2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA brake

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe
to do
so. If you have breathing problems but
can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags inflate
(if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps
off by
using
ii~e door iock ana inierior iamp conirois.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash.
A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module,
which records information about the frontal air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag inflation and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine
RPM, brake and throttle data.
1-53
ProCarManuals.com

Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ............................................................... 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System
......................... 2.5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
........... 2.6
Doors and Locks
............................................ 2.10
Door Locks
.................................................. 2-10
Central Door Unlocking System
...................... 2-1 1
Power Door Locks
........................................ 2-1 1
Door Ajar Reminder
...................................... 2-1 1
Delayed Locking
........................................... 2-1 1
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
.............. 2-12
Rear Door Security Locks
.............................. 2-13
Lockout Protection
........................................ 2-14
Leaving Your Vehicle
.................................... 2-14
Trunk
.......................................................... 2-14
Windows
........................................................ 2-17
Power Windows
............................................ 2-18
Sun Visors
................................................... 2-18
Theft-Deterrent Svstems
................................. -2-1 9
Universal Theft-Deterrent
........ ........ 2-19
PASS-Key@
Ill Operation .................... .... 2-21
PASS-Key@
III ............................... .... 2-21 Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
................ 2.23
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2.23
Ignition Positions
.......................................... 2-23
Starting Your Engine
..................................... 2-24
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2-25
Automatic Transaxle Operation
....................... 2-26
Parking Brake
.............................................. 2-29
Shifting Into Park (P)
..................................... 2-30
Shifting Out of Park (P)
................................. 2-32
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-32
Engine Exhaust
............................................ 2-33
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
.... 2-34
Mirrors
.......................................................... -2-35
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass
................................................. 2-35
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-37
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-38
Outside Heated Mirrors
.................................. 2-38
Guisiue Curb View Assist iviirror ..................... 2-31
2- 1
ProCarManuals.com

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
e
e
e
Don’t drive at any one speed - fast or
slow
- for the first 500 miles (805 km). Don’t
make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new
brake linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow
this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tnw a trailer during break-in. See “Tawing
a Trailer” in the Index for more information.
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the
ignition switch, you can
turn the switch to four different positions.
Notice: If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can’t turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the key
hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle needs service.
iooi io furce ii cuuid Gi-e“-k tiie key UI tijZ. iyr,itior,
OFF: This is the only position in which you can remove
the key. This position locks your ignition and transaxle.
It’s a thzft-de:e;;ent feature.
2-23
ProCarManuals.com

How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
There are several different
positions for your shift
lever.
__ js dangerous to get 01 of your veh f 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 have 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). See “Shifting Into Park
(P)” in the
Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index.
PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It’s the
best position to use when
you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
2-26
ProCarManuals.com

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle
shift lock control system. You have to fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in ON.
REVERSE
(R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow.
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
If
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-32.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. Shifting into a
Glgde gear while
yo^ engllie is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly.
You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don’t shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
Notice: Damage to your transaxle caused by
shifting into
a drive gear with the engine racing isn’t
covered by your warranty.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(a): This position is for
normal driving.
if you need more power for passing, and
you’re:
Going less than approximately
35 mph (55 km/h),
push your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
0 Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
2-27
ProCarManuals.com

THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving,
however,
it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(a). Here are
some times you might choose THIRD
(3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@ ):
When driving on hilly, winding roads,
when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
when going down a steep hill.
between
gears, or
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (0 or THIRD (3). YOU can use
SECOND
(2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want
to use your brakes off and on.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND
(2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST
(I), the transaxle won’t shift
into FIRST
(1) until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: If your front wheels won’t turn, don’t try
to drive. This might happen if you were stuck in very
deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if
you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle
there with only the accelerator pedal. This could
overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your brakes
to hold your vehicle
in position on a hill.
2-28
ProCarManuals.com

Parking Brake
Your vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake. To set the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down
with your right foot. Push
down the parking brake pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on while the parking brake is set and a single
chime will be heard.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your
left foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
release position.
if you try to drive approximately 20 feet (6.1 m> with the
parking brake on, the brake light stays on and a
chime sounds until you release the parking brake.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could
also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-36. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
2-29
ProCarManuals.com

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. If you have 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,
use the steps that follow. If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake by pushing down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the
lever all the way forward.
2-30
ProCarManuals.com