warning OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1995 Owner's Manual

The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever
you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially
in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off
if you ever need to. (You
should
turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
I ‘ -I
To turn the system off,
press the TRACTION
CONTROL button on
the center console. The
TRACTION
OFF warning light will come on and
stay on.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when you
press the button,
the system won’t turn off right away. It
will wait until there’s no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin.
You can
turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The TRACTION
OFF warning light
should go
off.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
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If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to
go. If yo11 start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to
slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfices because stopping distance
will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking (including engine braking by shifting
to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make a “mirrored surface”
-- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
m
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired
--
by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
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Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
0 Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown
part
of the city just as you would for a cross-country
trip.
0 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
0 Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red
light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes,
or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
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Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have
good traction.
Include an ice scraper,
a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items
in your vehicle. However,
if there is snow
or ice between your tires and the
road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have
a
lot less traction or ”grip” and will need to be very careful.
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Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lights will flash on and
off.
Press down on the button
steering column, then
release it to turn on the
hazard warning flashers. -. . .-.* :... ....-~~;~-:..~’...,‘.~...:...~:..~., *: -. ** ..:.**. -
*. :. .-:. . . . a::. . . . .. . .. . . .. . ::.* -* -*
..- . . . .-. - .. . -,.: .. : ...:-,.:...:..:-.- . . . .. ::.:. located on top of the . - . *-. . . .a. -.e.-.
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1
The HAZARD light on the
instrument panel will also
come
on.
HAZARDA
Your hazard flashers work no matter what position your
key is
in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, press the button down again.
When the flashers are
on, your turn signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Aurora. But please follow the steps to do it safely.
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Towing Your Vehicle
I
Try to have a GM retailer or a professional towing
service tow your Aurora. The usual towing equipment
is:
A. Sling-type tow truck
B. Wheel-lift tow truck
C. Car carrier
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new
by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may
not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn
on the hazard warning
flashers.
When
you call, tell the towing service:
0
0
0
e
0
That your vehicle can only be towed with certain
equipment, as described later
in this section.
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still n~ove the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
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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 “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” in the Index.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the 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. Turn off your air conditioner.
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 (@) 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, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then,
if you still have the
warning,
turf? ofthe engine and get everyone out qf the
vehicle until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously
in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving.
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it‘s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fdils, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road
if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change
a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
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Engine Accessory Belt
The 4.0L Aurora engine uses an engine accessory belt.
This diagram shows the features connected by the belt
routing. See”Maintenance Schedu1e”in the Index for
when to check the belt.
1. Tensioner Arm Pulley
2. Power Steering Pump Pulley
3. Idler Pulley 4.
Alternator Pulley
5. Air Conditioner Compressor Pulley
6. Harmonic Balancer
Engine Oil
If the CHECK 01L LEVEL message or the oil warning
light on the instrument panel comes
on, it means you
need to check your engine oil level right away.
For more
information, see “Check Oil Level Message” or
“Oil
Warning Light” in the Index. You should check your
engine
oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
It’s a
good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
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