1999 OLDSMOBILE AURORA mirror

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2-50 Power Remote Control Mirror
The controls on the far left
of the instrument panel
control both outside
rearview mirrors. Move the
center switch to the left (L)
to select the driver's side
rearview mirror, or to the
right (R) to select the
passenger's side
rearview mirror.
Then press the arrows to adjust each mirror so that you
can just see the side of your vehicle when you are sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
To lock the controls, leave the selector switch in the
middle position.
Your vehicle is equipped with the memory function. The
mirror positions, along with the driver's set position, can
be stored into memory. See ªMemory Seat and Mirrorsº
in the Index.
Parallel Park Assist Mirror
The passenger's outside rearview mirror also includes a
tilt
-down feature that operates when the shift lever is in
REVERSE (R). This feature assists the driver with
improved rear obstacle detection.
Move the power remote control mirror switch to the
left (L) or center position to enable this feature. Move
the switch to the right (R) to turn this feature off.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
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2-51 Heated Outside Rearview Mirror
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver's and passenger's outside
rearview mirrors to help clear them of ice and snow. See
ªRear Window Defoggerº in the Index.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To open,
pull the latch release on the left side of the glove box door.
Front Storage Armrest
The front armrest opens into a storage area. To open it,
lift the front edge. Inside you will find storage for
cassettes, compact discs and coins.
In front of the storage area is a cupholder. Press and
release the cupholder cover to open. Do not try to pull it
out. Push the cupholder forward to lock it when in use.
Press the cupholder back to its recessed position when
not in use.
Rear Storage Armrest
Your vehicle has a rear storage armrest with a
pass
-through feature.
Pull down the bolster in the back seat to use the armrest
and two cupholders. Lift the top of the armrest for
storage space.
Pull down the interior door to access the trunk.
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2-53
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Push and release the cover to reveal the front ashtray,
lighter and accessory power outlet.
NOTICE:
Don't put papers and other things that burn
into your ashtrays. If you do, cigarettes or
other smoking materials could set them on fire,
causing damage.
To open either rear ashtray, you may press and release
the cover.
To clean an ashtray, make sure the cover is open fully,
then lift out the ashtray by pulling on the snuffer.
To use a lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it's ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and swing
them to the side, while the auxiliary visor remains to
block glare from the front.
To extend the visor at the sides, pull out the extension.
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
When you open the cover to the driver or passenger side
visor vanity mirror, the lamps will come on. You can
adjust the brightness of the lamps with the switch by
sliding the lever up or down.
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2-61
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Power Mirrors Control Switch
B. Fog Lamp Switch
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Cluster/Gages
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
F. Horn
G. Windshield Wiper/Washer Control
H. Driver Information Center
I. Climate Controls
J. Audio System
K. Glove Box (Remote Trunk Release Lockout
Switch inside)
L. Instrument Panel Intensity Control/Interior
Lamp ControlM. Twilight Sentinel
Control
N. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Climate
Control System
O. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
P. Ignition Switch
Q. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Audio System
R. Trunk Release Switch
S. Fuel Door Release Switch
T. Ashtray and Lighter
U. Traction Control Button
V. Selectable Shift
W. Gearshift Lever
X. Accessory Power Outlet
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3-7 Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use the defog setting to keep the
windows clear while also providing heat through the
lower outlets. Turn the AUTO
-PUSH knob clockwise to
DEF to quickly remove fog or ice from the windshield.
Rear Window Defogger
R. DEFOG: Press this
button to warm the defogger
grid on the rear window. An
indicator light below the
button will glow while the
rear window defogger
is operating.
At speeds above 30 mph (48 km/h), the rear defogger
will stay on until you press the R. DEFOG button again.
At speeds below 30 mph (48 km/h), the rear window
defogger will turn off automatically after about
10 minutes of use. If you press it again, the defogger
will operate for about five minutes only. You can also
turn the defogger off by turning off the ignition.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid on the rear window.
When you operate the rear window defogger,
the outside rearview mirrors are also heated to help
remove ice and fog.
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4-14

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you're awaiting an opportunity. For one
thing, following too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you're following a larger
vehicle. Also, you won't have adequate space if the
vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.

When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don't
get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
ªrunning startº that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.

If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn't trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.

Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in yourinside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
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4-15 Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.
If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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4-21
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too
-fast or
too
-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your
ªblindº spot.
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