1997 Oldsmobile Aurora overheating

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
280
n 100
Q
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red 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 information
center.
As the engine cools down, the air conditioning
compressor will automatically turn back on.
If the coolant temperature is over 26 1 OF ( 127’ C), the
message
HOT ... STOP ENGINE will appear. It means
that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
The section “Problems on the Road,” in this manual
explains what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
If your coolant level is low, the message
LOW ENGINE
COOLANT will appear on the Driver Information
Center. Check your coolant level as soon as possible.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
2-74

@ Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2
5-3
5-3
5-8
5-
14
Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating 5-23
If a Tire Goes Flat
5-24 Changing a Flat Tire
5-34 Compact Spare Tire
5-35 If You’re Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
5-1

Attach a separate
safety chain around the
outboard end of each
lower control arm.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Aurora’s instrument panel. Your information center will
also display messages about engine overheating. See
“Coolant Temperature Gage” in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
Should a low coolant condition exist and the message
HOT STOP ENGINE is displayed, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of four
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a
loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency; you may drive up to
50 miles (80 km). Towing a trailer in the overheat
protection mode should be avoided.
I NOTICE:
~ After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset
the oil life indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.
5-14

If it isn’t, the coolant level should be indicated by a
CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message on the Driver
Information Center. If it
is, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there
is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose
all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
If there seems to be
no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running.
If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
5-18

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level
is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid
to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to
the proper level.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
Lx
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one pint The following explains
Your cooling system and how to
(0.5 L). Don’t overjill. add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
NOTICE: A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL’
coolant will:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON’III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON@III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature,
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here’s how to remove the
type with a release hole:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the windshield.
Tires
Your new Aurora comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see
your Aurora Warranty booklet for details.
I
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of
too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
2. Insert a small screwdriver into the hole (A) and pull
the blade assembly off the wiper arm
(B).
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm.
For the proper windshield wiper blade length
and type, see
“Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts” in the Index.
6-44

Drunken Driving ................................ 4-3
Elapsed Time Indicator
......................... 2-85
Electrical Equipment. Adding
........... 2.23. 3.29. 6-62
Electrical System
............................... 6-62
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-50
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-2
Electronic Level Control
......................... 4-3 1
Engine (Message (DIC)
.......................... 2-82
Engine
....................................... 6-10
Accessory Belt
............................... 6-75
Coolant
..................................... 6-21
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-24
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-74
Exhaust
..................................... 2-32
FuseBlocks
................................. 6-63
Identification
................................ 6-6 1
OilLevelCheck .............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-14
Running While Parked
......................... 2-33
Specifications
................................ 6-74
StartingYour
................................ 2-22
Engineoil
.................................... 6-11
Adding
..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-11
Life Monitor ................................. 2-82
Pressure Light
............................... 2-77
Used
....................................... 6-15
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14 Estimated Time
of Arrival
........................ 2-84
Exit Lighting
.................................. 2-47
Express-Down Window
.......................... 2-34
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-32
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-53
Fan Knob. Climate Control System
.................. 3-3
Filling Your Tank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-15
Finish Care
.................................... 6-57
Finish Damage
................................. 6-59
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-27
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flash-to-Pass Feature
........................... 2-38
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-24
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-73
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
FogLamps
.................................... 2-45
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
FrenchLanguageManual
11
FrontTowing .................................. 5-11
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
Canada
...................................... 6-3
Filling
Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-79
RangeDisplay
............................... 2-82
UsedDisplay
................................ 2-81
Used Reset. Driver Information Center
............ 2-81
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-63
.. ...........................
Front Storage Armrest ........................... 2-55
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
9-4

Power Remote Control ......................... 2-53
Visor Vanity. Illuminated
....................... 2-58
With Compass
............................... 2-50
MMT
......................................... 6-3
MountainRoads
................................ 4-24
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-35
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-56
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-26
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-20
Nightvision
................................... 4-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............. 6-74
Odometer
.................................... 2-67
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-67
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 13
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Oil Life Indicator
............................... 2-82
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-77
Oil Pressure Message
............................ 2-82
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-27
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
....... 5- 14
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- 14
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-59
Parallel Park Assist Mirror
........................ 2-53
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-25
Shifting Into
................................. 2-29
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-3 1
Parking
AtNight
.................................... 2-16
Brake
...................................... 2-28
Brake Indicator Light
.......................... 2-71
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-32
With a Trailer
........................... 4-37. 4-38
Passenger Position
.................... 1 - 19. 1-25. 1-31
Passenger Temperature Control
.................... 3-10
Passing
....................................... 4-13
PASS-Key I1
................................. 2-19
Perimeter Lighting
.............................. 2-48
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Personalization Features
......................... 2-11
Power
Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-59
Antenna Mast Care
............................ 3-31
Antenna Service
.............................. 7-39
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-53
Seat
.......................................... 1-2
Seatback Recliner
.............................. 1-2
Steering
.................................... 4-11
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-26
Windows
................................... 2-34
Power, Retained Accessory
....................... 2-22
Power Seat
Lumbar Controls
.............................. 1-3
Memory Function
.............................. 1-3
Pregnancy, Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-18
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications, Service and Owner
.................... 8-9
Lots
....................................... 2-17
9-7