2001 Oldsmobile Aurora steering

2-22 Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in the LOCK ignition position,
you will hear a warning chime when you open the
driver's door.
Always leave your key in LOCK. If you leave it in any
other position, you will drain the battery power.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have electrical power to accessories such as the
power windows, audio steering wheel controls, clock,
sunroof (option), accessory power outlet and the radio
for up to 10 minutes. The instrument panel cluster lights
will stay on for a few seconds, then go out. Once you
open a door, the power will shut off.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's
a safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.

2-34
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
Press on the center area of the steering wheel to sound
the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows
you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull
the lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.

2-35
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:

Turn and Lane Change Signals

Headlamps

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Parking Lamps

Flash
-To-Pass

Fog Lamps
Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal either a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up
or down. When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.

2-39 Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of your steering column
operates your windshield wipers.
If your windshield wipers are on for more than
six seconds while you are driving, the low
-beam
headlamps, instrument panel cluster backlighting and
the taillamps will turn on. For more information see
ªWiper
-Activated Headlampsº in the Index.
For a single wiping cycle, move the lever down to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then release it. The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever to MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the lever up to
the LO position. For high
-speed wiping, move the
lever up further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the
lever to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wiper cycles. This can be very useful in light
rain or snow. Move the lever up to the first detent, INT.
Turn the band labeled INT ADJ down towards the
shorter lines for fewer wiper passes per minute. As you
turn the band towards the longer lines, the wiper cycles
per minute will increase.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts. See ªWindshield Wiper Blade Replacementº
in the Index.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.

2-41 Windshield Washer
The lever on the right side of your steering column also
controls your windshield washer. To spray washer fluid
on the windshield, push the button on the end of the
lever. The wipers will clear the window and then either
stop or return to your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push and hold the button.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Ice build up can block washer nozzles. Remove ice for
proper operation.
If the fluid level in the windshield washer bottle is low,
the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear in the
Driver Information Center. See ªWindshield Washer
Fluidº in the Index.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This is helpful on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don't use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.

2-46
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
The instrument panel
brightness control is located
on the driver's side of the
instrument panel.
When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim
your instrument panel cluster lights by turning the
dimmer knob.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the instrument
panel cluster lights and displays. Turn the knob
counterclockwise to dim the instrument panel cluster
lights and displays.
If it is day and your parking lamps are on, the
instrument panel cluster lights and displays will
come on at full intensity and will not be adjustable. If it is dark enough outside and your parking lamps are
on, the instrument panel cluster lights and displays and
the backlighting for the door and steering column
switches will come on, and can also be adjusted.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside and the front reading lamp
slider control is in the AUTO position, when any door is
opened all of the vehicles courtesy lamps will come on.
See ªReading Lampsº in the Index. They make it easier
for you to enter and leave the vehicle. The courtesy lamps
will remain on for about 25 seconds after all doors have
been closed. They will then theater dim to off.
Move the front reading lamp slider control in the
overhead console to ON to turn on the interior courtesy
lamps. When the control is moved back to either OFF
or AUTO, the courtesy lamps will immediately turn off.
If the control is OFF when the doors are opened, only
the lower instrument panel courtesy lamps will come on.
Also, if the control is OFF when illuminated entry or
delayed exit lighting are active, only the lower
instrument panel courtesy lamps will be on.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.

2-63
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Air Outlet
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Steering Wheel Controls for Climate Control System
D. Steering Wheel Controls for Audio System
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer Control
F. Driver Information Center (DIC)
G. Hazard Warning Flasher Button
H. Climate Control System
I. Instrument Panel Brightness ControlJ. Trip Odometer Buttons
K. Hood Release
L. Parking Brake
M. Cruise Control Lever
N. Ignition Switch
O. Audio System
P. Accessory Power Outlet
Q. Glove Box (Trunk Release Lockout Switch inside)

2-91
CHECK OIL LEVEL - 5: If you ever see the
CHECK OIL LEVEL message, it indicates that the
engine oil level is 1 to 1 1/2 quarts (0.9 L to 1.4 L) low.
The message will appear only if the engine is running
and it has been at least eight minutes since the engine
was last running. If the message appears, check the oil
dipstick level. If it reads low, your oil level should be
brought up to the proper level (see ªEngine Oilº in
the Index). After bringing the oil to the proper level,
the ignition must be off for eight minutes to allow the
majority of oil to drain into the oil pan.
SERV STABILITY SYS
- 26 : If you ever see the
SERV STABILITY SYS message, it means there
may be a problem with your stability enhancement
system. If you see this message, try to reset the system
(stop; turn off the engine; then start the engine again).
If the SERV STABILITY SYS message still comes on,
it means there is a problem. You should see your dealer
for service. Reduce your speed and drive accordingly.STABILITY ACTIVE
- 42 : You may see the
STABILITY ACTIVE message on the Driver
Information Center. It means that an advanced,
computer
-controlled system has come on to help
your vehicle continue to go in the direction in which
you're steering. This stability enhancement system
activates when the computer senses that your vehicle is
just starting to spin, as it might if you hit a patch of ice
or other slippery spot on the road. When the system is
on, you may hear a noise or feel a vibration in the brake
pedal. This is normal.
When the STABILITY ACTIVE message is on,
you should continue to steer in the direction you want
to go. The system is designed to help you in bad
weather or other difficult driving situations by making
the most of whatever road conditions will permit. If the
STABILITY ACTIVE message comes on, you'll know
that something has caused your vehicle to start to spin,
so you should consider slowing down.