OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1996 Owners Manual

What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use
a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
A Adding Washer Fluid
d
There are two windshield washer fluid tanks. The upper
tank (shown above) will empty first. When the lower
tank contains
0.5 quarts (0.5 liters) or less, the message
LOW
WASHER FLUID will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center.
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Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full.
NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only 3/4 full
when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
Brake-
Brake Flr -’
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasor
why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid
is
leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have
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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.
I ’
A CAUTION:
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.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough.
You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. With the wrong kind of fluid in
your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at
all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
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NOTICE:
a
a Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. 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. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
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).
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner
or later your brakes won’t work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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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 you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have
to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle
is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts in them, as your Aurora does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system
-- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and you have
to
have new ones put in -- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways
if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
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Battery
Every new Aurora has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom@
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
The battery is located under the rear seat cushion.
To
access the battery, see “Removing the Rear Seat
Cushion” in the Index.
You don’t need to access the
battery to jump start your vehicle. See “Jump Starting”
in the Index.
CAUTION:
-
A battery that isn’t properly vented can let
sulfuric acid fumes into the area under the rear
seat cushion. These fumes can damage your rear
seat safety belt systems. You may not be able to
see this damage, and the safety belts might not
provide the protection needed in
a crash. If a
replacement battery is ever needed, it must be
vented in the same manner as the original battery. Always make sure that the vent hose
is properly reattached before reinstalling the
seat cushion.
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Vehicle Storage
To be sure the vent hose (A) is properly attached, the
vent hose connectors
(B) must be securely reattached to
the vent outlets
(C) on each side of the battery, and the
vent assembly grommet (D) must
be secured to the
floor pan
(E).
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
I’
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting’’ in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your retailer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in the Index.
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Low-Beam Bulbs
1. Remove the air cleaner cover to get to the driver’s
side headlamp bulb.
1
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Take special care when
handling and disposing
of halogen bulbs.
Headlamps
For the type of bulb, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
2. Remove the radiator hose from the resonator
channel.
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3. Release tension of the wing screw clamp on the air
intake duct where
it attaches to the air cleaner cover
near the top of the engine. Turn the wing screw
counterclockwise, then detach the hose from the air
cleaner cover.
4. Push the duct and resonator assembly rearward and
up, and hold them out of the way.
5. Twist the bulb assembly 1/6 turn and pull out the
bulb assembly.
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II
0
II
Unclip the bulb
assembly from the
wiring harness and
replace the bulb
assembly.
High-Beam Bulbs -
1. Pull up on the wiring harness. This unlocks the bu
.lb.
7. Reverse Steps 1-6 to replace the bulb assembly,
headlamp housing and
air cleaner cover and tube.
2. Now you can reach in behind the lamp housing and
pull out the bulb.
3. To replace the bulb, angle the new bulb into the
empty socket.
4. Push the base of the bulb down to lock it into place.
6-34
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