2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Owners Manual

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can
move the shift lever away from PARK
(P).
)’3L!’\!P mc?‘erl fhP shift !eve!- intc P.A.!?K (P), hn!d
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” previously in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill
to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever‘out
of PARK (P).
If you can, it means the shift lever wasn’t fully locked
into PARK (P).
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Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in ON. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation
on page 2-26.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever hold
the brake pedal down but still can't shift out of PARK (P),
try the following:
1. Turn the key to the OFF ignition position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
want.
Parking Over Things That Burn
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center
as soon as you can.
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T..,,Igs that can burn could Ldch hot exh,,st
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things
that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust car. --jll. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and
death.
You might have exhaust coming
in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged
in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris. Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
blow out any
CO; and
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