2002 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Owners Manual

5-15 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, check to see if coolant
is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible but the
coolant level isn't at the proper level (below the base of
the filler neck), add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX
-COOL
coolant at the coolant surge tank,
but be sure the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See ªEngine
Coolantº in the Index for more information.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant
as follows:
CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
ProCarManuals.com

5-16
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL
coolant.
NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
So use the recommended coolant.
CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
ProCarManuals.com

5-17
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface. You can remove
the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly counterclockwise (left) about
one
-quarter turn and then stop.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.
3. Then fill the coolant
surge tank with the
proper mixture, to the
base of the filler neck.
ProCarManuals.com

5-18
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the base of the filler neck.5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the arrow on
the pressure cap lines up like this.
ProCarManuals.com

5-19
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you'd use in
a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
ProCarManuals.com

5-20
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll need is in the trunk.
Instructions for changing your tires are on the inside of
the tire cover. You can rest the cover near you for easy
reference while you change the tire.
1. Lift the tire cover to gain access to the compact spare
tire and jacking equipment. See ªCompact Spare
Tireº later in this section for more information about
the compact spare tire.
ProCarManuals.com

5-21
2. Remove the wheel wrench and jack from the
jack container.
3. Remove the compact spare tire from the trunk.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and the
wheel wrench (B).
Removing the Wheel Cover
Insert the hooked end of the wheel wrench in one of
the two small notches in the center cover and pry the
cover off. Do not drop the cover or lay it face down,
as it could be scratched or damaged.
ProCarManuals.com

5-22 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Position the wheel wrench securely over the wheel
nuts and turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen,
but don't remove them.2. Attach the wheel wrench to the bolt on the end of the
jack to create a jack handle.3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise by hand to
lower the jack head until it fits under the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com