window Oldsmobile Aurora 1997 Owner's Manuals

What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is
in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts.
Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags
would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts,
primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward
those
air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to safety belts,
and then only
in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s
air bag, or the
instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for
a short time. The parts of the bag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to
touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from
vents in the deflated
air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get
out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
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7. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
retractor while
you push down
on the child restraint.
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it
go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window
so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
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@ Section 2 Features and Controls
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Here
you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Aurora, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained
are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem.
Keys
Door Locks
Remote Lock Control
Trunk
Theft
Universal Theft-Deterrent
PASS-Key@
I1
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust Running
Your Engine While
You’re Parked
Windows Tilt Wheel
Turn SignaUMultifunction Lever Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Cellular Telephone
Accessory Power Outlet Sunroof
Universal Transmitter
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center
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Keys
/! CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows
or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in
a vehicle with young children.
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It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can
come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:
Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on any airflow selection except RECIRC.
That will force outside air into your vehicle.
See “Comfort Controls” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them
all the way.
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Aurora has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on
it can make it
impossible
to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
With the ignition
OFF and the driver’s door open, you’ll
hear a chime reminding you to remove your key from
the ignition and take it with you. Always do this. Your
steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your ignition
and transaxle. And remember
to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out
of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
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If a door or the trunk is opened without the key or
Remote Lock Control System, the alarm
will go off. It
will also go
off if the trunk lock or door locks are
damaged. Your vehicle’s lamps will flash and the horn
will sound for several minutes, then will go off to save
battery power.
Remember,
the theft-deterrent system won’t be activated
if
you lock the doors with a key or manual door lock. It
only activates
if you use a power door lock switch or
Remote Lock Control System. You should also
remember that you can start your vehicle with the
correct ignition key if the alarm has been set off, but this
does not shut off the alarm.
Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, lock the door either using a key, or
the
manual door lock switch.
Always unlock a door with a key, or use the Remote
Lock Control System. Unlocking a door any other
way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with your key.
You can also turn off the alarm by using the Remote
Lock Control System. The alarm won’t stop if
you try to
unlock
a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by fist having the driver’s
window down. Activate
the system by locking the doors
with the power door lock switch or the Remote Lock
Control System. Get out of the car and close the door and
wait for the
SECURITY light to go out. Then reach in
through the window, unlock the door with the manual door
lock, and open the door. This should set
off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when it should, check
to see
if the horn works. The
horn fuse may be blown. To
replace the fuse, see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in
the Index.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always activate the
theft-deterrent system when leaving your vehicle.
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NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none
of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in the ignition, with the engine off,
you will hear a warning chime when you open the
driver’s door.
Retained Accessory Power
After you turn your ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have electrical power
to such accessories as the
radio, power windows, and sunroof
(if equipped) for up
to 10 minutes. But if you open a door, power is shut off.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever tu PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
I NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Aurora is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Your 4.0L Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key.
The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
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Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust
t
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under
your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass
or other things that
can burn.
A CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road
or over
road debris.
or
different.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
modified improperly.
blow
out any CO; and
I
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Windows
Power Windows
Switches on the driver’s armrest control each of the
windows while the ignition is on or Retained Accessory
Power is active. In addition, each passenger’s door
armrest has
a switch for its own window.
Express-Down Window
The switch for the driver’s window has an express-down
feature. Pull the switch back
for more than a half
second, release it and the window will lower
automatically.
To partially open the window, pull the
switch back and quickly release it.
To stop the window
from lowering, pull the switch again, then release.
To raise the window, hold the switch forward.
Window Lock
Press the right side of the WINDOW LOCK switch on
the driver’s armrest to disable all passenger window
switches. The driver’s window controls will still be
operable. This is a useful feature when you have
children as passengers.
Press the left side of the WINDOW
LOCK switch to
allow passengers
to use their window switches again.
Horn
Nearly the entire surface of the center pad of the
steering wheel
is an active horn switch. Press anywhere
on the pad to sound the horn.
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Windshield Washer
The lever on the right side of your steering column also
controls your windshield washer.
To spray washer fluid
on the windshield, pull the lever toward you. The wipers
will clear the window and then either stop or return to
your preset speed. For more washer cycles, pull and
hold the lever.
If the fluid level in the windshield washer bottle is low,
the message
LOW WASHER FLUID will appear in the
Driver Information Center. See “Windshield Washer
Fluid” in the Index.
/d CAUTldN:
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator.
This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
m
A CAUT1b.J:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
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