1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Owners Manual

Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.
The proper coolant for your Aurora will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C)
0 Give boiling protection up to 262°F (128°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half c.lt.crr~ wwtor (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 182S-M,” which won‘t damage aluminum
parts.
You call also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M
with a complete coolant tlush
and refill. Use GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer)
with any cotnplete coolant flush and refill. If you use
this mixture, you don‘t need to add anything else.
A
special procedure is required for adding sealer; see the
ALI~o~~ Service Manual. (To order a service 1nanual. see
”Service Publications“
in the Index.)
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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
Adding Coolant
The engine coolant
surge tank is located
on the driver’s side
of
the engine
compartment.
To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark or
a little higher. If the message
LOW ENGINE COOLANT is displayed on your
message center, it means you’re low on engine coolant.
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To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
surge tank, but only when the engine is cool.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is tight.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the
FULL COLD mark. Add
enough fluid to bring the level up to the mark.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
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What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid or making a
complete fluid change,
always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
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. There are
two windshield washer fluid tanks. The upper
tank (shown above)
will empty first. When the lower
tank contains 0.5 quarts (0.5 liters) or less, the message
LOW WASHER FLUID will
be displayed on the Driver
Information Center.
To Add
Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY. Add
washer fluid
until the tank is f~111.
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NOTICE:
Brakes
0
0
0
0
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
3/4 full
when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in
your master cylinder might go down. The first is that the
brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put
in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that
fluid
is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
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should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake
linings.
You should add (or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls
to a low level, your brake
warning light
will come on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive
with this warning light on. See “Brake
System Warning Light”
in the Index. What to
Add
When
you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing it.
I NOTICE:
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of
fluid. For example, just a few drops
of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in
your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful
not
to spill brake fluid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care” in the Index.
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Brake Wear
Your Aurora has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal
firmly).
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong
with
your brakes.
Brake linings should always
be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be
a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time YOLI apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Aurora does when it is new. When
you replace parts
of your braking system -- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and you have to
have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts
in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between your front and rear brakes can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance you’ve come
to expect can change in many other ways if someone
puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Aurora has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for
a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom@
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label. The battery
is located under
the rear seat cushion. To
access the battery, see “Removing the Rear Seat
Cushion”
in the Index. You don’t need to access the
battery to jump start your vehicle. See “Jump Starting”
in the Index.
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