wheel Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 s User Guide

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL
(N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. Shifting out
of PARK
(P) or NEU‘l’RAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot
is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-25

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
Going less than approximately 35 mph (55 km/h),
push your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it
offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0). Here
are some times you might choose THIRD
(3) instead
of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@):
When driving on hilly, winding roads,
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power
but lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(a) or THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND
(2) on hills. It can help control your speed
as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
between gears,
or
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND
(2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If
the selector lever is put in FIRST (l), the transaxle
won’t shift into FIRST
(1) until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a
solid object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
2-26

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.

Tilt Wheel Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
.. ::..,". .: ..:. s;r:
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then release the lever
to lock the
wheel in place. The
lever on the left side
of the steering column
includes your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Cruise Control
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
Parking Lamps
0 Flash-To-Pass Feature
2-34

Windshield Washer Cruise Control
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.
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.
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 ludh).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
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

If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See “Traction
Control System’’ in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again,
you may turn the cruise
control back on.
Setting se -1ntrol O---’
.. I
you’re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You 1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
off until you want to use it. 2. Get up to the speed you want.
2-40

The instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Power Mirrors Control Switch
B. Fog Lamp Switch
C. Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
D. Instrument Cluster/Gages
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
E Horn
G. Windshield WiperNasher Control
H. Driver Information Center
I. Climate Controls
J. Audio System
K. Glove Box (Trunk Security Override Switch inside)
L. Instrument Panel Intensity ControVInterior
Lamp Control
M. Twilight Sentinel Control
N. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Climate
Control System
0. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
P. Ignition Switch
Q. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Audio System
R. Trunk Release Switch
S. Fuel Door Release Switch
T. Ashtray and Lighter
U. Traction Control Button
V. Selectable Shift
W. Gearshift Lever
X. Accessory Power Outlet

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when you start
on for several seconds.
LOCK ANT’ - (@)
your engine and may stay
I I That’s normal.
Traction Control System Warning Light
TRACTION
OFF
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to
OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle needs
service.
If the regular brake system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake System
Warning Light” earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there
is a problem. If
the warning light doesn’t corne on then, have it fixed
so it
will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If it
stays
on, or comes on when you’re driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is
on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
2-68

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
a
a
e
If you turn the system off by pressing the
TRACTION CONTROL button located on the
center console, the warning light will come on
and stay
on. To turn the system back on, press the
button again. The warning light should go off.
(See “Traction Control System” in the Index for
more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn
off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control system will turn
off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Traction Control System Active Light
When your traction control
system is limiting wheel
TRACTION I spin, this light will come on.
ACTIVE
Slippery road conditions may exist if the traction
control system active light comes on,
so adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the
traction control system stops limiting wheel spin.
2-69
.-

@ Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3-2 3-2
3-6
3-7 3-7
3-9
3-9
3- 10
3-10
3-11
3-11
Comfort Controls
Automatic Electronic Climate Control
Air Conditioning
Heating Ventilation System
Defogging and Defrosting
Rear Window Defogger
Passenger Temperature Control Steering
Wheel Controls for Climate Control
Audio Systems Setting
the Clock 3-11
3-18
3-21
3-23 3 -24
3 -24
3-25
3-26
3-26
3-27 AM-FM
Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
Trunk Mounted CD Changer (Option)
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Care of Your Compact Disc Player
Power Antenna Mast Care