check engine light OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1996 Owners Manual

PASS-hti
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
I1
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
I1 is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
It works when you insert
or remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS-Key
I1 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key
II system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter an\
d
fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter won’t work and fuel won’t go to
the engine. If someone tries to
start your vehicle again or uses another key during this
time, the vehicle will not start.
This discourages someone
from randomly trying different keys with different resistor
pellets
in an attempt to make a match. The
ignition key must be clean and dry before it’s
inserted in the ignition or the engine may not start. If
the engine does not start and the SECURITY light is
on or
you get the CLEAN KEY...WAIT 3 MINUTES
message on the DIC, the key may be dirty or wet. Turn
the ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. The SECURITY light may remain on during this
time. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuses
(see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index). If the starter won’t work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty.
See your Aurora retailer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key
11.
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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.
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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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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.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot
of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot
of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes. If
you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent
a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
LOCK
ANT‘- (e)
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in
the Index.
4-6
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I
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery
has enough water. You don’t
need to add water
to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be
present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
1 water and get medical help immediately.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-)
or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
5-5
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Engine Oil
OIL
If the CHECK OIL
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 Pressure 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.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove
it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
7
6-10
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Accessory Power Outlet ......................... 2-54
AirBag
....................................... 1-18
How Does it Restrain
........................... 1-22
How it Works
................................ 1-20
Location
.................................... 1-20
Readiness Light ......................... 1 . 19, 2-64
Servicing
................................... 1-23
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-21
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-22
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-21
Air Cleaner
.................................... 6-14
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-5
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-69
Air Control. Climate Control System
............. 3.3. 3.4
Alarm. Universal Theft-Deterrent .................. 2- 15
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-46
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-53
Antenna. Power
................................ 3-28
Antifreeze
...................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock
Brakes
...................................... 4-6
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.66. 4.6
Anti-LockoutFeature
............................ 2-7
Anti.Theft. Radio
.............................. 3-23
Appearance Care
................................ 6-48
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-55
Arbitration Program
............................... 8-6 Ashtrays
....................................... 2-52
Audio Equipment, Adding
........................ 3-26
Audio Systems
................................. 3-10
Automatic
DoorLocks
................................... 2-4
Electronic Climate Control
...................... 3-1
Overdrive
................................... 2-25
Check
...................................... 7-39
Fluid
....................................... 6-17
Operation
................................... 2-23
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-41
Auto-Push Knob, Climate Control
.................. 3-2
Averagespeed
................................. 2-76
Battery
........................ : ............. 6-30
Jump Starting ................................. 5-2
Replacement
.................................. 2-11
Saver
...................................... 2-47
Audio
Controls, Steering Wheel Touch Control
....... 3-25
Automatic Transaxle
WarningLight
............................... 2-64
Warnings
................................ 5-2, 5-5
Belt, Engine Accessory
.......................... 6-70
Battery
Voltage Message
......................... 2-76
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-6
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-6
9-1
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Engine ................................... 2.76. 6.9
Accessory Belt
............................... 6-70
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-22
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-38
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-68
Exhaust
..................................... 2-30
Fuse Blocks
................................. 6-66
Identification
................................ 6-56
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-38
Overheating
................................. 5-14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-3 1
Specifications
................................ 6-69
StartingYour
................................ 2-20
Engineoil
.................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-12
Checking
................................... 6- 10
Life Monitor ................................. 2-76
Pressure Light
............................... 2-72
Used
....................................... 6-13
Whentochange
.............................. 6-13
Estimated Time
of Arrival ........................ 2-78
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-30
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-46
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-32
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-49
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-2
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-4
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-14
Finish Care .................................... 6-53
Finish Damage
................................. 6-54
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-25
Flash-to-Pass Feature
........................... 2-36
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-1
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-68
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-43
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-3
French LanguageManual
11
Front Storage Armrest ........................... 2-50
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-11
Fuel
.......................................... 6-2
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-73
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-3
RangeDisplay
............................... 2-76
UsedDisplay
................................ 2-75
Used Reset, Driver Information Center
............ 2-75
FogLamps
.................................... 2-43
.. ...........................
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ....................... 6-58
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-68
Fuel
....................................... 2-73
GAWR
....................................... 4-30
GloveBox
.................................... 2-50
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-30
Guide en FranGais
-11 .. ................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-30
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