engine overheat OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1995 Owners Manual

FIRST GEAR (1): This position gives you even more
power (but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If
the selector lever is put in FIRST
(11, the transaxle
won’t shift into FIRST
(1) until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck
in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P)
to hoId your vehicle in position on a hill.
Selectable Shift
This button lets you
change from a normal
driving mode to a
power mode. For
general driving
conditions, use the
normal mode.
Press the button on your shift lever
so that it’s either in
the NORMAL or POWER position. When it’s in the
NORMAL position, the line on the button will be
showing. When
in POWER, the line is not showing.
In the NORMAL position, the transaxle shifts at lower
engine speeds.
For increased performance, you may
choose the POWER mode.
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The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
0
0
0
If you turn the system off by pressing the
TRACTION CONTROL button located on
the
center console, the warning light will come on and
stay
on. To turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go
off. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index for more
information.)
If there’s
a brake system problem that is specifically
related
to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.
If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected
by an
engine-related problem,
the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on
for an extended period of time when the
system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Traction Control System Active Light
TRACTION
ACTIVE
When your traction control system is limiting wheel
spin, the TRACTION ACTIVE light will come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on, so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay on for a few seconds after the traction control
system stops limiting
wheel spin.
The TRACTION ACTIVE light also comes on briefly,
as a bulb check, when the engine is started. If the light
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be there to
tell
you when the system is active.
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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 fdst-pulsed chime
will sound, and the message
ENGINE
HOT ... A/C OFF will appear in the information
center.
As the engine cools down, the air conditioning
compressor will automatically turn back on.
If the coolant temperature is over 26 1 OF (127”C), the
message
HOT ... STOP ENGINE will appear. It means
that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,’? this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
If your coolant level is low, the message LOW ENGINE
COOLANT will appear 011 the Driver Information
Center. Check your coolant level as soon
as possible.
See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Aurora’s instrunlent panel. Your information center
will
also display messages about engine overheating. See
“Coolant Temperature Gage“
in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
Should a low coolant condition exist and the message
HOT STOP ENGINE display, an overheat protection
mode which alternates firing groups of four cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. This operating mode
allows
YOLIP 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 lnode 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 may be
severely degraded. Change the oil and reset the
oil life indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
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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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The coolant level
should be at or above
FULL COLD. If it
isn’t and the LOW
ENGINE COOLANT
message appears on
the Driver Inforn~ation
Center, you may have
a leak
in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water
pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
I
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan(sj are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(sj should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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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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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
Adding Coolant
The engine coolant
surge tank is located
on the driver’s side
of
the engine
compartment.
To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark or
a little higher. If the message
LOW ENGINE COOLANT is displayed on your
message center, it means you’re low on engine coolant.
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Driver Information Center ........................ 2-72
Driving
City
....................................... 4-18
Curve ..................................... 4-10
Defensive ................................... 4- 1
Drunken .................................... 4-2
Foreign Country .............................. 6-4
Freeway .................................... 4-19
Hill and Mountain Roads ...................... 4-22
Long Distance ............................... 4-20
Night ...................................... 4-14
Through Deep Standing Water .................. 2- 18
Rain ....................................... 4-16
Winter ..................................... 4-23
With a Trailer ............................... 4-30
Dual Temperature Control ......................... 3-6
Drunken Driving ................................ 4-2
Electric Outside Mirror Control ................... 2-5 1
Electrical Equipment. Adding ........... 2.57. 3.29. 6-52
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror .......... 2-50
Electronic Level Control ......................... 4-29
Emergency
Braking
..................................... 4-9
Starting ..................................... 5-2
Steering .................................... 4- 1 1
Towing ..................................... 5-8
Engine
Accessory Belt
.............................. 6-10
BlockHeater ................................ 2-18
Coolant .......................... 5- 15. 6- 19. 6-60
Coolant Heater .............................. 2-18
Coolant Temperature Gage ..................... 2-69
Exhaust .................................... 2-28
Identil'ication (VIN) .......................... 6-51
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Starting .................................... 2-16
Engineoil .................................... 6-10
Additives ................................... 6-13
Capacity ................................... 6-60
Checking and Adding ......................... 6-11
Life Monitor ................................ 2-75
Pressure Warning Light ....................... 2-70
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) .................. 2-77
Ethanol In Gasoline .............................. 6-3
Exhaust
Dangerous
Gas in ....................... 2- IO. 2-28
Extender. Safety Belt ............................ 1-43
Parking with the Engine Running ........... 2-26. 2-28
Expectant Mothers. Use of Safety Belts ............. 1-23
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-44
Features and Controls ............................ 2-1
Filling the Fuel Tank ............................. 6-5
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Parking Brake Indicator ....................... 2-66
Removing and Replacing Bulbs
............ 6.30. 6.32
Replacement Bulbs
........................... 6-62
Safety Belt Reminder
......................... 2-64
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-70
Traction Control System Active
................. 2-68
Traction Control System Warning
............... 2-67
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-28
Locks
......................................... 2-3
Long Distance Driving
........................... 4-20
Low Coolant Warning Message
.................... 2-69
Low Fuel Message
.............................. 2-71
Lubricants and Fluids. Recommended
............... 7-4 1
Lumbar Controls
................................ 1-3
Magnasteer
TM ................................ 4. 10
Maintenance Inspections
................................. 7-40
Materials
................................... 6-61
Record
..................................... 7-43
Schedule
.................................... 7-1
Underbody
................................. 6-49
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine
Soon) .... 2-70
Master Cylinder. Brake .......................... 6-23
MaxifuseRelay Center
.......................... 6-59
Memory Seat and Mirrors
......................... 1-3
Methanol In Gasoline
............................. 6-3 Mirrors
Convex Outside
............................. 2-51
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview
............. 2-50
Power Remote Control
........................ 2-51
Visor Vanity
................................ 2-53
Net. Convenience .............................. 2-52
Neutral Gear Position
............................ 2-21
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-14
NightDriving
.................................. 4-14
Number. Vehicle Identification (VIN)
............... 6-51
Octane Requirements
........................... 6-2
Odometer and Trip Odometer
..................... 2-61
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-11
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-10
Change Oil Message
.......................... 2-75
Life Monitor
................................ 2-75
Warning Light
............................... 2-70
Overdrive, Automatic
........................... 2-22
Overheated Engine
.............................. 5-13
Capacity
................................... 6-60
Quality
.................................... 6-12
9-7
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