2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Owners Manual

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts
replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield.
Also see
“Windshield Wiper and Wiper Blades” under Cleaning
the Outside
of Your Vehicle on page 5-85.
Weatherstrip Lubrication
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page
6- 15.
Automatic Transaxle Check
Check the transaxle fluid level; add if needed. See
Automatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-22. A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair if
needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all hinges
and latches, including those for the hood, rear
compartment, glove box door, console door and any
folding seat hardware. Part
D tells you what to use. More
frequent lubrication may be required when exposed to
a corrosive environment.
6-1 0
ProCarManuals.com

Starter Switch Cher':
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly.
If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. See
Parking Brake on page 2-29 if
necessary.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn
off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
ii ihe siarier works in any oiiler pvsiiivrl, your
vehicle needs service.
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
!- stem Check
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly.
If it does, you or others
could be injured.
Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 2-29 if necessary.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately
if
the vehicle begins to move.
but don't start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out
of PARK (P), your vehicle needs service.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the ON position,
6-1 1
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to OFF in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to OFF only when the shift lever
The key should come out only in OFF.
is in
PARK (P).
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle
Park
‘n’ “lech-ism Check
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move. Park
on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-1 2
ProCarManuals.com

Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed in this part are inspections and services which
should be performed at least twice a year (for instance,
each spring and fall).
You should let your dealer’s
service department or other qualified service center do
these
jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found in a service manual. See
Service Publications
Ordering Information on page
7-9.
Steering, Suspension and Front
Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
iirles artJ i~uses iur pruper i1uui.i-up, bit Idit 16, it=ai.is,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals
if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body
near the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged,
missing or out-of-position parts
as well as open seams,
holes, loose connections or other conditions which
could cause a heat build-up in the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See
Engine Exhaust
on page
2-33.
Fuel System Inspection
Inspect the complete fuel system for damage or leaks.
6-1 3
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Cooling System Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they
are cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed. Clean the
outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser.
To help ensure proper operation, a pressure test of
the cooling system and pressure cap is recommended
at least once a year.
Throttle System Inspection
Inspect the throttle system for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as needed. Replace any components that have high
effort or excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator
and cruise control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts,
including calipers, parking brake, etc. You may need to
have your brakes inspected more often
if your driving
habits or conditions result in frequent braking.
6-1 4
ProCarManuals.com

Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part
number or specification may be obtained from your
dealer.
Usage
I Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Engine oil with the
American
Petroleum Institute Certified for
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol
of the proper viscosity. To determine
the preferred viscosity for your
vehicle's engine, see
Engme Oil on
page 5- 15.
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
Coolant. See
Enqlne Coolant on Engine Coolant
Windshield GM Optikleen Washer Solvent or
Washer Solvent
I eauivalent.
Parking Brake Cable Guides Chassis Lubricant
(GM Part
No.
US. 12377985, in Canada
88901242, or equivalent) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGl #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part
No. US. i052884, in Canada power
System 993294, or equivalent).
I Usaae I FluidLubricant
I 8,"gFEi; I Fluid. DEXRON-Ill Automatic Transmission
Y
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
GM Part No.
U.S. 12346241, in Ke Lock
inders Lanada 10953474, or
equivalent).
Floor Shift Linkage Lubri late
Lubricant Aerosol (GM
Part
L 0. U.S. 12346293, in Canada
992723, or equivalent)
or lubricant
meeting re uirements of NLGl #2,
Cateqow
L a or GC-LB.
Hood Latch
Assembly,
Secondary
Latch, Pivots,
Sprin Anchor and
w elease
Pawl Lubri
late Lubricant Aerosol (GM
Part
R 0. US. 12346293, in Canada
992723, or equivalent) or lubricant
meeting re uirements of NLGl #2,
Category
L a or GC-LB.
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
Hoo~,a,ngde~oor FM anada Part 10953474, No. US. 12346241, or equivalent). in
Fuel Door,
Glove
Box
Door, Console
Door and Rear
Compartment Lid Hinges Multi-Purpose
Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474, or equivalent).
6-1 5
ProCarManuals.com

Part E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service and
any additional information from “Owner Checks and Services” or “Periodic Maintenance” on the following record
pages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts.
Maintenance Record
6-1 6
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Record (cont’d)
ProCarManuals.com