1998 Oldsmobile Aurora Owner's Manuals

What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brake fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container
only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
CAUTION: I
With the wrong kind of fluid in your braKe
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work
at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
0
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. 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. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be damaged. 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 vehicle 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).
A CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead
to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
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.
Properly torqued wheel nuts
are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in
the proper sequence
to GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of
this manual under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections.”
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 you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
6-30

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.
Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your bralung
system
-- for example, when your brake linings wear
down and you have
to have new ones put in -- be sure
you get new approved
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 an ACDelco Freedom@ battery.
You never have to add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend an ACDelco
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.
A CAUTION:
A battery that isn’t properly vented can let
sulfuric acid fumes into the area under the rear
seat cushion. These fumes can damage your rear
seat safety belt systems. You may not be able to
see this damage, and the safety belts might not
provide the protection needed in a crash.
If a
replacement battery is ever needed, it must
be vented in the same manner as the original
battery.
Always make sure that the vent hose is
properly reattached before reinstalling the
seat cushion.

Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative
(-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
To be sure the vent hose (A) is properly attached, the
vent hose connectors
(B) must be securely reattached to
the vent outlets
(C) on each side of the battery, and the
vent assembly grommet
(D) must be secured to the
floor pan
(E).
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
I I
Contact your retailer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature’’ in the Index.
6-32

Bulb Replacement
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your retailer’s service department.
For the type of bulb to use, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
Halogen Bulbs
‘ A CAUTION:
A
Exterior Front Bulbs
1
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
A. Front Turn Signal
B. Headlamps
The entire front headlamp assembly must be removed to
replace
the headlamps and front turn signal bulbs. You
may find it easier
to remove the air cleaner assembly
when replacing bulbs on
the driver’s side.
If more hand clearance is required, remove the air
cleaner assembly as instructed in Steps 1 through
3
earlier in this section.
6-33

Low-Beam Headlamp Bulbs
If you need to replace a low-beam headlamp bulb, do
the following:
1. Remove the two bolts and pull out the headlamp
assembly for more hand clearance.
I
0
II
3. Unclip the bulb
assembly from the
wiring harness and
replace the bulb.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to replace the bulb
assembly, headlamp housing, air cleaner cover
and tube.
5. Replace the headlamp assembly by aligning the pin
and tightening the two bolts to secure it.
2. Twist the bulb assembly one-sixth of a turn to the
left and pull out the bulb assembly.
6-34

High-Beam Headlamp Bulbs
If you need to replace a high-beam headlamp bulb, do
the following:
1. Remove the headlamp assembly if you need more
hand clearance.
2. Pull up on the wiring harness. This unlocks the bulb.
1.
4. To replace the bulb, angle the new bulb into the
empty socket.
5. Push the base of the bulb down to lock it into place.
6. If you removed the headlamp assembly, reassemble
it by aligning the pin and tightening the two bolts
to
secure it.
Front Turn Signal
The turn signal bulb is on the inboard edge of the
headlamp assembly.
To replace a bulb, do the following:
2.
3.
4.
3. Now you can reach in behind the lamp housing and
pull out the bulb. Remove
the headlamp assembly
if you need more
hand clearance.
Reach in and press the locking tab while twisting the
bulb assembly one-quarter
of a turn to the left
(counterclockwise).
Replace the bulb and reverse Step
2 to reassemble.
If you removed the headlamp assembly, reassemble
it by aligning the pin and tightening
the two bolts to
secure it.
6-35

Headlamp Aiming
Your vehicle has the composite headlamp system. These
headlamps have horizontal and vertical aim indicators.
The aim has been pre-set at the factory and should need
no further adjustment.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident and the
headlamp aim seems to be affected, see your retailer.
Headlamps on damaged vehicles may require
recalibration of the horizontal aim by your retailer.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
0
0
0
0
The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface.
If necessary, pads may be used on an
uneven surface.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to
it.
The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.
There should not be any cargo or loading
of the
vehicle, except
it should have a full tank of gas and
one person or
160 lbs. (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
0 Tires should be properly inflated.
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspension.
~
NOTICE:
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
For the vertical adjustment, state inspection stations
generally will allow a reading of plus
0.76 degrees or
minus 0.76 degrees from the center of the bubble.
It is recommended that the upper limit
not exceed plus
0.4 degrees from the center of the bubble. Other drivers
may flash their high beams at you if your adjustment is
much above plus
0.4 degrees.
6-36