towing Oldsmobile Aurora 1997 s Owner's Guide

Attach a separate
safety chain around the
outboard end of each
lower control arm.
Engine Overheating
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. In this mode,
you will notice a
loss in power and engine performance.
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.
I 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 will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset
the oil life indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.
5-14

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

Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
6-18

Maintenance Schedule
I Long Trip/Highway Definition I
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short Trip/City Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Do not use this schedule if the vehicle
is used
for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area or used
off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City schedule for
these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down slower.
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
1
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
Chassis Lubrication (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first). Tire Rotation.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Throttle Body Bore
and Valve Plates Inspection. Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Service (severe conditions
only).
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Service
(or every 60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure
to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
48,000 Miles (80 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
6 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote
#.)
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote
+.)
0 Lubricate chassis components (or every
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and bottom
screens if the vehicle is mainly driven under
one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid aid filter do not require changing.
delivery service.
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-16

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
I I I 3
DATE
SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whchever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-27

I Long TriplHighway Maintenance Schedule
..
I
45,000 Miles (75 000 km)
17 Change engine oil and filter (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
0 Lubricate chassis components (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
(See footnote
#.)
Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and
Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation
pattern and additional information.
(See footnote
+.)
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and bottom
screens
if the vehicle is mainly driven under
one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the
fluid and filter do not require changing.
J
7-32

~ Long-TriplHighway Maintenance Schedule 1
100,000 Miles (I 6t ued)
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as
found in taxi, police or
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
delivery service.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See "Engine
Coolant''
in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
7-38

Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Program Features and Benefits
n
The Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance program means
help is just a toll-free call away
-- 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
Courteous and capable Customer Assistance Advisors
are on-call
to provide you with prompt assistance.
24-Hour Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Telephone Number
1-800-442-OLDS (6537) is the one number to call
for assistance in the United States. Trained Customer
Assistance Advisors, on-call
to render assistance to
Oldsmobile drivers, can dispatch roadside assistance
and towing service, locate the nearest Oldsmobile
retail facility, take your request for an Oldsmobile
computerized trip routing or simply answer any
questions the Oldsmobile driver may have about the
coverage provided by your Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance Program. The Oldsmobile Roadside
Assistance number is fully staffed and operational
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
8-5

Right Front Passenger ......................... 3-10
Steering Wheel
............................... 3- 10
Clock. Setting the
............................... 3- 11
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-2
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-30
Compact Disc Changer. Trunk Mounted
............. 3-22
Compact Disc Errors
.......................... 3-24
Loading the Magazine
......................... 3-22
Playing a Compact Disc
........................ 3-24
Compact.Disc Player
....................... 3-15. 3-21
Errors
................................. 3.15. 3.21
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-34
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-6
ConvenienceNet
............................... 2-56
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-54
Coolant
....................................... 6-21
Heater. Engine
............................... 2-24
SurgeTank
.................................. 5-19
TemperatureGage
............................ 2-74
Cooling System
................................ 5-17
Cornering Lamps
............................... 2-45
CourtesyLamps
................................ 2-47
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control ................................. 2-40
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-59
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-58
Date Display
................................... 2-85
Daytime Running Lamps ......................... 2-44
Customer Assistance
for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-4
DeadBattery
................................... 5-3 Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-8
Defensive Driving ............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-9
Defogging
..................................... 3-9
Defrosting
..................................... 3-9
Delayed Illumination
............................ 2-47
Delayed Locking
............................... 2-12
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-74
Distan e to Destination
.......................... 2-84
Dolby
& B Noise Reduction .................. 3.14. 3.20
Door AjarReminder
................................ 2-5
Central Unlocking System
....................... 2-4
Drive Position. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-27
Driver Information Center
........................ 2-80
Driver Position
................................. 1 . 11
Driving
City
........................................ 4-21
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-22
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-28
IntheRain
.................................. 4-18
Night
...................................... 4-16
OnCurves
.................................. 4-11
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-24
on Snow or Ice
............................... 4-27
Throughwater
............................... 4-20
WetRoads
.................................. 4-18
Winter
...................................... 4-26
With a Trailer
................................ 4-36
DIC
.......................................... 2-80
Locks
....................................... 2-4
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-37
9-3