towing Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 s Owner's Guide

Engine Overheating
Attach a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end of each lower
control
arm.
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. Your driver information
center will also display messages about engine
overheating. See “Coolant Temperature Gage”
in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
Should an overheated engine 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.
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.
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.
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 fiont 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.
5-34
I
I

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:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°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.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in
the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Aurora retail facility
Service Department.
If
you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
I
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a
fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
6-18

I Maintenance Schedule I
- 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.
52,500 Miles (87 500 km)
!J Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
[7 Lubricate chassis components (or at each engine oil and filter change).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
(See footnote
At.)
rotation
pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
60,000 Miles (100 000 km)
0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ’k.)
(See footnote #.)
Lubricate chassis components (or at each engine oil and filter change).
DATE
DATE
(Continued)
7-9

I Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Inspect spark plug wires.
Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and bottom screens if the vehicle is mainly
An Emission Control Service.
An Emission Control Service.
driven under one or more of these conditions:
I DATE 1
I MILEAGE ACTUAL I SERVICEDBY I
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches
90°F (32°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 veh.icle under any of these conditions, th.e jluid and
filter do not require changing.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
17 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
MILEAGE 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.
7-13

Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance
Program Features and Benefits
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
Representatives 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 Representatives, 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.

Driving City
........................................ 4-20
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-27
IntheRain
.................................. 4-17
OnCurves
.................................. 4-11
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-36
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-23
On Snow
or Ice .............................. 4-26
Throughwater
............................... 4-19
WetRoads .................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
................................ 4-35
DrunkenDriving
................................ 4-3
Night
...................................... 4-16
Elapsed Time Indicator
......................... 2-80
Electrical Equipment. Adding ........... 2.22. 3.25. 6-60
Electrical System
............................... 6-60
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-48
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-2
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-3 1
Engine ....................................... 6-10
Accessory Belt
............................... 6-72
Coolant
..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-23
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7- 14
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-70
Exhaust
..................................... 2-31 Fuse Blocks
................................. 6-69
Identification
................................ 6-59
OilLevelCheck .............................. 7-14
Overheating
................................. 5-14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-32
Specifications
................................ 6-71
Starting Your
................................ 2-21
Engine Message (DIC)
........................... 2-77
EngineOil
.................................... 6-11
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checlung
................................... 6-11
Life Monitor ................................. 2-78
Pressure Light
............................... 2-73
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Estimated Time
of Arrival ........................ 2-79
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-31
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-46
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-33
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-52
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-3
Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-17
Finish Care
.................................... 6-55
Finish Damage
................................. 6-57
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-26
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flash-To-Pass Feature ........................... 2-37
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
9-4

Fluid Capacities ................................ 6-70
FogLamps
.................................... 2-43
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
Front Storage Armrest
........................... 2-52
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-20
FrenchLanguage Manual
11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-11
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Door Release Button
........................... 6-6
Filling a Portable Container
...................... 6-8
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-74
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
RangeDisplay
............................... 2-77
UsedDisplay
................................ 2-77
Used Reset. Driver Information Center
............ 2-77
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-61
.. ...........................
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-70
Fuel
....................................... 2-74
Garage Door Opener
............................ 2-56
GarmentHook
................................. 2-55
GloveBox
.................................... 2-52
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-30
Guide en Frangais
11
GAWR ....................................... 4-30
.. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-30 Halogen
Bulbs
................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-7
Headlamps
............................... 2-36, 2-42
Aiming
..................................... 6-36
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
Wiring
..................................... 6-60
High/Low Beam Changer ...................... 2-37
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heated Outside Mirror
........................... 2-52
Heatedseats
.................................... 1-5
Heating ........................................ 3-7
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-37
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-23
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-34
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-9
Horn
......................................... 2-33
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-19
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-20
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-17
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-46
Inadvertent Load Protection
....................... 2-48
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-44
Inspections
.................................... 7-18
Brakesystem
................................ 7-19
Engine Cooling System ........................ 7-18

Rear Door Security ............................. 2-7
Tr~nk
...................................... 2-14
Window
.................................... 2-33
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-20
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7- 15
Lumbar Controls
................................ 1-3
Magnasteer
M ................................ 4. 10
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
............ 6-7 1
Maintenance Record ............................ 7-22
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7- 1
Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7- 14
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7- 18
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-20
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-57
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-7 1
Maxifuse/Relay Center
.......................... 6-6 1
Memory Door Locks
........................ 2.5. 2. 11
Memory Seat and Mirrors
........................ 2- 11
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-48
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-52
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview
.............. 2-48
Heated Outside
............................... 2-52
Memory
.................................... 2-11
Parallel Park Assist
........................... 2-5 1
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-5 1
Visor Vanity. Illuminated ....................... 2-55
With Compass
............................... 2-48
Maintenance
When Trailer Towing
................. 4-37 MMT
......................................... 6-4
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-23
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-34
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-53
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-25
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-19
Nightvision
................................... 4-16
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............. 6-71
Odometer
.................................... 2-63
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-63
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-13
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Oil Life Indicator
............................... 2-78
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-73
Oil Pressure Message
............................ 2-77
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-26
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
....... 5-14
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-14
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-14
Owner Publications. Ordering
................. 8-9. 8-10
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-57
Parallel Park Assist Mirror
........................ 2-51
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-24
Shifting Into
................................. 2-28
Shifting
Out of ............................... 2-30

Parkmg AtNight
.................................... 2-15
Brake
...................................... 2-27
Brake Indicator Light
.......................... 2-67
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-17
Lots
....................................... 2-16
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-3 1
With a Trailer ........................... 4-36, 4-37
Passenger Position
.................... 1-21, 1-27, 1-32
Passenger Temperature Control
.................... 3- 10
Passing ..&.................................... 4-13
PASS-Key 11 ................................. 2-18
Perimeter Lighting .............................. 2-46
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7- 1 8
Personalization Features ......................... 2- 11
Power
Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-55
AntennaMastCare
............................ 3-27
Antennaservice
.............................. 7-14
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-51
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Seatback Recliner
.............................. 1-2
Steering .................................... 4-10
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-25
Windows
................................... 2-33
Power, Retained Accessory
....................... 2-21
Power Seat
Lumbar Controls
.............................. 1-3
Memory Function
.............................. 1-3
Pregnancy, Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-20
DoofLocks ................................... 2-5 Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner
............... 8.9. 8-10
Radio Reception
.............................. 3-24
Radios
....................................... 3-11
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-17
Reading Lamps
........................... 2-47. 2-48
Rear Compartment Fuse Block
....................... 6-66
Door Security Locks
........................... 2-7
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-27
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-30
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-27
Towing
..................................... 5-13
Window Defogger
............................. 3-9
Rear Storage Armrest
............................ 2-53
Rear Turn Signal Bulb Replacement
................ 6-40
Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-48
Compass Calibration
.......................... 2-51
Compass Variance
............................ 2-50
Electrochromic Daymight
...................... 2-48
Heated Outside
............................... 2-52
Parallel Park Assist
........................... 2-51
With Compass
............................... 2-48
RecallonDIC
................................. 2-81
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-6
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning .................... 6-71
Remote Fuel Door Release
............................. 6-6
Trunk Release
................................ 2-14
9-8
..