2003 OLDSMOBILE AURORA oil level

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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3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview .............................. -3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers
................................ 3-4
Other Warning Devices
................................... 3-5
Horn
............................................................. 3-5
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3-5
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
......................... 3-6
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3-14
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3-17
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3-21
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3-22
Climate Controls
............................................ 3.23
Automatic Climate Control System
.................. 3-23
Outlet Adjustment
......................................... 3-27
Steering Wheel Climate Controls
..................... 3-28
Climate Controls Personalization
..................... 3.29
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............. 3-30
Instrument Panel Cluster
............................... -3-31
Speedometer and Odometer
........................... 3-32
I acnorneier .-..
Safety Belt Reminder Light ............................. 3-33
Air Bag Readiness Light
................................ 3-34
Battery Warning Light
.................................... 3.35
Brake System Warning Light
.......................... 3.35
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
............. 3-36
- n no .................................................
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light ... 3.37
Traction Control System Active Light
............... 3.38
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
.................. 3.38
Oil Pressure Light
......................................... 3.42
Cruise Control Light
...................................... 3.43
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3.44
Driver Information Center
(DIC) ....................... 3.45
DIC Warnings and Messages
......................... 3.50
DIC Vehicle Personalization
............................ 3.52
Audio System(s)
............................................. 3.59
Setting the Time
........................................... 3.59
Radio with Cassette and CD
.......................... 3.60
Navigation/Radio System
............................... 3.69
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer
........................... 3-70
Personal Choice Radio Controls
...................... 3.73
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.................................. 3.73
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
....................... 3.74
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
................. 3-74
Care of Your CDs
......................................... 3-75
Care
of Your CD Player ................................ 3-76
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
............................. 3.39
I I...I-.-L--A.- ... n,.-J:, n-, --+in- VI luel awl lull ty I laulu I IGL, G~LIUI I u 1 T '2 7A ......................
Diversity Antenna System .............................. 3.76
Chime Level Adjustment
............................... -3-76
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Oil Life
The GM Oil Life SystemTM is the only function accessible
in the OIL mode. Engine oil life is displayed in a
reading such as the following:
OIL LIFE 30%
This is an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. It
will show
100% when the system is reset after an
oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining
oil life is low, the system will alert
you with this message:
CHANGE OIL
SOON
Always reset the OIL LIFE reminder after an oil change.
To reset the oil life system, see “How to Reset the
Oil Life System” under
Engine Oil on page 5-75.
Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE yourself after
each oil change. It will not reset itself. Also, be
careful not to reset the OIL LIFE accidentally at any
time other than when the oil has just been changed. It
can’t be reset accurately until the next oil change.
The DIC does not replace the need to maintain your
vehicle as recommended in the Maintenance Schedule
in this manual.
Also, the oil change reminder will not
detect dusty conditions or engine malfunctions that may
affect the oil. If you drive
in dusty areas, change your
oil after every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or three months,
whichever occurs first, unless the DIC instructs you
to do
so sooner. Also, the oil change reminder does not
measure how much oil you have in your engine.
So,
be sure to check your oil level often. See Engine Oil on
page 5- 15.
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DIC Warnings and Messages
Other messages or warnings may appear in the DIC
display.
For Canadian drivers, in addition to the
DIC message your DIC will display EXP with
a number
after it which reflects the following messages:
EXP
(Export ID)
Warning Message
1 AIR BAG PROBLEM
3 CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM
4
CHANGE OIL SOON
I 5 I CHECK OIL LEVEL I I
6 I TRANS HOT ... IDLE ENG
I 7 I CONFIRM TIME & DATE I
8
ENGINE HOT
... A/C OFF
9 DRIVERS DOOR AJAR
10 HOT
... STOP ENGINE * 11 HOT
... REDUCE ENG RPM
I 12 I THEFT SYSTEM
FAULT I I
13 I LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR
I (ExE% ID) I Warning Message
18
LOW WASHER FLUID
19 LOW TIRE PRESSURE
20 PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
21 PARK BRAKE SET*
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR
22
23
TURN SIGNAL
ON? 24 SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON
I 25 I THEFT ATTEMPTED I I
26 [ SERV STABILITY SYS
I 27 I HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED I
28
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
29 TRUNK AJAR
32 STARTING DISABLED*
33 HOT
... IDLE ENGINE
36
42 CHECKGASCAP
STABILITY ACTIVE
The EXP codes are used to make translation from English to other languages easier.
Pressing the RESET button will remove the above
messages or warnings from the DIC display, unless
noted by an asterisk
(*).
I 17 I LOW OIL PRESSURE * I
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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 Engine Oil on page 5-15.
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
- 25: You may
see the STABILITY
ACTIVE message on the Driver Information Center
(DIC). 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
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.
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Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance.
If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
- such as after a day’s
work
- don’t plan to make too many miles that first
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
vou can easilv drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If
it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and wiiiing
to heip if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the resewior full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
D. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
F. Passenger Compartment Air Filter
G. Remote Negative (-) Terminal
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap
I. Engine Oil Dipstick
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
L. Engine Air CleanedFilter
.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears on the
instnJment chster, it me;lns yn~~ need to check
your engine oil level right away. For more information,
see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
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Checking Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
located near the front of
the engine compartment.
The top of the dipstick
is a round yellow loop. See
Engine Companlment
Overview on page
5-14 for
more information on
location. Turn
off the
engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
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