Oldsmobile Aurora (2001 year). Manual - part 7

2-37

Turn the headlamp control to this symbol to turn on

the following:
D Headlamps
D Parking Lamps
D Sidemarker Lamps
D Taillamps
D License Plate Lamps
D Instrument Panel Lights
Turning the headlamp control to AUTO will turn the
headlamps, taillamps and parking lamps on and off, 
while the ignition is on, by sensing how dark it is outside.

Turn the headlamp control back to off to turn all of the
lamps off.

Wiper

-

Activated Headlamps

This feature turns on the low

-

beam headlamps,

instrument panel cluster backlighting, and taillamps
when it is bright enough outside, the headlamp control 
is in AUTO and after the windshield wipers have been
in use for approximately six seconds.

To operate the wiper

-

activated headlamps the headlamp

control must be in AUTO. If the wiper

-

activated

headlamps are on and the ignition switch is turned to
RUN, the wiper

-

activated headlamps will continue.

When you turn the key to LOCK, the wiper

-

activated

headlamps will immediately turn off. The wiper

-

activated

headlamps will also turn off if you turn the headlamp
switch to OFF or turn off the windshield wipers.

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer

To change the headlamps from low beam to high, 
push the lever away from you until you hear a click.
Then release it.

When the high beams 
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster 
will also be on.

If the fog lamps are on when you turn on the 
high

-

beam headlamps, the fog lamps will turn off. 

The fog lamps will turn back on when you turn off the
high

-

beam headlamps.

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Lamps On Reminder

If the headlamp switch is left on, you’ll hear a warning
chime when you turn the ignition off, remove the key
from the ignition and open the driver’s door.

Flash-to-Pass

This feature lets you use your high

-

beam headlamps 

to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. 
It works even if your headlamps are off.

To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you.

Your high

-

beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay 

on as long as you hold the lever there. Release the lever
to turn them off.

If your headlamps are on, and on high beam, your
headlamps will switch to low beam when the lever is
released. To get back to high beam, push the lever 
away from you.

Fog Lamps

To turn on only the front
fog lamps, turn the fog 
lamp band to the single 
fog lamp symbol. To turn 
on both the front and rear
fog lamps, turn the fog 
lamp band to the double 
fog lamp symbol.

Turning on the front fog lamps only will automatically
activate the parking lamps. Turning on the front and rear
fog lamps will automatically activate the parking lamps
and headlamps.

To turn off the fog lamps, turn the band to OFF. The
front fog lamps will also turn off when you turn on your
high

-

beam headlamps, but will turn on again when you

switch to low beams.

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Windshield Wipers

The lever on the right side of your steering column
operates your windshield wipers.

If your windshield wipers are on for more than 
six seconds while you are driving, the low

-

beam

headlamps, instrument panel cluster backlighting and
the taillamps will turn on. For more information see
“Wiper

-

Activated Headlamps” in the Index.

For a single wiping cycle, move the lever down to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then release it. 

The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever to MIST longer.

For steady wiping at low speed, move the lever up to 
the LO position. For high

-

speed wiping, move the 

lever up further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the
lever to OFF.

You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wiper cycles. This can be very useful in light
rain or snow. Move the lever up to the first detent, INT.
Turn the band labeled INT ADJ down towards the
shorter lines for fewer wiper passes per minute. As you
turn the band towards the longer lines, the wiper cycles
per minute will increase.

Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent 
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts. See “Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement” 
in the Index.

Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.

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Rainsense

t Wipers (If Equipped)

The moisture sensor is mounted on the passenger’s
interior side of the windshield behind the rearview
mirror and is used to automatically operate the wipers
by monitoring the amount of moisture that is on 
the windshield.

The Rainsense system can be activated by moving the
wiper lever to INT. Set the wiper control band to one 
of the five sensitivity settings within the delay area. 
The bottom INT ADJ position is the lowest sensitivity
setting. This allows more water to collect on the
windshield between wipes. You can increase the
sensitivity of the system and the frequency of wipes 
by turning the INT ADJ band up towards the wider
lines. A single wipe will occur each time you turn the
wiper control band to a higher sensitivity setting.

The Rainsense wipers operate in a delay mode as well 
as a continuous low or high speed depending on the
amount of moisture on the windshield and the sensitivity
setting. The MIST and “wash” cycles operate as normal
and are not affected by the Rainsense function.

NOTICE:

The wipers must be turned off when going
through a car wash to avoid damage.

It is important to note that the Rainsense delay wiping
feature can be overridden at any time by manually
changing the wiper control to LO or HI speed.

NOTICE:

Do not place stickers or other items on the
exterior glass surface directly in front of the
rainsensor. Doing this could cause the rainsensor
to malfunction.

2-41

Windshield Washer

The lever on the right side of your steering column also
controls your windshield washer. To spray washer fluid
on the windshield, push the button on the end of the
lever. The wipers will clear the window and then either
stop or return to your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push and hold the button.

CAUTION:

In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.

Ice build up can block washer nozzles. Remove ice for
proper operation.

If the fluid level in the windshield washer bottle is low,
the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear in the
Driver Information Center. See “Windshield Washer
Fluid” in the Index.

Cruise Control

With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot 
on the accelerator. This is helpful on long trips.

Cruise control does not work at speeds below about 
25 mph (40 km/h).

When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.

CAUTION:

D Cruise control can be dangerous where 

you can’t drive safely at a steady speed. 
So, don’t use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.

D Cruise control can be dangerous on

slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. 
Don’t use cruise control on slippery roads.

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If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See “Traction
Control System” in the Index. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.

Setting Cruise Control

CAUTION:

If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.

1. Push the cruise control switch located at the end of

the lever in to ON.

2. Get up to the speed you want.

3. Push the lever down to SET

-

CST and release it. 

The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on.

4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

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Resuming a Set Speed

Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise control function.

Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can briefly push the cruise control lever up to
RES/ACC (Resume/Accelerate) to reset. This returns
you to your desired preset speed.

Remember, if you hold the lever up at RES/ACC, 
the vehicle will accelerate until you release the lever or
apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, 
don’t hold the lever at RES/ACC.

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control

There are three ways to go to a higher speed:
D Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.

Push the lever down, then release the lever and 
the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at the 
higher speed.

D Move the cruise lever up to RES/ACC. Hold it 

there until you reach a desired speed and then 
release the lever.

D To increase your speed in very small amounts, move

the lever up to RES/ACC briefly and then release it.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.

The accelerate feature will only work after you have 
set the cruise control speed by pushing the lever down 
to SET

-

CST.

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control

There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
D Push the lever down until you reach a desired lower

speed then release it.

D To slow down in very small amounts, push the lever

down briefly. Each time you do this, you’ll go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.

Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control

Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.

2-44

Using Cruise Control on Hills

How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this 
to be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control 
on steep hills.

Ending Cruise Control Without Erasing 
the Set Speed

There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
D Step lightly on the brake pedal, or
D pull the cruise lever towards you to cancel cruise.
To resume the set speed see “Resuming a Set Speed”
earlier in this section.

Erasing Cruise Control Speed Memory

When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

Exterior Lamps

Headlamps

See “Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever” in the Index.

Daytime Running Lamps

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL
can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running
lights are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.

A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.

The DRL system will make your high

-

beam headlamps

come on at reduced brightness in daylight when the
following conditions are met:
D The ignition is on,
D the headlamp switch is off, and
D the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your high

-

beam headlamps

will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps won’t be on.

2-45

With your headlamp control in AUTO when it is 
dark enough outside, your low

-

beam headlamps will

automatically come on. The other lamps that turn on
with your headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high

-

beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness

of DRL.

To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn the headlamp control all the way toward
OFF. The DRL will turn on automatically and the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message will be
displayed on the DIC when you move the transaxle 
out of PARK (P).

If the headlamp control is in the parking lamps position
at night, only the parking lamps will be on. If the
transaxle is out of PARK (P), only the parking lamps
will be active and the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
message will be displayed on the DIC.

As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

Automatic Headlamps

The automatic headlamps will keep your headlamps on
when it is dark outside and the ignition is in RUN.

It’s possible that your headlamps may go out if you
drive from a dark area into a bright area like a lighted
parking lot. If this happens, turn on your headlamps 
with the regular headlamp switch.

Light Sensor

Your automatic headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps
work with the light sensor on top of the instrument
panel. Don’t cover it up. If you do it will read “dark”
and the automatic headlamp lighting will turn on.

Exterior Lighting Battery Saver

If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to LOCK and any door has been
opened. This protects against draining the battery in 
case you have accidentally left the headlamps or parking
lamps on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after the ignition has been turned to LOCK and
any door has been opened. To delay the lamps from
turning off, see “Automatic Headlamps” in the Index.

2-46

Interior Lamps

Instrument Panel Brightness Control

The instrument panel
brightness control is located
on the driver’s side of the
instrument panel.

When it is dark outside, you can brighten or dim 
your instrument panel cluster lights by turning the
dimmer knob.

Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the instrument
panel cluster lights and displays. Turn the knob
counterclockwise to dim the instrument panel cluster
lights and displays.

If it is day and your parking lamps are on, the
instrument panel cluster lights and displays will 
come on at full intensity and will not be adjustable. 

If it is dark enough outside and your parking lamps are
on, the instrument panel cluster lights and displays and
the backlighting for the door and steering column
switches will come on, and can also be adjusted.

Courtesy Lamps

If it is dark enough outside and the front reading lamp
slider control is in the AUTO position, when any door is
opened all of the vehicles courtesy lamps will come on.
See “Reading Lamps” in the Index. They make it easier
for you to enter and leave the vehicle. The courtesy lamps
will remain on for about 25 seconds after all doors have
been closed. They will then theater dim to off.

Move the front reading lamp slider control in the
overhead console to ON to turn on the interior courtesy
lamps. When the control is moved back to either OFF 
or AUTO, the courtesy lamps will immediately turn off.

If the control is OFF when the doors are opened, only
the lower instrument panel courtesy lamps will come on.
Also, if the control is OFF when illuminated entry or
delayed exit lighting are active, only the lower
instrument  panel courtesy lamps will be on.

If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after 10 minutes to save your battery.

2-47

Illuminated Entry

If it is dark enough outside and you press the unlock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter while all
doors are closed, the interior courtesy lamps will come
on and stay on for approximately 40 seconds. When 
the 40 seconds is up, the lights will be turned off by 
the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn off
immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the remote
lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition key to
RUN or by activating the power door locks.

Delayed Entry Lighting

When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on if it is dark enough outside.
When you close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds. When the 
25 seconds is up the lights will be turned off by the
theater dimming effect. Please note that locking the
doors with the power door lock switch or with the lock
symbol on the remote lock control transmitter, will
override the delayed entry lighting and the lamps will
turn off immediately.

Theater Dimming

This feature allows for a three to five

-

second fade out 

of the overhead courtesy lamps instead of immediate
turn off after you remove the key from the ignition.
They will not fade if the interior lamps are manually
turned on. The lower instrument panel courtesy lamps
will not theater dim.

Delayed Exit Lighting

This feature will turn on the interior lamps for 25
seconds after you remove the key from the ignition
while the doors are closed and it is night. This will give
you time to find the door handle or lock switches as you
exit the vehicle. When the 25 seconds is up, or if the key
is reinserted into the ignition, the lights will be turned
off by the theater dimming effect. The lamps will turn
off immediately by pressing the lock symbol on the
remote lock control transmitter, by turning the ignition
key to RUN or by activating the power door locks.

2-48

Parade Dimming

To activate the instrument panel backlighting during 
the day, turn the headlamp switch to the parking lamp
position. Dimming of the instrument panel display is 
not possible during daylight hours. The instrument panel
display can only be adjusted when the parking lamps 
are on and it is dark outside.

Perimeter Lighting

When the unlock symbol on the remote lock control
transmitter is pressed, the DRL headlamps, parking
lamps and back

-

up lamps will turn on for approximately

25 seconds if it is dark enough outside.

This feature can be programmed on or off for each
transmitter. You can also program how long the 
exterior lamps will stay on after unlocking the vehicle.

You must program this feature through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See “DIC Personalization
Programming” in the Index.

Front Reading Lamps

These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps will come
on when you open a door. They will turn off when you
turn on the ignition. If a door is left open, they will turn
off after about 10 minutes.

To turn on the reading lamps when the doors are closed,
press the button under the lamp you want on. Press it
again to turn the lamp off.

These lamps work even when the ignition is off. To avoid
draining your vehicle’s battery, be sure to turn off all
front and rear reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.

2-49

Rear Reading Lamps

These lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn them on by pressing the button on the
side of the lamp. Press it again to turn them off.

Inadvertent Power Battery Saver

This feature is designed to protect your vehicle’s 
battery against drainage from the interior lamps, 
trunk lamp, glove box lamp or cigarette lighters. 
When the ignition is turned off, the power to these
features will automatically turn off after 10 minutes.

Power will be restored for an additional 10 minutes if
any door is opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy
lamp switch is turned on. To restore power back to 
the cigarette lighters the ignition must be turned back 
to RUN.

Battery Load Management

The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle’s electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at a
higher RPM setting than normal to make sure the battery
charges. High electrical loads may occur when several
of the following are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, high blower fan, heated
seats and engine cooling fans.

If your vehicle’s battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the blower fan, 
rear defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.

2-50

Mirrors

Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass

Your vehicle has an electrochromic inside rearview
mirror with a compass. Your vehicle’s mirror may also
contain OnStar

R

 controls.

This is the on/off button for mirrors equipped 

with OnStar controls.

Pressing the MIRROR button (or the on/off button for
mirrors equipped with OnStar controls) located at the
bottom of the mirror, turns the automatic dimming
feature on or off.

The mirror also includes an eight

-

point compass display

in the upper right corner of the mirror face. When on, the
compass automatically calibrates as the vehicle is driven.

When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause 
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.

Mirror Operation

To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press MIRROR 
(or press and hold the on/off button for about three seconds
for mirrors equipped with OnStar controls). To turn off
automatic dimming, press MIRROR (or press and hold 
the on/off button for about three seconds for mirrors
equipped with OnStar controls) again. The green indicator    
light will be illuminated when this feature is active. 
The automatic dimming feature will be active each time 
the vehicle is started.

Compass Operation

Press COMPASS (or the on/off button for mirrors equipped
with OnStar controls) once to turn the compass on or off.

When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the
compass will show two character boxes for approximately   
two seconds. After two seconds, the mirror will display the   
compass heading.

Compass Calibration

If after two seconds, the display does not show a compass
heading (“N” for North, for example), there may be a
strong magnetic field interfering with the compass. Such
interference may be caused by a magnetic antenna mount,
magnetic note pad holder or a similar magnetic item. 
If the letter “C” should ever appear in the compass
window, the compass may need calibration.

2-51

The mirror can be calibrated in one of two ways:
D Drive the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or 

less until the display reads a direction, or

D drive the vehicle on your everyday routine.
Mirrors equipped with OnStar controls can be placed in
calibration mode by pressing and holding the on off
button until a “C” is shown in the compass display.

Compass Variance

The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory. 
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live outside zone eight.
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance
cross

-

country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for

compass variance. Compass variance is the difference
between earth’s magnetic north and true geographic
north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.

To adjust for compass variance:

1. Find your current location and variance zone number

on the following zone map.

2. Press and hold COMPASS (or the on/off button for

mirrors equipped with OnStar controls) until a zone
number appears in the display.

3. Once the zone number appears in the display, press

the COMPASS (or the on/off button for mirrors
equipped with OnStar controls) button quickly until
the correct zone number appears in the display. 
Stop pressing the button and the mirror will 
return to normal operation. If “C” appears in the 
compass window, the compass may need calibration.
See “Compass Calibration” explained previously.

2-52

Power Remote Control Mirror

The controls on the driver’s door operate both outside
rearview mirrors. Move the L/R switch to the left (L) 
to select the driver’s side rearview mirror, or to the 
right (R) to select the passenger’s side rearview mirror.

Then press the arrows on the four

-

way pad to adjust

each mirror so that you can see a little of the side of
your vehicle when you are sitting in a comfortable
driving position.

Leave the L/R switch in the center position to disable
mirror movement by the four

-

way control pad.

If your vehicle is equipped with the memory function,
the mirrors and driver’s seat position, can be stored into
memory. See “Memory Seat and Mirrors” in the Index.

Parallel Park Assist Mirror (If Equipped)

If you have the memory seat and mirrors feature, 
the passenger’s outside rearview mirror also includes a
tilt

-

down feature that operates when the shift lever is 

in REVERSE (R). When the vehicle is shifted out of
REVERSE (R), the passenger mirror will return to its
original position after a five

-

second delay. This delay

prevents movement of the mirror if multiple gear
transitions (REVERSE (R) to DRIVE (D) to 
REVERSE (R)) occur during a parallel parking
maneuver. This feature can be programmed on or off
through the DIC. See “Driver Information Center” 
or “Personalization Features” in the Index for
programming instructions. Vehicles are delivered 
with this feature off.