1996 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Owners Manual

Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that
can occur
on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
Press down on the button
located
on top of the
steering column, then
release
it to turn on the
hazard warning flashers.
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HAZARD A
The HAZARD light on the
instrument panel will
also
come on.
Your hazard flashers work no matter what position your
key
is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, press the button down again.
When the flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side
of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Aurora. But please follow the steps below to
do it safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to
start your Aurora by pushing or
pulling it won’t work, and it could damage your
vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
you.
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1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to
start your Aurora, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured
if the vehicle rolls. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual
transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlet. Turn
off all lamps
that aren’t needed as well as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio.
I NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
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4. Open the hoods and locate the other vehicle’s battery
and the Aurora’s remote positive
(+) jump starting
terminal in the
box on the passenger side of the
engine compartment. (Your Aurora’s battery isn’t
under the hood.)
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery or remote terminal. You should always
use the remote positive
(+) terminal instead of the
positive
(+) terminal on your battery.
To open the remote positive (+) terminal box, pull
the tab and open the cover.
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I
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery
has enough water. You don’t
need to add water
to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be
present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
1 water and get medical help immediately.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-)
or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
remote positive
(+) terminal of the vehicle with
the dead battery.
8. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
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9. Now connect the
black negative
(-) cable
to the good battery's
negative
(-) terminal.
Don't let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end of the negative cable
doesn't go to
the dead battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted metal part
on the engine
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
10.
11.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
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12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If
it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
- +
B
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B . Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle can only be towed from the front
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them. with
sling type equipment.
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