warning OLDSMOBILE AURORA 2003 User Guide

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens. Gages can
indicate when there may be or is
a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly
- and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC) that
works along with the warning lights and gages. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-45.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your vehicle is equipped with this instrument panel cluster, which includes indicator warning lights and gages that
are explained on the following pages. The instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle
is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to
drive safely and economically.
PO
RO
NO
DO
30
20
10
United States version shown, Canada similar
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you
if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag sensors, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see
Air Bag Systems on page 1-47.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for
several seconds. Then
the light should go out. This means the
system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle,
it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash,
or they
could even inflate without a crash.
To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will
be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
On the
DIC an AIR BAG PROBLEM message will be
displayed when there is a problem with the air bag
system. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50
for more information.
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Battery Warning Light
’ This light will come on
briefly when you start the
vehicle, as a check to
show you it
is working;
then it should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is
on could drain your battery and result in a vehicle that
may stall.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain
to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and climate control system.
On the DIC, a CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM message will
be displayed and a warning chime will sound. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50 for more
information.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
1
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
ON. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t
release fully. If you try to drive
off with the parking brake
set, a chime will also come on until you release the
brake is fully released, it means you have a brake
problem. parking
brake. If the light stays Gn after yGu: parking
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A PARK BRAKE SET message will be displayed on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) while the parking
brake is set and the vehicle is moving. The message
will not come on
if the transaxle is in PARK (P).
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder
to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing
Your Vehicle
on page 4-33.
Your brake system may not be working
properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your engine is started and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to
OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon
as possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system.
If the light still stays
on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle
needs service.
If the regular brake system warning
light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have
anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-35 earlier in this
section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to
ON. This is
normal.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
,
TRAC
OFF
United States Canada
This warning light should come on briefly when the
engine
is started.
If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your ariving accordingiy. The
traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TC button
located on the center console, the warning light will
come on and stay on. To turn the system back
on, press the button again. The warning light should
go
off. See Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-8 for more information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning light will come
on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn
off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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Traction Control System Active
Light
United States
I
Canada
When your traction control system is limiting wheel spin,
this light will come on. Slippery road conditions may
exist
if the traction control system active light comes on,
so adjust your driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the traction
control system stops limiting wheel spin.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the shaded warning zone,
your engine is hot.
To prevent engine overheating, the air conditioning
compressor will turn
off automatically, a fast-pulsed
chime will sound, and the message ENGINE HOT
... A/C
OFF will appear in the Driver Information Center
(DIC).
As the engine cools down, the air conditioning
compressor will automatically turn back on.
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Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection
if the CHECK
ENGINE light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection
if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen
if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving.
If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, see your dealer or qualified service
center to prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If you have a problem with
your
oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come on when
you are driving.
A warning chime and the DIC message
LOW OIL
PRESSURE may also come on.
These indicate that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it cool. The engine could be
low on oil, or could have some other oil problem. Have
it fixed right away.
The oil light could also come on briefly when the ignition
is on but the engine is not running. The light will
come on as a test to show you it is working, but the
light will go out about five seconds after you turn
the ignition to START.
If it doesn’t come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse
or bulb. Have it fixed right away.
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Driver Information Center (DIG) To turn off messages on the DIC (except LOW OIL
PRESSURE, LOW BRAKE FLUID, PARK BRAKE SET,
STARTING DISABLED and the HOT
... STOP ENGINE
warning), press the RESET button.
Pressing the SELECT right arrow button will allow you
to access the following modes, DATE/ET, FUEL, ECON,
OIL and GAGE. While
in any sf these modes, warning
messages can interrupt and take over the display
until you acknowledge the message, or the condition
causing the problem goes away.
English/Metric
The DIC can display information in either English or
metric. To change the display, press and hold the
ON/OFF button for about three seconds. This will also
change the digital screen for the climate control
system between English and metric.
Date/Elapsed Time
The DIC has different display modes which can be
accessed by pressing the four buttons on the DIC. Pressing the SELECT down arrow while in BATE/ET
arrow, SELECT down arrow and RESET. The functions
These bcttsns s)?!!sFF, SELECT rinht I'LJ',L mode will allow vou to choose between the date and the
elapsed time menus.
of these buttons is explained in the following sections.
Turn the system
on or off by pressing the ON/OFF
button once. When you turn on the ignition, the DIC will
turned
off.
be in the mode last displayed ?..lhen the engine \":as
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Gage Tire pressure status, such as the following:
TIRE PRESSURE NORMAL or TIRE
PRESSURE LOW
TIRE PRESSURE NORMAL appears when the
check tire pressure system believes your vehicle’s
tire pressures are normal.
if a potential tire
pressure problem is detected, the display will show
TIRE PRESSURE LOW. If you see this message,
you should stop
as soon as you can and check
all four tires for damage.
If a tire is flat, see If a Tire
Goes Flat on page 5-70.
Also check the tire
pressure in all four tires as soon as you can. See
lnflation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-60.
Pressing the SELECT down arrow while in GAGE mode
will allow you to access the battery volts, oil pressure
and tire pressure displays. Pressing and holding
the RESET button for three seconds while
in average
speed and tire pressure displays will reset them.
Pressing the SELECT down arrow in GAGE mode will
show the following displays:
Battery voltage, such as the following:
VOLTS:
13.8
0 Oil pressure, such as the following:
OIL PRESSURE
40 PSI or OIL PRESSURE
276 KPA
Average speed, such as the following:
AVG SPEED
55 MPH or AVG SPEED 90 KM/H There
are times when you will have to reset
(calibrate) the check tire pressure system. Pressing
the RESET button while the TIRE PRESSURE
LOW warning is displayed does not automatically
reset the tire pressure monitoring system. See
Check Tire Pressure System on page 5-62 for more
information.
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