without Erasing
the Set Speed
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

pull the cruise lever towards you to cancel cruise.
To resume the set speed see ªResuming a Set Speedº
earlier in this section.
Erasing Cruise Control Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See ªTurn Signal/Multifunction Leverº in the Index.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL
can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running
lights are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness in daylight when the
following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off, and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps won't be on.

2-45
With your headlamp control in AUTO when it is
dark enough outside, your low
-beam headlamps will
automatically come on. The other lamps that turn on
with your headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn the headlamp control all the way toward
OFF. The DRL will turn on automatically and the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message will be
displayed on the DIC when you move the transaxle
out of PARK (P).
If the headlamp control is in the parking lamps position
at night, only the parking lamps will be on. If the
transaxle is out of PARK (P), only the parking lamps
will be active and the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
message will be displayed on the DIC.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamps
The automatic headlamps will keep your headlamps on
when it is dark outside and the ignition is in RUN.
It's possible that your headlamps may go out if you
drive from a dark area into a bright area like a lighted
parking lot. If this happens, turn on your headlamps
with the regular headlamp switch.
Light Sensor
Your automatic headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps
work with the light sensor on top of the instrument
panel. Don't cover it up. If you do it will read ªdarkº
and the automatic headlamp lighting will turn on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to LOCK and any door has been
opened. This protects against draining the battery in
case you have accidentally left the headlamps or parking
lamps on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after the ignition has been turned to LOCK and
any door has been opened. To delay the lamps from
turning off, see ªAutomatic Headlampsº in the Index.

2-47 Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the unlock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter while all
doors are closed, the interior courtesy lamps will come
on and stay on for approximately 40 seconds. When
the 40 seconds is up, the lights will be turned off by
the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn off
immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the remote
lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition key to
RUN or by activating the power door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark enough outside.
When you close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds. When the
25 seconds is up the lights will be turned off by the
theater dimming effect. Please note that locking the
doors with the power door lock switch or with the lock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter, will
override the delayed entry lighting and the lamps will
turn off immediately.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out
of the overhead courtesy lamps instead of immediate
turn off after you remove the key from the ignition.
They will not fade if the interior lamps are manually
turned on. The lower instrument panel courtesy lamps
will not theater dim.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature will turn on the interior lamps for 25
seconds after you remove the key from the ignition
while the doors are closed and it is night. This will give
you time to find the door handle or lock switches as you
exit the vehicle. When the 25 seconds is up, or if the key
is reinserted into the ignition, the lights will be turned
off by the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn
off immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the
remote lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition
key to RUN or by activating the power door locks.

2-48 Parade Dimming
To activate the instrument panel backlighting during
the day, turn the headlamp switch to the parking lamp
position. Dimming of the instrument panel display is
not possible during daylight hours. The instrument panel
display can only be adjusted when the parking lamps
are on and it is dark outside.
Perimeter Lighting
When the unlock symbol on the remote lock control
transmitter is pressed, the DRL headlamps, parking
lamps and back
-up lamps will turn on for approximately
25 seconds if it is dark enough outside.
This feature can be programmed on or off for each
transmitter. You can also program how long the
exterior lamps will stay on after unlocking the vehicle.
You must program this feature through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See ªDIC Personalization
Programmingº in the Index.
Front Reading Lamps
These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps will come
on when you open a door. They will turn off when you
turn on the ignition. If a door is left open, they will turn
off after about 10 minutes.
To turn on the reading lamps when the doors are closed,
press the button under the lamp you want on. Press it
again to turn the lamp off.
These lamps work even when the ignition is off. To avoid
draining your vehicle's battery, be sure to turn off all
front and rear reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.

2-49 Rear Reading Lamps
These lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn them on by pressing the button on the
side of the lamp. Press it again to turn them off.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's
battery against drainage from the interior lamps,
trunk lamp, glove box lamp or cigarette lighters.
When the ignition is turned off, the power to these
features will automatically turn off after 10 minutes.Power will be restored for an additional 10 minutes if
any door is opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy
lamp switch is turned on. To restore power back to
the cigarette lighters the ignition must be turned back
to RUN.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle's electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at a
higher RPM setting than normal to make sure the battery
charges. High electrical loads may occur when several
of the following are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, high blower fan, heated
seats and engine cooling fans.
If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the blower fan,
rear defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.