low beam OLDSMOBILE AURORA 2002 Owners Manual

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

Turn and Lane
-Change Signals

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Flash
-To-Pass Feature
For information on exterior lamps, see ªExterior
Lampsº later in this section.
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.
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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 check 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. See
ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º in the
Index for more information.
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.
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2-37 Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Your high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on
as long as you hold the lever there. Release the lever to
turn them off.
If your headlamps are on, and on high beam, your
headlamps will switch to low beam when the lever is
released. To get back to high beam, push the lever
away from you.
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.
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2-44
Wiper-Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low
-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds. To operate, the exterior
lamps control must be in AUTO and it must be dark
enough outside.
When the exterior lamps control is in OFF or the
parking lamp position and the windshield wiper control
is on (LO, HI or INT), the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message will appear on the DIC.
When you turn the key to OFF, the wiper
-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. The
wiper
-activated headlamps will also turn off if
you turn the exterior lamps control to OFF or
turn off the windshield wipers.
Lamps on Reminder
If the exterior lamps control is left on, you'll hear a
warning chime when you turn the ignition off, remove
the key from the ignition and open the driver's door.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
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 lamps 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 exterior lamps control 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.
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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 exterior lamps 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 exterior lamps 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 ON.
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 exterior lamps control.
Light Sensor
Your automatic headlamps and DRL 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.
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2-46 Fog Lamps
To turn on only the front
fog lamps, turn the fog
lamp band to the single fog
lamp symbol. To turn on
both the front and rear fog
lamps, turn the fog lamp
band to the double fog
lamp symbol.
Turning on the front fog lamps only will automatically
activate the parking lamps. Turning on the front and rear
fog lamps will automatically activate the parking lamps
and headlamps.
To turn off the fog lamps, turn the band to OFF. The
front fog lamps will also turn off when you turn on your
high
-beam headlamps, but will turn on again when you
switch to low beams.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the exterior lamps control has been left on, the
exterior lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned to OFF 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 exterior lamps control to turn
the lamps back on after the ignition has been turned to
OFF and any door has been opened.
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2-50 Rear Reading Lamps
These lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn them on by pressing the button on the
side of the lamp. Press it again to turn them off.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp or cigarette lighters. When the ignition
is turned off, the power to these features will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes. Power will be
restored for an additional 10 minutes if any door is
opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy lamp control
is turned on. To restore power to the cigarette lighters,
the ignition must be turned back to ON.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle's electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at a
higher rpm setting than normal to make sure the battery
charges. High electrical loads may occur when several
of the following are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, blower fan, heated seats
and engine cooling fans.
If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the fan, rear
defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.
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4-17
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50
-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20
-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you're
driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even
several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark.
When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who doesn't lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren't
even aware of it.
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6-41
8. Slide the lamp assembly back into place by lining
up the track on the bottom of the assembly with the
guide on the vehicle.
9. Then connect the outboard snap mounting pin.
10. Secure the lamp assembly with the two bolts.Headlamp Aiming
Your vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system equipped with horizontal aim indicators. The
aim has been preset at the factory and should need no
further adjustment. This is true even though your
horizontal aim indicators may not fall exactly on the ª0º
(zero) marks on their scales.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlamp
aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the low beam
may be necessary if it is difficult to see lane markers
(for horizontal aim), or if oncoming drivers flash their
high beams at you (for vertical aim). If you believe your
headlamps need to be re
-aimed, we recommend that you
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. However, it
is possible for you to re
-aim your headlamps as
described in the following procedure.
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6-42
NOTICE:
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before
beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:

The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps
are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light colored wall or other
flat surface.

The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface which is level all the way to the wall or
other flat surface.

The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular to
the wall or other flat surface.

The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to it.

The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.

The vehicle should be normally loaded with a full
tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs. (75 kg) on the
driver's seat.
Tires should be properly inflated.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle low beam
lamps. The high beam lamps will be correctly aimed if
the low beam lamps are aimed properly.
The headlamp aiming devices are under the hood near
the headlamps.
If you believe your headlamps need horizontal
(left/right) adjustment, follow the horizontal aiming
procedure. If you believe your headlamps need only
vertical (up/down) adjustment, follow only the vertical
aiming procedure.
Adjustment screws can be turned with an E8 Torx

socket or T15 Torx screwdriver.
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