engine coolant Oldsmobile Aurora 2001 Owner's Manuals

ix
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see ªWarning Lights and Gagesº in the Index.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-9 Remote Lock Control
2
-14 Trunk
2
-16 Theft
2
-17 Universal Theft-Deterrent
2
-18 PASS-Key
III
2
-20 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-21 Ignition Positions
2
-22 Starting Your Engine
2
-25 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-26 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-29 Parking Brake
2
-30 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-32 Shifting Out of PARK (P)2
-32 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-33 Engine Exhaust
2
-34 Tilt Wheel
2
-35 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-44 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-50 Mirrors
2
-53 Storage Compartments
2
-56 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-56 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-57 Sunroof (Option)
2
-58 HomeLink
Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-62 The Instrument Panel - Your
Information System
2
-66 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-78 Driver Information Center (DIC)

2-25
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The engine coolant heater cord is located on
the passenger's side of the vehicle, above the
headlamp assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach,
use a heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord
rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store
the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don't, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.

2-72 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red warning zone,
your engine is hot.
To prevent engine overheating, the air conditioning
compressor will turn off automatically, a fast
-pulsed
chime will sound, and the message ENGINE HOT...A/C
OFF will appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
As the engine cools down, the air conditioning
compressor will automatically turn back on.If the coolant temperature is over 262
F (128
C),
the message HOT...IDLE ENGINE will appear. It means
you should reduce the engine load and speed to prevent
the engine from overheating.
If the coolant temperature is over 268
F (131
C),
the message HOT...STOP ENGINE will appear.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
You should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Your vehicle is equipped with an Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index for more information.
If your coolant level is low, the message LOW ENGINE
COOLANT will appear on the Driver Information
Center. Check your coolant level as soon as possible.
See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index.

2-90 DIC Warnings and Messages
Other messages or warnings may appear in the DIC
display. For Canadian drivers, in addition to the DIC
message your DIC will display EXP with a number after
it which reflects the following messages:
EXP (Export ID) Warning Message. . . . . . . . . . . .
1 AIR BAG PROBLEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 CHANGE OIL NOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 CHANGE OIL SOON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 CHECK OIL LEVEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 TRANS HOT...IDLE ENG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 CONFIRM TIME & DATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 DRIVERS DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9 ENGINE HOT...A/C OFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 HOT...REDUCE ENG RPM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 HOT...STOP ENGINE *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12 THEFT SYSTEM FAULT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13 LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14 LOW BRAKE FLUID *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 LOW ENGINE COOLANT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 LOW FUEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 LOW OIL PRESSURE *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18 LOW TIRE PRESSURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19 LOW WASHER FLUID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20 PARK BRAKE SET *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 PASSENGER DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22 RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23 SERVICE VEHICLE SOON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24 TURN SIGNAL ON?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 THEFT ATTEMPTED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26 SERV STABILITY SYS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27 HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28 TRUNK AJAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29 BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32 HOT...IDLE ENGINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33 STARTING DISABLED *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36 CHECK GAS CAP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42 STABILITY ACTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The EXP codes are used to make translation from
English to other languages easier.
Pressing the RESET button will remove the above
messages or warnings from the DIC display, unless
noted by an asterisk (*).

3-4
Automatic Operation
Press the AUTO
-PUSH knob when you want the
system to automatically adjust the interior temperature
to your preference. When the system is set for automatic
operation, air will come from the floor, the panel outlets
or the windshield outlets depending on the temperature
inside the vehicle, the outside temperature, the engine
coolant temperature and the sun load. Fan speed will
vary as the system reaches and maintains the comfort
setting you have selected.
To find your comfort setting, start with the system in
automatic mode by pressing the AUTO
-PUSH knob.
Adjust the comfort setting by using the red and blue
buttons located below the digital display until you
reach a setting of 75
F (24
C) on the display. Give the
vehicle about 30 minutes to stabilize and then readjust
the comfort setting if necessary. The display will show
the comfort setting for five seconds and then it will
show the outside temperature.In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. Turning the AUTO FAN knob
will override this delay by turning off the automatic fan
mode and changing the fan speed.
Your automatic electronic climate control system has a
sun sensor located on the top of the instrument panel
that detects direct sunlight. To keep you and your
passengers comfortable, the system may supply cooler
air to the side toward the sun. Be careful not to put
anything over this sun sensor. The automatic electronic
climate control system may not operate correctly if this
sensor is covered.
To change the automatic electronic climate control
display from an English display to a metric display,
push the OFF button located in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) for two seconds. The display in the DIC
will also change from an English to a metric display. To
return to an English display, repeat the above procedure.

3-7
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to
let the hot air out. This reduces the time required to
cool the interior of the vehicle to a comfortable level.
If the system is in the automatic mode (AUTO
-PUSH
knob indicator light is on), during very hot days the
system will automatically go to the RECIRC mode and
the temperature door will initially be at the full cold
position for maximum cooling. You can choose the
extreme comfort setting of 60
F (16
C), but the
system will not cool any faster by choosing the extreme
comfort setting.
Heating
In cold weather, if the automatic mode is selected
(AUTO
-PUSH knob indicator light is on), the system
will automatically direct the airflow out of the lower
floor outlets and the temperature door will initially be
positioned at the full hot position. You can choose the
extreme comfort setting of 90
F (32
C), but the
system will not warm up any faster by selecting the
extreme comfort setting.In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. The fan speed will increase as the
temperature of the engine coolant increases. Turning the
AUTO FAN knob will override this delay by turning
off the automatic fan control mode and changing the
fan speed.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use the defog setting to keep
the windows clear while also providing heat through the
lower outlets. Turn the AUTO
-PUSH knob clockwise to
DEF to quickly remove fog or ice from the windshield.
For maximum front defrost performance under extreme
icing or frosting conditions, increase the temperature
setting to 90
F (33
C) and increase the fan speed
to high.

5-9
NOTICE:
Use the proper towing equipment to avoid
damage to the bumper, fascia or fog lamp areas
of the vehicle.
With current trends in automotive styles and design,
it is essential that the correct towing equipment is used
to tow a vehicle. Your vehicle can be towed with
wheel
-lift or car-carrier equipment only.
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº in the Index.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle's instrument panel. Your driver information center
will also display messages about engine overheating.
See ªEngine Coolant Temperature Gageº in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
Should an overheated engine condition exist and the
message HOT STOP ENGINE is displayed, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven
to a safe place in an emergency; you may drive up to
50 miles (80 km). Towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow the
engine to cool before attempting any repair. The
engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset the
oil life indicator. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

5-10 If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool. See ªOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Modeº in the Index.

5-11
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. See ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº in the Index.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:

Climb a long hill on a hot day.

Stop after high
-speed driving.

Idle for long periods in traffic.

Tow a trailer.If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn't come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you're parked. If you still have the
warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out of
the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº listed previously
in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.