phone Oldsmobile Aurora 1998 Owner's Manuals

Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, 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.
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2-1s
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2-27
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2-3
1
Keys
Door Locks
Remote Lock Control TrUIlk
Theft
Universal Theft-Deterrent
PASS-Key(%
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn 2-3 1
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3
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2-60
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2-75 Engine Exhaust
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Cellular Telephone (Option)
Accessory Power Outlet
Sunroof (Option)
Universal Transmitter
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center
2-1

Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and swing
them to the side, while the auxiliary visor remains
to
block glare from the front.
To extend the visor at the sides, pull out the extension.
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
When you open the cover to the driver or passenger side
visor vanity mirror, the lamps will come on. You can
adjust the brightness of the lamps with the switch by
sliding the lever up or down.
Cellular Telephone (Option)
If your vehicle is equipped with the cellular telephone
readiness package, your vehicle has been pre-wired for
the installation
of a cellular telephone. If you choose to
install a cellular telephone, contact your retailer.
Accessory Power Outlet
The power outlet inside the front ashtray can be used to
plug in electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone,
CB radio, etc. Follow the proper installation instructions
that are included with any electrical equipment you
install. The accessory power outlet is
off if the ignition
is turned off.
NOTICE:
When using the accessory power outlet, the
maximum load
of any electrical equipment
should not exceed
15 amps.
Garment Hook
For your convenience, you will find a two-hanger
capacity garment hook above each rear door near the
reading lamps.
Garment hooks are not designed to support clothing
bars. Use assist straps for this if possible.
Assist Handles
A folding handle above each rear door and the front
passenger’s door can be used to help you get in or out
of your vehicle.
Sunroof (Option)
Your express-open sunroof provides an airy, spacious
feel to your vehicle’s interior and can also increase
ventilation. It includes a sliding glass panel and a
sliding sunshade. The control switch will work only
when the ignition is on, or when retained accessory
power is active.
2-55

NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can
add what you want.
If you can, it’s very
important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s engine, Delco Electronics radio or
other systems, and even damage them. Your
vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your retailer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate
that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without
resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on
the display, your cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as
soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and
player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
known good cassette to see if
it is the tape or the tape
player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement
in sound quality, clean the tape player.
The recommended cleaning method for your cassette
tape player is the use of a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn.
The recommended cleaning cassette is available through
your retail facility
(GM Part No. 12344789).
3-25

“A
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
Aurora: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive
driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads or freeways,
it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers
are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough
following distance. It’s the best defensive driving
maneuver, in both city and rural driving.
You never
know when the vehicle in front of you is going
to brake
or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task
-- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the floor
-- makes
proper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger
to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe
place to do them yourself. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re
going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning,
it has little or
no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your
tires
do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road.
If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come
in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody
of your vehicle. If you
can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See
“Tires” in
the Index.)
4-19

The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of
your vehicle.
The remote fuel door release can help keep your fuel
tank from being siphoned. Always be sure the fuel door
is closed and latched after refueling.
To open the fuel door (on
the driver's side of the
vehicle), press the button
next to the trunk release
button, to the right of the
steering column. The
ignition does not need to
be
on. The remote fuel door
release will work in all
transaxle positions. The fuel
door can
be opened
manually in case
of an
electrical power failure. To
do so, first open the trunk.
The release mechanism is
on the driver's side
of the
vehicle, at the top
of the
trunk compartment. Pull
the tab toward you to
release the
fuel door.
NOTICE:
Prying on a locked fuel filler door could damage
it. Use the remote fuel door manual release
located
in the trunk.
6-6

@ Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
Here you will find out how to contact Oldsmobile if you need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and
how to report any safety defects.
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8-4
8-5
8-6
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8-7
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance Program
Features and Benefits
Canadian Roadside Assistance
Courtesy Transportation
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program
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8-9 Warranty Information
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors
Ordering Service and Owner Publications
in Canada

For prompt assistance, please have the following
information available to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:
Your name, address, home and business
telephone numbers
Vehicle Identification Number (This is available
from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at
the top left of the instrument panel and visible
through the windshield.)
Retail facility name and location
Vehicle delivery date and present mileage
Nature of concern
We encourage you to call us
so we can give your inquiry
prompt attention. However, if you wish
to write
Oldsmobile, address your inquiry
to:
Customer Assistance Representative
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Network
16 E. Judson Street
P.O.
Box 436006
Pontiac, MI 48343-6006
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Refer to your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information
booklet for addresses
of GM Overseas offices.
When contacting Oldsmobile, please remember that
your concern will likely be resolved in the retail facility,
using the retailer’s facilities, equipment and personnel.
That is why we suggest you follow Step One first
if you
have a concern.
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),
Oldsmobile has TTY equipment available at its
Customer Assistance Network. Any
TTY user
can communicate with Oldsmobile by dialing:
1 -800-833-OLDS. (TTY users in Canada can dial
1-800-263-3830.)
8-4

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.

GM Participation in an Alternative
Dispute Resolution Program
This program is available in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Canadian owners refer to your Warranty
and Owner Assistance Information booklet for
information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration
Plan (CAMVAP). General Motors reserves the right to
change eligibility limitations and/or
to discontinue its
participation in this program.
Both Oldsmobile and your Oldsmobile retailer are
committed to making sure
you are completely satisfied
with your new vehicle. Our experience has shown that,
if a
situation arises where you feel your concern has not been
adequately addressed, the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
described earlier in this section is very successful.
There may be instances where an impartial third party
can assist in arriving
at a solution to a disagreement
regarding vehicle repairs or interpretation of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. To assist in resolving these
disagreements, Oldsmobile voluntarily participates in
BBB AUTO LINE. BBB
AUTO LINE is an out-of-court program
administered by the Better Business Bureau system to
settle automotive disputes. This program is available
free of charge to customers who currently own or lease a
GM vehicle.
If you are not satisfied after following the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure, you may contact the BBB using
the toll-free telephone number,
or write them at the
following address:
BBB AUTO LINE
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite
800
Arlington, VA 22203- 1804
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
To file a claim, you will be asked to
p lrovide yl our name
and address, your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
and a statement of the nature
of your complaint.
Eligibility
is limited by vehicle age and mileage, and
other factors.