engine overheat Oldsmobile Aurora 1997 s User Guide

If it isn’t, the coolant level should be indicated by a
CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center. If it
is, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there
is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose
all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
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.
If there seems to be
no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running.
If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
5-18

A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water
or the wrong mix, your engine could
get
too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So
use the recommended coolant.
~~ ~ ~
You
can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on
a hot engine.
5-20

If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
I ,A CAUTION: I
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts
of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels
as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
You should turn
your traction control system off. (See “Traction Control
System”
in the Index.) Then shift back and forth
between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
5-35

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level
is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid
to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to
the proper level.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
Lx
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one pint The following explains
Your cooling system and how to
(0.5 L). Don’t overjill. add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
NOTICE: A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL’
coolant will:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON’III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON@III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature,
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

What to Use I
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs
first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum
parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else. A special procedure
is required for adding sealer; see the Aurora Service
Manual.
(To order a service manual, see “Service
Publications’’ in the Index.)
r =
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant
mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong
mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and
you or
others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL@ coolant.
6-22

I
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.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your retailer check your cooling system.
I NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located on the driver’s
side
of the engine compartment.
6-23
- ~.

Drunken Driving ................................ 4-3
Elapsed Time Indicator
......................... 2-85
Electrical Equipment. Adding
........... 2.23. 3.29. 6-62
Electrical System
............................... 6-62
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-50
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-2
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-3 1
Engine (Message (DIC)
.......................... 2-82
Engine
....................................... 6-10
Accessory Belt
............................... 6-75
Coolant
..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-24
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-74
Exhaust
..................................... 2-32
FuseBlocks
................................. 6-63
Identification
................................ 6-6 1
OilLevelCheck .............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-33
Specifications
................................ 6-74
StartingYour
................................ 2-22
Engineoil
.................................... 6-11
Adding
..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-11
Life Monitor ................................. 2-82
Pressure Light
............................... 2-77
Used
....................................... 6-15
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14 Estimated Time
of Arrival
........................ 2-84
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-47
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-34
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-32
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-53
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-3
Filling Your Tank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-15
Finish Care
.................................... 6-57
Finish Damage
................................. 6-59
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-27
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flash-to-Pass Feature
........................... 2-38
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-73
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
FogLamps
.................................... 2-45
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
FrenchLanguageManual
11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-11
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Filling
Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-79
RangeDisplay
............................... 2-82
UsedDisplay
................................ 2-81
Used Reset. Driver Information Center
............ 2-81
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-63
.. ...........................
Front Storage Armrest ........................... 2-55
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
9-4

Power Remote Control ......................... 2-53
Visor Vanity. Illuminated
....................... 2-58
With Compass
............................... 2-50
MMT
......................................... 6-3
MountainRoads
................................ 4-24
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-35
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-56
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-26
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-20
Nightvision
................................... 4-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............. 6-74
Odometer
.................................... 2-67
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-67
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 13
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Oil Life Indicator
............................... 2-82
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-77
Oil Pressure Message
............................ 2-82
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-27
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
....... 5- 14
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- 14
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-59
Parallel Park Assist Mirror
........................ 2-53
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-25
Shifting Into
................................. 2-29
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-3 1
Parking
AtNight
.................................... 2-16
Brake
...................................... 2-28
Brake Indicator Light
.......................... 2-71
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-32
With a Trailer
........................... 4-37. 4-38
Passenger Position
.................... 1 - 19. 1-25. 1-31
Passenger Temperature Control
.................... 3-10
Passing
....................................... 4-13
PASS-Key I1
................................. 2-19
Perimeter Lighting
.............................. 2-48
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Personalization Features
......................... 2-11
Power
Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-59
Antenna Mast Care
............................ 3-31
Antenna Service
.............................. 7-39
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-53
Seat
.......................................... 1-2
Seatback Recliner
.............................. 1-2
Steering
.................................... 4-11
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-26
Windows
................................... 2-34
Power, Retained Accessory
....................... 2-22
Power Seat
Lumbar Controls
.............................. 1-3
Memory Function
.............................. 1-3
Pregnancy, Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-18
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications, Service and Owner
.................... 8-9
Lots
....................................... 2-17
9-7