instrument panel Oldsmobile Aurora 2001 s User Guide

2-22 Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in the LOCK ignition position,
you will hear a warning chime when you open the
driver's door.
Always leave your key in LOCK. If you leave it in any
other position, you will drain the battery power.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have electrical power to accessories such as the
power windows, audio steering wheel controls, clock,
sunroof (option), accessory power outlet and the radio
for up to 10 minutes. The instrument panel cluster lights
will stay on for a few seconds, then go out. Once you
open a door, the power will shut off.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's
a safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.

2-35
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:

Turn and Lane Change Signals

Headlamps

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Parking Lamps

Flash
-To-Pass

Fog Lamps
Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal either a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up
or down. When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.

2-36
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
flash very fast, a bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid
an accident.
If the arrows don't go on at all when you signal a turn,
check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the
Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 0.8 miles
(1.3 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal and the DIC will display the TURN SIGNAL
ON? reminder message. To turn off the chime and
message, move the turn signal lever to the off position.
To turn off the DIC message while the turn signal is
still active, press any button on the DIC.
Headlamps
The headlamp control
is located on the turn
signal/multifunction lever.
Turn the control to this symbol to turn on
the following:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

2-37
Turn the headlamp control to this symbol to turn on
the following:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turning the headlamp control to AUTO will turn the
headlamps, taillamps and parking lamps on and off,
while the ignition is on, by sensing how dark it is outside.
Turn the headlamp control back to off to turn all of the
lamps off.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low
-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting, and taillamps
when it is bright enough outside, the headlamp control
is in AUTO and after the windshield wipers have been
in use for approximately six seconds.To operate the wiper
-activated headlamps the headlamp
control must be in AUTO. If the wiper
-activated
headlamps are on and the ignition switch is turned to
RUN, the wiper
-activated headlamps will continue.
When you turn the key to LOCK, the wiper
-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. The wiper
-activated
headlamps will also turn off if you turn the headlamp
switch to OFF or turn off the windshield wipers.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high,
push the lever away from you until you hear a click.
Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
If the fog lamps are on when you turn on the
high
-beam headlamps, the fog lamps will turn off.
The fog lamps will turn back on when you turn off the
high
-beam headlamps.

2-39 Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of your steering column
operates your windshield wipers.
If your windshield wipers are on for more than
six seconds while you are driving, the low
-beam
headlamps, instrument panel cluster backlighting and
the taillamps will turn on. For more information see
ªWiper
-Activated Headlampsº in the Index.
For a single wiping cycle, move the lever down to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then release it. The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever to MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the lever up to
the LO position. For high
-speed wiping, move the
lever up further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the
lever to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wiper cycles. This can be very useful in light
rain or snow. Move the lever up to the first detent, INT.
Turn the band labeled INT ADJ down towards the
shorter lines for fewer wiper passes per minute. As you
turn the band towards the longer lines, the wiper cycles
per minute will increase.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts. See ªWindshield Wiper Blade Replacementº
in the Index.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.

2-42
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Push the cruise control switch located at the end of
the lever in to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push the lever down to SET
-CST and release it.
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

2-44
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this
to be too much trouble and don't use cruise control
on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control Without Erasing
the Set Speed
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

pull the cruise lever towards you to cancel cruise.
To resume the set speed see ªResuming a Set Speedº
earlier in this section.
Erasing Cruise Control Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See ªTurn Signal/Multifunction Leverº in the Index.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL
can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running
lights are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness in daylight when the
following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off, and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps won't be on.

2-45
With your headlamp control in AUTO when it is
dark enough outside, your low
-beam headlamps will
automatically come on. The other lamps that turn on
with your headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn the headlamp control all the way toward
OFF. The DRL will turn on automatically and the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message will be
displayed on the DIC when you move the transaxle
out of PARK (P).
If the headlamp control is in the parking lamps position
at night, only the parking lamps will be on. If the
transaxle is out of PARK (P), only the parking lamps
will be active and the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
message will be displayed on the DIC.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamps
The automatic headlamps will keep your headlamps on
when it is dark outside and the ignition is in RUN.
It's possible that your headlamps may go out if you
drive from a dark area into a bright area like a lighted
parking lot. If this happens, turn on your headlamps
with the regular headlamp switch.
Light Sensor
Your automatic headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps
work with the light sensor on top of the instrument
panel. Don't cover it up. If you do it will read ªdarkº
and the automatic headlamp lighting will turn on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to LOCK and any door has been
opened. This protects against draining the battery in
case you have accidentally left the headlamps or parking
lamps on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after the ignition has been turned to LOCK and
any door has been opened. To delay the lamps from
turning off, see ªAutomatic Headlampsº in the Index.

2-46
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
The instrument panel
brightness control is located
on the driver's side of the
instrument panel.
When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim
your instrument panel cluster lights by turning the
dimmer knob.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the instrument
panel cluster lights and displays. Turn the knob
counterclockwise to dim the instrument panel cluster
lights and displays.
If it is day and your parking lamps are on, the
instrument panel cluster lights and displays will
come on at full intensity and will not be adjustable. If it is dark enough outside and your parking lamps are
on, the instrument panel cluster lights and displays and
the backlighting for the door and steering column
switches will come on, and can also be adjusted.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside and the front reading lamp
slider control is in the AUTO position, when any door is
opened all of the vehicles courtesy lamps will come on.
See ªReading Lampsº in the Index. They make it easier
for you to enter and leave the vehicle. The courtesy lamps
will remain on for about 25 seconds after all doors have
been closed. They will then theater dim to off.
Move the front reading lamp slider control in the
overhead console to ON to turn on the interior courtesy
lamps. When the control is moved back to either OFF
or AUTO, the courtesy lamps will immediately turn off.
If the control is OFF when the doors are opened, only
the lower instrument panel courtesy lamps will come on.
Also, if the control is OFF when illuminated entry or
delayed exit lighting are active, only the lower
instrument panel courtesy lamps will be on.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.

2-47 Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside and you press the unlock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter while all
doors are closed, the interior courtesy lamps will come
on and stay on for approximately 40 seconds. When
the 40 seconds is up, the lights will be turned off by
the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn off
immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the remote
lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition key to
RUN or by activating the power door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark enough outside.
When you close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds. When the
25 seconds is up the lights will be turned off by the
theater dimming effect. Please note that locking the
doors with the power door lock switch or with the lock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter, will
override the delayed entry lighting and the lamps will
turn off immediately.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out
of the overhead courtesy lamps instead of immediate
turn off after you remove the key from the ignition.
They will not fade if the interior lamps are manually
turned on. The lower instrument panel courtesy lamps
will not theater dim.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature will turn on the interior lamps for 25
seconds after you remove the key from the ignition
while the doors are closed and it is night. This will give
you time to find the door handle or lock switches as you
exit the vehicle. When the 25 seconds is up, or if the key
is reinserted into the ignition, the lights will be turned
off by the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn
off immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the
remote lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition
key to RUN or by activating the power door locks.