overheating Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 Owner's Manuals

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red warning zone,
your engine is hot.
To prevent engine overheating, the
air conditioning compressor will turn
off automatically,
a fast-pulsed chime will sound, and the message
ENGINE
HOT ... A/C OW will appear in the information
center.
As the engine cools down, the air conditioning
compressor will automatically turn back on. If
the coolant temperature is over
261 OF (127 “C),
the message HOT. ..STOP ENGINE will appear. It
means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
The section “Problems on the Road,”
in this manual
explains what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
If your coolant level
is low, the message LOW ENGINE
COOLANT will appear on the Driver Information
Center. Check your coolant level
as soon as possible.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
2-70

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
PARK
(P) yet.
brake, and then shift to
PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer,
See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.

@ Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-3
5-8
5- 14
5- 17 Hazard Warning
mashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Cooling System 5-24
5-24
5-33
5-34
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire
Compact Spare Tire
If You’re Stuck In: Sand,
Mud,
Ice or Snow
5-1

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

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.
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,
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 cooling fans are running. If the
engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
5-18

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.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129 “C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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.

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here’s how
to remove the
type with a release hole:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from
the windshield.
2. Insert a small screwdriver into the hole (A) and
pull the blade assembly
off the wiper arm (B).
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm.
For the proper windshield wiper blade length and
type, see “Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts” in
the Index.
Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see
your Aurora Warranty booklet
for details.
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of
too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)

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

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