User manual OLDSMOBILE AURORA 1999

yellowblue The 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora Owner's Manual 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 8-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the "SRS" system. Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. Problems on the Road This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good. Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-10. 9-1 Index Here's an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. i yellowblue We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem and the AURORA Emblem are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. "AURORA" is used with permission of Hankook Tire. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Oldsmobile Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9 Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 22600384 A First Edition ECopyright General Motors Corporation 1998 All Rights Reserved ii yellowblue How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't," "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen." Index A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It's an alphabetical list of what's in the manual, and the page number where you'll find it. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. iii yellowblue Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. iv yellowblue Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: MASTER LIGHTING SWITCH These symbols are on some of your controls: WINDSHIELD WIPER These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: ENGINE COOLANT TEMP WINDSHIELD WASHER BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FUSE DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS LIGHTER PARKING LAMPS FASTEN SEAT BELTS WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER HORN BRAKE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER POWER WINDOW DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER COOLANT SPEAKER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN FUEL AIR BAG FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES v yellowblue NOTES vi yellowblue Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 1-7 1-12 1-13 1-13 1-20 1-21 1-21 1-27 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're for Everyone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Rear Seat Passengers 1-30 1-32 1-34 1-37 1-48 1-51 1-51 1-52 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Center Passenger Position Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1- 1-1 yellowblue Seats and Seat Controls This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Power Seats Horizontal Control (A): Raise the front of the seat by raising the forward edge of the button. Lower the front of the seat by lowering the forward edge of the button. Move the seat forward by moving the whole button toward the front of the vehicle. Raise the rear of the seat by raising the rear edge of the button. Lower the rear of the seat by lowering the rear edge of the button. Move the seat rearward by moving the whole button toward the rear of the vehicle. Moving the whole button up or down raises or lowers the whole seat. Vertical Control (B): Move the reclining front seatback rearward by moving the button toward the rear of the vehicle. Move the seatback forward by moving the button toward the front of the vehicle. The power seat controls are located on the driver's and passenger's door panels. 1-2 yellowblue Power Lumbar Control Memory Seat and Mirrors The memory function controls both the driver's seat cushion and outside mirror positions. It does not store the lumbar or recline positions. The power lumbar controls are located on the driver's and passenger's door panels. The rear lumbar control adjusts upper lumbar support, and the front control adjusts lower lumbar support. Press the front of the switch to increase support. Press the back of the switch to decrease support. To set your memory seat cushion and mirrors: 1. Position the driver's seat and both outside mirrors where you want them. See "Mirrors" in the Index. 2. Press the SET button. You will hear one beep. 3. Within five seconds, press either the 1 or 2 button. You will hear two beeps. 1-3 yellowblue The seat cushion and mirror positions will be stored for the number pressed. Repeat the procedure to store another position with the other number if desired. To adjust the seat and mirrors to the stored position, press the number corresponding to the position. The memory function will only work with the gearshift in PARK (P). To stop the automatic movement, move the seat switch in any direction. For easier exiting, press the 1 and 2 buttons at the same time to move the seat completely down and back. Memory Seat and Mirror Personalization Feature The transmitters can also be programmed to move the driver's seat and outside mirrors to a set memory position when the transmitter's UNLOCK button is pressed. To program the system: 1. Adjust the driver's seat to a comfortable position. Adjust both outside mirrors to suit you. See "Mirrors" in the Index. 2. Press the SET button on the driver's door panel. You will hear one beep. 3. Within five seconds, press one of the two memory buttons on the door panel. You will hear two beeps to confirm that the mirror and the seat cushion positions are entered into memory. 4. Press the UNLOCK button on the appropriate transmitter within five seconds. You will hear two beeps. The second transmitter can be programmed to record a different seat and mirror position by following the same steps. 1-4 yellowblue If you prefer to program the transmitter to the exit seat position, which moves the seat completely down and back, follow these steps: 1. Press the SET button on the driver's door panel. You will hear one beep. 2. Press one of the memory buttons on the driver's door panel. You will hear one beep, but the seat will not move at this time. 3. Press the UNLOCK button on the appropriate transmitter within five seconds. You will hear two beeps. This personalization feature will work only when the vehicle is in PARK (P). A beep will sound inside the vehicle when the UNLOCK button on the transmitter is pressed to move the seat and mirrors. To turn this feature off, press SET and then UNLOCK within five seconds. This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and lower back of the driver and front passenger seats for added comfort. Press the button once to turn the heater on high. The HI indicator light below the button will glow. Press it again to turn the heater on low. The LO indicator light below the button will glow. Press it a third time to turn the heater off. The heater will turn off automatically when the ignition is turned to OFF. Heated Front Seat (Option) 1-5 yellowblue Reclining Front Seatbacks The vertical control described previously in this section reclines the front seatbacks. CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job when you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do its job because it won't be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-6 yellowblue Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. The head restraints tilt forward and rearward also. There are four different positions. Just grasp the top of the restraint and move it forward the way you want it to go until you hear a click. It will then be locked into that position until you need to move it again. Pulling it forward past the last position will allow the headrest to return to its full rear position. Safety Belts: They're for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. 1-7 yellowblue Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! 1-8 yellowblue Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat on wheels. 1-9 yellowblue Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn't stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ... 1-10 yellowblue or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why safety belts make such good sense. 1-11 yellowblue Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers Q: Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I'm wearing a safety belt? Q: A: If I'm a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? You may be an excellent driver, but if you're in an accident -- even one that isn't your fault -- you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn't protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. Q: A: 1-12 yellowblue How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called "Children." Follow those rules for everyone's protection. First, you'll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We'll start with the driver position. Here's how to wear the lap-shoulder belt properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see "Seats" in the Index) so you can sit up straight. Driver Position This part describes the driver's restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. The shoulder portion of the belt has an energy management loop. It is designed to open and help protect you in certain crashes. If it opens, you will see a label on the safety belt that says to replace the belt. Be sure to do so. If you don't, the safety belt won't work properly and won't protect you in another crash. For more information on replacing safety belts after a crash, see "Replacing Safety Belts" in the Index. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don't let it get twisted. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. 1-13 yellowblue Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt isn't long enough, see "Safety Belt Extender" at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or crash. Shoulder Belt Tightness Adjustment Your car has a shoulder belt tightness adjustment feature. If the shoulder belt seems too tight, adjust it before you begin to drive. 1. Sit well back in the seat. 2. Start pulling the shoulder belt out. 1-14