air condition OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1996 Owners Manual

Xkaction Control System Active Light
TRACTION ACTIVE
When your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin, this light will come on.
Slippery road conditions
may exist if the traction
control system active light
comes on,
so adjust your
driving accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the traction
control system stops limiting wheel spin. 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 fast-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.
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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.
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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.
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Operating the RECIRC mode in cold temperatures or
under high humidity conditions may cause moisture to
form on the inside of the windshield. If this condition
occurs, deselect the RECIRC button.
A/C ON: Press this button to turn the air conditioning
on and off. If the system is operating in the automatic
mode, the A/C
ON indicator light will automatically
illuminate.
In the auto mode, the A/C compressor will
only operate when the system determines it is needed.
OFF: Rotate the AUTO-PUSH knob to the OFF
position. Turning the system off will cause the fan to
turn off and the airflow to be directed out the lower floor
outlets. The system will still try to keep the interior of
the vehicle at the previously chosen comfort setting. The
outside temperature will show in the display when the
system is
OFF.
Air Conditioning
The air conditioner cools, dehumidifies and filters the
air for the inside of the vehicle.
The air conditioning compressor is enabled in all
modes unless the A/C
ON button is in the off position
(indicator light will not be illuminated). However, the
air conditioning compressor will not operate when the
outside temperature is below 44°F
(7 "C). When the
air conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice slight
changes in your vehicle's engine speed and power. This
is normal, because the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and off
to keep the desired cooling and
help fuel economy.
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
the hot
air out. This reduces the time required to cool the
interior of the vehicle to a comfortable level.
If the
system is in the automatic mode (AUTO-PUSH knob
indicator light
is on), during very hot days the system
will automatically
go to the RECIRC mode and the
temperature door will
be positioned at the full cold position
for maximum cooling. You can choose the extreme comfort setting of
60°F ( 16 " C), but the system will not cool any
faster by choosing the extreme comfort setting.
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Compact Disc Changer Errors
If the error occurred while trying to play a CD in the
compact disc changer, the following conditions may
have caused the error:
0
0
0
0
0
The road is too rough. The disc should play when the
road
is smoother.
The disc is dirty, scratched, wet or upside down.
The air is very humid.
If so, wait about an hour and
try again.
E34: The CD changer door is open. Completely
close the door to restore normal operation.
E35: An empty magazine is inserted in the CD
changer. Try the magazine again with a disc loaded
on one of the trays.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, please contact your retailer.
If your radio
displays an error number, write
it down and provide it to
your retailer when reporting the problem.
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
Playing the Radio
PWR: Press the upper knob to turn the system on or off.
VOL: Turn the upper knob clockwise to increase
volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.
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Attach a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end
of each lower control
arm.
Engine Overh -. hg
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Aurora’s instrument 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 is displayed, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of four
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. This operating
mode allows your 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 mode should
be avoided.
Y
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.
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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.
0 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 (0)
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,
turn ofSthe engine and get everyone out of 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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may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Aurora retailer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause
of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing
additive called methlycyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT).
If such fuels are used, your
emission control system performance may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Aurora retailer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything to the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Lf you plan on driving in another country outside the United
States or Canada, the proper fuel may
be hard to find.
Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not recommended
in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use
of improper
fuel wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
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Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give
you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases,
you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel
nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum wneels, which
can sometimes be repaired). See
your
Aurora retailer if any of these conditions exist.
Your retailer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your
Aurora model.
I
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have
a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
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Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care
to wipe off any overspray or splash from all
painted surfaces on the body or wheels of the
vehicle. Petroleum-based products may damage
the paint finish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure
the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore, corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your retailer or other service outlets. Larger areas of finish
damage
can be corrected
in your retailer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control
can collect
on the underbody. If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody
parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody\

with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas of the frame should be
loosened before being flushed. Your retailer or an underbody
vehicle washing system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can
take two
forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations, and
small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
Oldsmobile will repair, at no charge
to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged
by this fallout
condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km)
of purchase, whichever occurs first.
6-54
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