light OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1995 Repair Manual

Run your engine only as long as YOLI must. This saves
fuel. When you
run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This
o
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery t
restart the vehicle. and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
--
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortabl e
from the cold.
But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm? you can get
out of the vehicle and
do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
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Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road,
you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight
of the
trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before
you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lights, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by Imnd to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your
trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You'll need more passing distance up ahead when
you're towing a trailer. And, because you're a good deal
longer, you'll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before
you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move yo~~r
hand to the right. Always back
up slowly and, if
possible. have someone guide you.
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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
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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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NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to
your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying
to start your Aurora by pushing or pulling
it won’t
work, and it could damage your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Aurora:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a I2-volt
battery
with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be s~lre the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are,
it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to
start your Aurora, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured
if the vehicle rolls. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle
in NEUTRAL (N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all
lights that aren’t needed, and radios. This
will avoid
sparks and help
save both batteries. And it could
save your radio!
I NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle. What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fdst. The method known
as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains’’
in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should turn
your traction control system
off. (See ”Traction Control
System”
in the Index.) Then shift back and forth
between REVERSE
(R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator
pedal when the transaxle
is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you out after
a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
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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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Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.
The proper coolant for your Aurora will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C)
0 Give boiling protection up to 262°F (128°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half c.lt.crr~ wwtor (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 182S-M,” which won‘t damage aluminum
parts.
You call also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M
with a complete coolant tlush
and refill. Use GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer)
with any cotnplete coolant flush and refill. If you use
this mixture, you don‘t need to add anything else.
A
special procedure is required for adding sealer; see the
ALI~o~~ Service Manual. (To order a service 1nanual. see
”Service Publications“
in the Index.)
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should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake
linings.
You should add (or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls
to a low level, your brake
warning light
will come on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive
with this warning light on. See “Brake
System Warning Light”
in the Index. What to
Add
When
you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing it.
I NOTICE:
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of
fluid. For example, just a few drops
of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in
your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful
not
to spill brake fluid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care” in the Index.
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Brake Wear
Your Aurora has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal
firmly).
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong
with
your brakes.
Brake linings should always
be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be
a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time YOLI apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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