fuel OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1999 User Guide

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CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Cruise Light
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you set your
cruise control. See ªCruise
Controlº in the Index.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left.
When you have less than 3.0 gallons (11.3 L) of fuel
remaining, the message LOW FUEL will be displayed and
a chime will sound. You need to get more fuel right away.
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Press the FUEL button on the Driver Information Center
to turn off the warning.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads ªFº (Full).

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.

The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.

The tank is not necessarily empty when the pointer is
over the ªEº (Empty) mark. There is a reserve of
about 1.5 gallons (5.6 L) in the tank. You should still
get more fuel as soon as possible.Driver Information Center
The Driver Information Center (DIC) displays
information in either English or metric. When the
system is on or off, push the OFF button down for two
seconds to change the display between English and
metric. This will also change the digital screen for the
climate control system between English and metric.
In addition to the functions described in this part, the
DIC also displays various warning messages under
appropriate conditions.
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Turn on the system by pressing any button except
RESET, ENTER or OFF. When you turn on the ignition,
the DIC will be in the mode last displayed when the
engine was turned off. Keep in mind that this also
applies to the OFF mode.
To turn off messages on the DIC (except LOW OIL
PRESSURE, LOW BRAKE FLUID, PARK BRAKE
SET and the hot engine warnings), press any button on
the DIC.
You will need to open the cover to access the control
buttons. To open the cover, push the button located to
the right of the cover.
To close the cover, push it down to its closed position.
Fuel Economy
The ECON button displays average fuel economy and
instantaneous fuel economy calculated for your specific
driving conditions.
Press ECON to display average fuel economy, such as:
25.2 AVG MI/GAL or 9.3 AVG L/100 KM
Press ECON again to display instantaneous fuel
economy, such as:
28 INST MI/GAL or 8.4 INST L/100 KM
Press again to return to average fuel economy.
The average fuel economy is viewed as a long
-term
approximation of your overall driving conditions.
If you press RESET in this mode while you're driving,
the system will begin figuring fuel economy from that
point in time.
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2-77 Fuel
Press FUEL to see how much fuel has been used since
you last pressed the RESET button. The display will
show a reading such as:
10.4 GALLONS USED or 39.4 LITERS USED
To learn how much fuel will be used from a specific
starting point, first press FUEL to display fuel used,
then press RESET.
Don't confuse fuel used with the amount of fuel in
your tank.
Fuel Range
RANGE calculates the remaining distance you can drive
without refueling. It's based on fuel economy and the
fuel remaining in the tank. The display will show a
reading such as:
FUEL RANGE 235 MI or FUEL RANGE 378 KMIf the range is less than 50 miles (80 km), the display
will read LOW FUEL RANGE.
The fuel economy data used to determine fuel range is
an average of recent driving conditions. As your driving
conditions change, this data is gradually updated.
Resetting fuel range causes the fuel economy data to be
updated immediately. To reset fuel range, press
RANGE, then RESET.
Average Speed
The calculation for average speed begins when SPEED
is reset. Press SPEED to display the average speed,
such as:
AVG SPEED 55 MPH or AVG SPEED 90 KM/H
To reset the average speed, press SPEED and
then RESET.
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3-6 Air Conditioning
The air conditioner cools, dehumidifies and filters the
air for the inside of the vehicle.
The air conditioning compressor is enabled in all modes
unless the A/C ON button is in the off position (the
indicator light will not be illuminated). However, the air
conditioning compressor will not operate when the
outside temperature is below 42
F (7
C). When the air
conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice slight
changes in your vehicle's engine speed and power. This
is normal, because the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and off to keep the desired cooling and
help fuel economy.
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
the hot air out. This reduces the time required to cool the
interior of the vehicle to a comfortable level. If the
system is in the automatic mode (AUTO
-PUSH knob
indicator light is on), during very hot days the system
will automatically go to the RECIRC ON mode and the
temperature door will be positioned at the full cold
position for maximum cooling. You can choose the
extreme comfort setting of 60
F (16
C), but the
system will not cool any faster by choosing the extreme
comfort setting.
Heating
In cold weather, if the automatic mode is selected
(AUTO
-PUSH knob indicator light is on), the system
will automatically direct the airflow out of the lower
floor outlets and the temperature door will be positioned
at the full hot position. You can choose the extreme
comfort setting of 90
F (32
C), but the system will not
warm up any faster by selecting the extreme
comfort setting.
In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the fan
to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. The fan speed will increase as the
temperature of the engine coolant increases. Turning the
AUTO FAN knob will override this delay by turning off
the automatic fan control mode and changing the
fan speed.
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Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile dealerships all across North America.
They'll be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?

Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?

Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble
-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?

Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?

Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
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Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
You can tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for use
at your destination. Be sure to use the proper towing
equipment designed for recreational towing. Follow the
instructions for the towing equipment.
To tow your vehicle, follow these steps:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight
-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
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Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire
-Loading Information label,
found on the rear edge of the driver's door, tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressure for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory
-installed options.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes
the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front of
rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out. Don't carry more than 176 lbs. (80 kg) in
your trunk.
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Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You and
your passengers could be seriously injured. You
may also damage your vehicle; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Pull a
trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this
section. Ask your dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in ªWeight of the Trailerº
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.That's the reason for this part. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load
-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:

There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you'll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.

Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Engine Oil
6
-15 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-18 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
6
-21 Engine Coolant
6
-26 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-28 Brakes
6
-31 Battery
6
-33 Bulb Replacement
6
-43 Tires6
-51 Appearance Care
6
-51 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-55 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-57 Underbody Maintenance
6
-57 Chemical Paint Spotting
6
-58 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-59 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-60 Electrical System
6
-64 Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
6
-70 Replacement Bulbs
6
-70 Capacities and Specifications
6
-71 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6
-71 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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