service OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1996 User Guide

Brake System Warning Light
Your Aurora’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
This light should come on when you
turn the ignition
key to START.
If it doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you
if there’s a problem. If
this warning light stays on
after you start the engine,
there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake
system inspected right away. If
the light and chime come
on while you are driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed
for service. (See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light
is on. Driving with the
brake warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the
road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle
towed for service.
ProCarManuals.com

Parking Brake Indicator Light
PARK
Vehicles with hydraulic
brakes have a parking brake
indicator light. When the ignition
is on, this light will
come
on when you set your
parking brake. The light will
stay on if your
parking brake
doesn’t release fully. If you
try to drive
off with the
parking brake set, a chime will also come on until you
release the parking brake.
This light should also come on when you turn the
ignition key to START. If it doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed
so it will be ready to remind you if the parking
brake hasn’t released fully.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
LOCK
ANT‘- (@)
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on for
several seconds. That’s
normal.
If the light stays on,
turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes
on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you’re driving, your Aurora needs service.
If the regular
brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, \
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake
System Warning Light” earlier
in this part.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
ProCarManuals.com

Traction Control System Warning Light
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine. If the warning
I TRACTION I
light doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
OFF
ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. 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.
ProCarManuals.com

If the coolant temperature is over 261 OF ( 127 O 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 on the Driver Information
Center. Check your coolant level as soon as possible.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
Your Aurora is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD I1 (&-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada,
OBD I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light comes on
to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will
be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent, which
may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This
system is also designed
to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
ProCarManuals.com

The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle: I NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after
a while, your emission controls may not
work
as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine
may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come
on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service
is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
0 Reduce vehicle speed.
0 Avoid hard accelerations.
0 Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
“If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Put your vehicle in PARK (P). Turn the
key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine.
If
the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On
Steady” following. If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your retailer or
qualified service center for service.
ProCarManuals.com

If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts
of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly.
It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off. Have you recently
changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run
as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when
you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause
the light
to
turn on.
If you experience this condition, change the fuel brand
you use.
It will require at least one full tank of the
proper fuel
to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools
to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
ProCarManuals.com

Oil Pressure Warning Light
OIL
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come on when
you are driving.
A warning
chime and the message
LOW OIL PRESSURE may
also come on.
These indicate that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough
to keep it cool. The engine could be low
on oil, or could have some other oil problem. Have it
fixed right away.
The
oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a test to show you
it is
working, but the light will go out when you
turn the
ignition to START.
If it doesn't come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have it fixed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, me
light may blink
on and off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This is normal.
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. ir
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire.
You or others could be burned.
Check your
oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by
your warranty.
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left. Press any button
on the Driver Information Center to
turn off the warning.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
0
0
When you have approximately 2.6 gallons (9 L) of
fuel remaining, the message LOW FUEL will be
displayed and a chime will sound. You need to get
more fuel right away.
0
0
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads
“F” (Full).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity
to fill
the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The tank is not necessarily empty when the pointer is
over the
“E” (Empty) mark. There is a reserve of up
to
1.5 gallons (5.6 L) in the tank. You should still get
more fuel as
soon as possible.
ProCarManuals.com

If the display ever starts flashing after the automatic
electronic climate control system is started, there is a
problem with the electronic climate control system and
you should see your dealer for service.
AUTO-PUSH Knob
By pressing the AUTO-PUSH knob, you have selected
the electronic climate control system to be in the
automatic mode. The climate control system
will
automatically control the air temperature, air distribution
and the fan speed based on the temperature inside the
vehicle, the outside temperature and the sun load.
Press the AUTO-PUSH knob. The lights on the
AUTO-PUSH and the AUTO FAN knobs will
illuminate. Your current comfort setting will be
shown in the digital display.
0 Set the comfort level you want inside the vehicle by
using the colored buttons located below the climate
control display.
Temperature Buttons
To adjust the comfort level you want maintained inside
the vehicle, use the red and blue buttons located below
the digital display. If you want a warmer comfort level,
push the red button.
If you want a cooler comfort level, push the
blue button. Your selected comfort setting will
be displayed on the digital screen for five seconds, then
the outside temperature will be displayed.
Mode Control
Rotate the AUTO-PUSH knob to deliver air through the
floor, upper or windshield outlets. The system will stay
in the selected mode until the AUTO-PUSH knob is
pressed.
AUTO FAN Knob
This knob controls the fan speed in either an automatic
mode or a manual mode.
0 Depressing the AUTO FAN knob puts the fan
control in the automatic mode. The AUTO FAN light
will appear below the knob. The fan speed indicators
will not be illuminated when the system is in the
automatic fan control mode.
0 Rotating the AUTO FAN knob selects a manual
fan speed. Rotate this knob to the right to raise the
fan speed. Rotate this knob to the left to lower the
fan speed. Rotating the AUTO FAN knob overrides
the automatic fan control mode. The fan speed
indicators will be illuminated while
in the manual
fan control mode.
3-2
ProCarManuals.com

mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly
or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after
every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate
that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without
resetting the tape clean timer.
If you notice a reduction in
sound quality,
try a known good cassette to see if the tape
or the tape player is at fault.
If this other cassette has no
improvement in sound quality, clean the
tape player.
Cleaning may be done with
a scrubbing action, non-abrasive
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the
tape head as the
hubs of the cleaner cassette
turn. A scrubbing action cleaning
cassette is available through your Aurora retailer. You
may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt
to clean
the tape head. It may not clean as thoroughly as the
scrubbing type cleaner.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette
tape is
in good condition before you have your tape player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust.
If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
3-27
ProCarManuals.com