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Oldsmobile Aurora

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  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    My 98 Aurora tended to run warm when it was much over 80 degrees out. On the highway it was always normal, but in city driving it would get warm. My 2002 Seville runs normal most of the time, although on a hot day it may get a bit over normal. A long grade will warm it up some, but I have yet to see the gauge get more than half way to the 220 mark.
  • HenryHenry Member Posts: 1,106
    I am starting a little play in the driver's seat on my 95. ANyone else having this happen??
  • HenryHenry Member Posts: 1,106
    Was cleaning up around my place. I found all of these center caps I brought for my car. Now that I have the 2001 wheels on the car, the old Classic caps are not needed. I must begin my ebay search again. This is a little annoying. :(
  • redwingsfanredwingsfan Member Posts: 17
    1998 Aurora with 65,000 miles. AC Compressor blew up last week.

    Cost $1,300 to get it replaced (parts and labor).

    Other than having the idler pulley replaced last year this car has had zero problems.
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    Hello Guys

    I recently bought a '99 aurora with 80K miles on it.

    A few days later, while looking at the dashboard surface , I noticed that it is a litle misplaced on the right hand side, right in the curve where the dashboard start touching the windshield

    Do you think that this is a leftover from an accident or all the auroras (1999 at least) has this "bug" from the factory?

    Thanks a bunch,
  • HenryHenry Member Posts: 1,106
    I would not stress over it myself. Since you already bought it, what difference does it make??? :)
  • HenryHenry Member Posts: 1,106
    I saw another 95 on Sunday. The owner and I got into an extended conversation. This prompted a member of my family to say -- "You have owned the car for over 6 years. You would think you would be tired of talking about it by now."

    ONCE YOU GOT THE FEVER - - - - - - ITS AURORA FOR LIFE!!!!!!
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    I don't know why but I need to figure this out...

    Not many auroras around my town where I could sneak my head in the windshield and see how it should be...
  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    Does anyone have a 1997 Aurora window sticker (Monroney label) that they would be willing to copy and mail to me (or scan and email)? I did not buy my Classic new, so I do not have the window sticker. I have them for all the new cars I bought back to 1970. I want to try to create a reproduction for my records.

    Pontiac Historical Services can provide reproduction stickers for many Pontiacs. However, I cannot find a similar service for Oldsmobiles.

    Les
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    I tried google for reproduce window sticker automobile and got several sites.

    http://www.window-sticker.com/faq.htm

    says that they reproduce Oldsmobile exact for the vin number you supply. An exact sticker for your car correct for price changes during the year sounds good to me.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    Keith,

    Thank you. Somehow I missed that site.

    Les
  • stickking1stickking1 Member Posts: 247
    In Batman Begins, in the funeral scene for Bruce's parents, a black Classic Aurora is prominantly shown among some other luxury cars. Getting a shot from the rear and another of the hood. The girlfriend rolled her eyes when I said, "Hey! There's an Aurora" But what do you expect? Not since Matrix Reloaded has the car gotten such screen time.
  • kayaman420kayaman420 Member Posts: 207
    Hey all you old schoolers. Stick, henry, RJS, Javi, Hammen ect..... Been a while since Ive been here. Mostly because I have had very few problems in the last few years. (knocking on wood) lol.

    Update: My 95 is at 140,000 miles and going stronger than ever. Got a few more rattles here and there and few cosmetic issues because of age , but besides fixing the wires in my driver side door jam Ive been repair free for a few years now. Switched up to Valvoline Max life recently and it has made my engine run a lot smoother. Paid the note off on it last year and now its time to drive it till it peacfully goes to rest. But I dont see that happening anytime soon. Just wanted to say whats up to you guys and it looks like I need to get in here more often to help out the new crop of Aurora owners.

    Temp issues: For you guys asking the temp questions. It is totally normal for the Aurora to run at 195* and go up to 225* in traffic or standing still. The northstar runs a lot hotter than a normal engine. The fans turn on at 226* I believe so unless your temp guage is going over 226* you are fine. Different Tstats will give you different temps. When I first got my Aurora it always ran at around 195*. When I replaced the original Tstat I found it was stuck open which is why it never went to 225*.
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    Hello

    What is the name of that plastic piece, half read/half white, that covers the luminescent light attached to the door (interior light)?

    I'm searching for onr but nothing comes out..

    Thanks
  • mg11mg11 Member Posts: 29
    Hello to Kayaman,mrdubya,RJS, et al,
    I hadn't been around for awhile, for several reasons: one - I lost my '97 classic in a parked wreck ( car was parked, and a drunk totalled it!), and I replaced my Aurora with a Mark VIII LSC. They have a couple of really involved websites and I'd been spending my time beefing up the car. However, when I was feeling how passionate the owners are on those sites, it just reminded me that there was only one other place on earth where folks were so serious about their cars, and I had to come back just to catch up and see how everyone was. I have been a licensed driver since the 70's and this was the first time and place that I'd gone on a website or been part of a car community being here! The info I received made me more knowledgeable and saved me quite a bit of cash too!! In fact, it was from being here that when I bought the Lincoln, I went looking until I'd found a site that gave me what I had/have here. I really have my hands full until about X-mas with the Mark, but I am seriously going to be on the lookout for a 2nd Aurora after that. There are similarities, but I love the Mark for what it is, and the Aurora for its' own right as well if that makes sense. They each have their own feel, and drivers' niche. Good to see you are still all here.! Without my Aurora, I don't have two cents to throw in any more, but I will be reading. Take care!
  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    It's called a courtesy lamp.

    Les
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
  • woodranch1woodranch1 Member Posts: 35
    Original owner of 98 classic with 151K miles. Car overheated and I hoped for simple hose leak. Radiator shop can find nothing wrong with cooling system. Car overheats (280 degrees) with a/c on and coolant boils out of reserve.

    They suspect blow head gasket. Anything more minor that can cause overheating like this?

    Thanks.
  • sinatra2sinatra2 Member Posts: 65
    water pump,thermostat stuck closed, cooling fans inoperative, coolant mixture either mostly water or all anti freeze..in either case she will over heat
  • rjs200240rjs200240 Member Posts: 1,277
    it's great to see kayaman, stickking, mg11 posting again!

    Woodranch, does it boil over in the coolant bottle, or is it like churning up while not that hot? If it's churning, it's probably a head gasket. Otherwise, something is causing your car to overheat and you need to figure out what. As said, check things like the pump and especially the thermostat. Does it overheat while moving, or while sitting?
  • woodranch1woodranch1 Member Posts: 35
    Guys, thanks for the advice.

    The Aurora boils over while moving at freeway speeds. I takes about 15 minutes of driving with the A/C on to reach that point. Then the temp hita 280 and the coolant boils out of the overflow. The thermostat is new so it is not that. I will bring it to a Cadillac dealer to have it checked out. I am hoping I won't have to junk it. Otherwise in awesome condition.
  • rjs200240rjs200240 Member Posts: 1,277
    Is the overheating tied to the new thermostat? It could be it was put in wrong, there is air trapped against it, or it just doesn't open when it should. Did it start when you had it replaced?
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    I had the same problem. AC stopped blowing cold air but I see that the comperssor is rotating...

    I have heard a lot that compressor dies frequently in auroras but I'm not sure if this the case for me

    How can i figure this out?

    Thanks
  • tjm97tjm97 Member Posts: 27
    may be as simple as a bad cap. do the hoses get hard like they should? The system needs pressure to work properly.
  • woodranch1woodranch1 Member Posts: 35
    I had the Aurora at a reputable radiator shop for two days and I assume they checked all the cooling system issues. They replaced the thermostat after the first overheating stranded me on the way to work.

    It has been so hot here in Los Angeles the last week or so, I have not been able ot get the car home to be checked out by the local GM dealer. She is currently about 35 miles from my house and I am going to try and drive it when the temps get lower.
  • mosura1mosura1 Member Posts: 3
    Hey all-
    Glad to see there are supporters and fans for this awesome car that is a nightmare to fix! I own a 96' Aurora with 92,000 miles and it recently began to leak antifreeze from under the passenger side front end area. The car does not overheat at all, and does not leak antifreeze from the overflow. Seems to happen on hot days and/or long drives. The car notifies me that the coolant is low, but usually I see the leak and hear the fan. When I refill with the water/antifreeze mix through the overflow, nothing leaks out of the car, sometimes for days on end, until another hot day or traffic jam... but only leaks when the car is parked right after driving it. Just wanted the opinion of the forum, as I was thinking thermostat, and also.. can I change that bad boy myself at home... or is it wedged in requiring special tools, time and patience. Any help would be great.... and it seems that I bought the only Aurora without a moonroof!!
    Thanks in advance and good luck.
  • rjs200240rjs200240 Member Posts: 1,277
    If it's just a little, it could just be that the cooling system supplement tablets need a replenishing. They seem to wear out over time, and it's fairly common for the engines to leak a little without them.
  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    Can you determine where the leak is coming from? A common failure is that the radiator plastic end tanks develop cracks. They start out small and grow larger with time. Prestone (IIRC) sells an epoxy sealer that I used successfully for my '97. After a few months another leak opened up on the other end of the same tank, and I decided it was time to replace the radiator. I have since found out it is possible to replace the end tanks while keeping the aluminum core. Had I known that at the time, I may have gone that way instead.

    Les
  • tjm97tjm97 Member Posts: 27
    typical place for the radiator to go. there is a mounting post built into the plastic end tank on the radiator that develops a crack. if you stick your head as if to look at the back of the headlight assembly you can sometimes see the trickle coming around the back of the radiator (where the oil cooler lines hook up) from the front where the crack is. sounds like that's it.
  • mosura1mosura1 Member Posts: 3
    can I epoxy it, add a sealer, or does it require professional service? Thanks for the advice!!!
  • mosura1mosura1 Member Posts: 3
    I'll have to add about a full container of antifreeze within two weeks. Mixed with water, almost two containers. Do the tablets prevent leakage? Thanks for the response!!
  • tjm97tjm97 Member Posts: 27
    you can try some stop leak - it worked for me for about 6 month - then had to replace the radiator
  • yellowperilyellowperil Member Posts: 22
    Hi fellow Olds owners. It's time to upgrade our 1998 Intrigue, and I'm thinking 2nd gen Aurora, 6-cyl. The 4.0 would be nice, but not with today's fuel prices. What are some things to watch for? Common problems? I saw an ad for a 2001 Aurora v-6 for $11K. Seems like a good deal on paper. Any responses would be very appreciated.
  • hammen2hammen2 Member Posts: 1,284
    I have a Classic, not an 01-03 Aurora. I've heard (but don't know from personal experience) that there is not a significant difference in fuel economy between the V-6 and the V-8 (probably depends on your mixture of city and highway miles). I believe you can run both on regular unleaded, though premium is recommended for optimum performance. If you regularly carry 2-3 passengers and/or a trunkload of stuff, you may not be happy with the performance of the Shortstar. The bigger V-8 is related to previous Olds and previous and current Olds/Caddy/Pontiac (Bonneville GXP) and Buick (new Lucerne), so you are more likely to find someone familiar with repairing the 4.0 than the 3.5, should you need a major engine diagnosis/repair.

    I believe that there were a number of running changes to the '01 Aurora (production started in March/April of 2000?) Cars built in July 2000 and later have most of the running changes - I believe that you can tell the difference if your car doesn't have OnStar but has the OnStar mirror standard - this designates a later-build '01.

    Common problems would include the infamous Intermediate Steering Shaft (clunking noises/vibration when turning - a problem on many 99-03 FWD GM cars), crankshaft position sensors (no start), and interior bulbs (on switches/buttons/indicators) burning out (not easily replaced unless you're handy with a soldering iron, IIRC).

    Strongly suggest a CarFax. Seeing if you can get a warranty history pulled by another GM dealer would be helpful as well. And, have the car inspected by a professional mechanic before you buy it...

    Hope this helps,

    --Robert
  • yellowperilyellowperil Member Posts: 22
    Yes, that's very helpful! Your point about mechanics being more familiar with the V8 is a good one. Our Intrigue has the old 3800 V6 and I always thought that was a good thing.
  • martianmartian Member Posts: 220
    I really like the Aurora, and I'm sad that the Oldsmobile line is no more. Anyway, in my area, it is hard to find a used Aurora-private party sales are for cars 7-10 years old, with very high (>90K) miles. Did Olds ever sell the Aurora to rental car companies?
    Also, should I avoid the 4.0 liter engine? Did Olds manage to fix most of the problems by 2002?
    In short, how do i find a decnt Aurora, and what price (off bluebook) should i be prepared to offer?
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    Hi

    I went to jiffylube today to do my first oil change. The oil had gone well below and was at the "ADD" line...

    The guy at the shop, used 9 quart to fill it up as the dipstick level was still low (much below MAX line) after he had put in 7 1/2 quarts...

    I could not convince the guy that car needs only 7 1/2 quart according to the manual as he was saying that with that much oil the dipstick was not getting at the normal level...

    Now am concerned that the engine may have oil over the level required and possibly damage the engine.

    Have anyone heard about a "bug" in the dipstick lenght or the position/angle that it gets thru the bottom of the engine?

    How dangerous is to put more oil than required? Should I take some out?

    Thanks
  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    The dipsticks for the Classics are known to show the wrong level. I have never seen any information on a corrected dipstick being available. I think the correct amount to add is 8 qts. with filter change. That's what it takes to get the oil level to 1/2 qt low on my '97. That is where I maintain the oil level -- 1/2 qt low.

    I do not think the extra qt will harm your engine. Someone correct me if I am wrong. What I have always read is that the crankshaft will splash the oil around, causing more oil into the cylinders where it will burn off. I admit that I have never really understood how this works.

    The other problem with the dipstick is that it is almost impossible to get consistent, repeatable readings. I never check oil level until the engine has been off at least 1/2 hour, and I always park in the same place in my garage (slight uphill slope). The tip of the dipstick touches the oil surface at a shallow angle, causing the oil to "mark" the dipstick at different places top and bottom. So I always rotate the dipstick 360 degrees and pull it out quickly. This has helped some to get repeatable readings, but it is definitely the most difficult car I have ever owned in this regard. Labor of love.

    Les
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    That makes me feel a litle better and stop alarming.

    Thanks Les.
  • hammen2hammen2 Member Posts: 1,284
    Too much oil = very bad.

    There are a number of things that can go wrong from overfilling. While there is too much oil in the engine, high pressure can develop in the crankcase, you can get oil leakage through the oil pan gasket and other engine seals (I suspect my dealer putting 9 quarts into my Aurora - discovered the next day after driving home -contributed to my rear crankshaft seals failing on my '98). You might have reduced gas mileage while the oil level was too high - it's possible that the crankshaft was splashing in the oil, which made it work harder. And that splashing could cause the oil to foam up, which could cause the oil pressure in the crankcase to drop, potentially leading to premature engine wear or even damage. Best to take it in there and make them drain and refill it with 7 1/2 quarts. Ignore the dipstick, it plain sucks.

    --Robert
  • hammen2hammen2 Member Posts: 1,284
    There may have been some 2001-2003's in rental fleets. I never saw a Classic in rental.

    I would stick with a '98 or '99 if you are looking for a Classic, or a 2002 or 2003 if you are looking for a new Aurora. The 4.0 is actually a superior engine - its Northstar brothers are used in a lot more applications than the 3.5.

    How to find a good one? Search eBay, cars.com, autotrader, et. al. and get a feel for the market. Hard to find a Classic under 70-80k these days, frankly. If you find one, try to get maintenance records. Get the GM service history (need the VIN and a friendly GM dealer). Have a mechanic inspect the car.

    Hope this helps,

    --Robert
  • sls002sls002 Member Posts: 2,788
    Too much oil can result in the crankshaft "beating" the oil into something like whipped cream. This bubbly oil will not lubricate properly. I think that 8 quarts was the amount of oil to mostly fill the crankcase with a filter change. So, 9 qts is probably not enough to cause damage, but who knows.

    checked my owner manual (Seville), which says 7.5 quarts with filter...
  • blk97aurorablk97aurora Member Posts: 573
    Robert,

    Thanks for correcting me about high oil level.

    Les
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    I, ASAP, went to the shop and had them drain all the oil for 20 minutes
    Then they put 7 1/2 on it.

    The guy that worked today in the car knew what was doing and understood my frustration.

    I don't know how much problem was caused for the time that I drove the car with 9 quart of oil inside but was only 2-3 city miles of driving...I don't know if this makes a difference or not

    Hope that short mileage the engine did not pressurize all that oil..

    I will keep my fingers crossed but if something happen i'm going after them, kept the original receipt which inidicates that thay put more that 9 quart of oill in the car

    Thanks
  • onfire2onfire2 Member Posts: 3
    97 , 98,000 miles i m haveing a problem with a low rpm miss funny thing is only with the air on?if i turn air off it stops...over 1200 r s it seems normal any help out there ? recenty changed fuel reg.and fuel filter.dealer wanted 255.00 to change fuel reg. what a joke 3 min. fix...tim
  • teufelhunde93teufelhunde93 Member Posts: 13
    Actually, my 1995 was part of a Budget Car Rental fleet. Also, Enterprise used the classics in their fleet. I have a friend that used to be a Enterprise Car Fleet manager and they had quiet a few in their fleet. Really depends on the area you are in though.

    FYI: My 1995 Aurora was given to me by my father (he bought it from Budget) and I have to say it has had several problems (tranny, A/C, starter plunger, and multi-function switch). I fixed the multi-function switch this past weekend and it runs like a charm now. The only thing I noticed is that this car tends to run hot (seems to be common in these cars based on what I have read on this forum). Other than what I have mentioned, for a car that is ten years old and 172,000 miles on it... it will run like a new car (performance wise)!

    Good luck! ;)
  • teufelhunde93teufelhunde93 Member Posts: 13
    Hmmm... if your car is anything like my '95, it will leak some out anyway...
  • rocket88manrocket88man Member Posts: 4
    I have a '98 Aurora with 123,000 miles. Been an excellent car. Service trans every 30,000 miles, etc. It has always shifted perfectly. Problem is, now it will not shift into overdrive. No codes showing. Does this sound like the infamous trans solenoid problem?

    Thanks,

    Joe in AZ.
  • hammen2hammen2 Member Posts: 1,284
    The "infamous trans solenoid problem" afflicted only '95's and most '96's, before a plastic piece was changed to metal. I suspect that this is not your problem... need to find a good, honest trans shop to take a look.

    --Robert
  • korcarikorcari Member Posts: 16
    Hey guys,

    I don't understand what algorith GM uses to measure the oil lifetime?

    Since I changed the oil three weeks ago, the lifetime seem to loose regualrly 1 point a day even though I drive like 10-15 miles a day at max

    I haven't checked the oil level yet as the dipstick is not reliable and from some folks here it was suggested that I relayonly in the life monitor

    I don't see any white smoke on behind of the car while driving 60-70mph in the highway either (which would indicate oil burning..)

    Is this normal or am I gonna be in some kind of trouble with the engine?

    Thanks Niko
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