washer fluid OLDSMOBILE AURORA 2003 Owners Manual

The RainsenseTM system is activated by moving the
wiper lever up to the INT position and turning the
INT ADJ band to one
of the five sensitivity levels within
the delay area. The bottom INT ADJ position is the
lowest sensitivity setting, level one. This allows more
rain or snow to collect on the windshield between wipes.
You can increase the sensitivity of the system and the
frequency of wipes by turning the INT ADJ band
away from you to the higher sensitivity levels. The top
position is the highest sensitivity setting, level five.
A single wipe will occur each time you turn the INT ADJ
band to a higher sensitivity level to indicate that the
sensitivity level has been increased.
Notice: The wipers must be turned off when going
through a car wash to avoid damage.
The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the RainsenseTM function. The
system can be overridden at any time by manually
changing the wiper control to
LO or HI speed.
Notice: Do not place stickers or other items on the
exterior glass surface directly in front of the
rainsensor. Doing this could cause the rainsensor
to malfunction.
Windshield Washer
The lever on the right side of your steering column also
controls your windshield washer. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield, push the button on the end
of
the lever. The wipers will clear the window and then
either stop or return
to your preset speed. For more
washer cvcles, push and hold the button.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer fluid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Ice build up can block washer nozzles. Remove ice for
proper operation.
If the fluid level in the windshield washer bottle is low,
the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear on
the
DIC. See Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-38.
3-1 0
ProCarManuals.com

DIC Warnings and Messages
Other messages or warnings may appear in the DIC
display.
For Canadian drivers, in addition to the
DIC message your DIC will display EXP with
a number
after it which reflects the following messages:
EXP
(Export ID)
Warning Message
1 AIR BAG PROBLEM
3 CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM
4
CHANGE OIL SOON
I 5 I CHECK OIL LEVEL I I
6 I TRANS HOT ... IDLE ENG
I 7 I CONFIRM TIME & DATE I
8
ENGINE HOT
... A/C OFF
9 DRIVERS DOOR AJAR
10 HOT
... STOP ENGINE * 11 HOT
... REDUCE ENG RPM
I 12 I THEFT SYSTEM
FAULT I I
13 I LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR
I (ExE% ID) I Warning Message
18
LOW WASHER FLUID
19 LOW TIRE PRESSURE
20 PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
21 PARK BRAKE SET*
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR
22
23
TURN SIGNAL
ON? 24 SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON
I 25 I THEFT ATTEMPTED I I
26 [ SERV STABILITY SYS
I 27 I HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED I
28
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
29 TRUNK AJAR
32 STARTING DISABLED*
33 HOT
... IDLE ENGINE
36
42 CHECKGASCAP
STABILITY ACTIVE
The EXP codes are used to make translation from English to other languages easier.
Pressing the RESET button will remove the above
messages or warnings from the DIC display, unless
noted by an asterisk
(*).
I 17 I LOW OIL PRESSURE * I
3-50
ProCarManuals.com

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on
dry roads. And,
if your tires don’t have much tread left,
you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go
slower and be cautious
if rain starts to fall while you are
driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your
reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even
if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield,
or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
4-1 8
ProCarManuals.com

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
vou can easilv 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 dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and wiiiing
to heip if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the resewior 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?
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red
cloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And,
if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a
small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or
a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
4-27
ProCarManuals.com

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work
........................ -5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle
...................................................... 5-4
Fuel
................................................................ 5-5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5-5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5-5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
......................................... ...... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
........................... 5-7
Filling Your Tank
........................................ 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
..... . 5-11
the Hood
.................................................... 5-12
Hood Release
.............................................. 5-13
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5-14
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
................................ 5-21
P,L!tSrn2.tlC Tr2!ns2x!n !=!!lid ............................. .- E;-33 --
Engine Coolant ............................................. 5-24
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
.................. 5-28
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5-28
Cooling System
............................................ 5-31
.W indshieid .Washer Fiuid 5-36
Checking Things Under
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5-37 ~ ................................
Brakes ........................................................ 5.39
Battery
........................................................ 5.42
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-44
Headlamp Aiming
.............................. ...... 5-50
Bulb Replacement ......................................... -5-54
Halogen Bulbs
............................................. -5-54
Headlamps
................................................. -5-55
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
.......... 5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps
..................................... 5-58
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-59
Tires
.............................................................. 5-60
Inflation
-- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-60
Check Tire Pressure System
.......................... 5-62
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-63
When It Is Time for New Tires
....................... 5-65
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-66
UIIIIUIIII I Ilt: Uudllly uldullly d-UI
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance .................. 5-68
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-68
Tire Chains
................................................. -5-70
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-70
Changing a Flat Tire
..................................... 5-71
Compact Spare Tire
5-81
I I.-:+- T. n . ._I.&. . n.-- -I:__ _. re7 ..........................
- ......................................
5- 1
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Things Under
the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
I I
/t CAUTION:
I
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-1 2
ProCarManuals.com

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
D. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
F. Passenger Compartment Air Filter
G. Remote Negative (-) Terminal
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap
I. Engine Oil Dipstick
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
L. Engine Air CleanedFilter
.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears on the
instnJment chster, it me;lns yn~~ need to check
your engine oil level right away. For more information,
see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
5-1 5
ProCarManuals.com

Windshield Washer Fluid Notice:
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
If you will
be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on page
5-14 for reservoir
location.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it. Add
washer fluid until the
tank is full.
a
a
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank and other parts
of the washer system.
Also, water doesn’t
clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when
it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Don’t use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
5-38
ProCarManuals.com

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals specified to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part
D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-15 for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture if necessary. See Engine Coolant
on page
5-24 for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper fluid
if necessary.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-38 for further
details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tries are inflated to the correct pressures.
Don't forget to check your spare tire. See
Tires on
page
5-60 for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
c;eai-l c-&sei;e idPt: Ciearri1-,y S;-,"&j st: du,
every 50 hours of tape play. See Audio Systern(s)
on page
3-59 for further details.
6-9
ProCarManuals.com