I purchased a '99 Arctic white Aurora for the wife last year and loved driving it so much I just had to get one for myself!! Mine is a '98 burgundy. There is no other car anywhere that is styled so beautifully, especially the rear view! My '98 has chrome wheels. Her '99 has sunroof & Bose stereo. We are in love with these cars!!
Hello all. I have been reading the boards for quite a while and finally decided to start posting. I bought my aurora about a year ago and have had many of the common problems, but couldn't imagine driving anything else. Water pump, radiator, A/C compressor were all replaced by the dealer, had to get the alternator replaced, then radiator cracked again. I was able to get a new radiator free under part warranty, but had to replace it myself, which was a fairly easy job. I have also had a few broken wires causing various things to fail, but all were easy fixes. At my summer job I met another aurora owner who is currently having some problems as well. One that I hadn't seen on here was leaking tires caused by cracking chrome on the stock wheels. The other is the headlights randomly blinking on. I suggested cleaning the switch to him, but he got a new replacement switch free so that is a job we will likely tackle next week. It is good to know that even with his bad experiences he shares the same sentiment for the car as most of the rest of us.
Never knew Edmunds.com had a discussion board. Sweet!
HI! I'm Chris, or Dregan, as my Aurora's license plate reads. I have 3 of them, one of which I'm in the process of turning into a super-sleeper. I do a lot of my own work, owning a car shop and all. As soon as I get some decent pics, I'll post one or two.
I just purchased my Aurora over this past Friday I love it so far. There are only a few minor problems that I have. The shrader valve on the low side is leaking and it needs new rotors, pads, and tires in front. I had vibration in the steering wheel. I balanced my tires on the wheel balance machine on setting (alloy 2) which uses the flat wheel weights that go on the inside of the rim and the wheel weights that clip on the lip of the inside of the rims. I have chrome rims and I did not want to put the wheel weights on the out side lip of the rim because I did not want to damage the chrome finish, even though the person that balanced them before me had. The car rolls smoothly now.
Hi Everbody, I just bought a 95 Aurora from my brother-in-law that runs a ford dealership. He got the car as a trade-in on a taurus. It's black inside and out, MINT cond, leather, aluminum wheels, 4.0, 84,000 , I think it has everything but the sun roof, No rust. I had the trans repaired (2 shift solenoids) $487. I replaced the a/c comp. $280. and put new tires on it $400. He sold it to me for $500!!! I ran a carfax on it and it's clean. What an awesome car. I'll post some pic's as soon as i can. Thanks, Rod(OH) P.S. He gave them $100 for the trade-in.
I have a 1995 Aurora with the 4.0. It has a surge in the engine at 30 to 40 mph the tach fluctuates 400 - 500 rpm. at operating temp. This makes the check engine light come on. higher or lower speed does not set the code. The code is for the torque converter clutch lockout solenoid. With all the work I've done it's now apparent that the problem has nothing to do with the transmission or torque converter, but is an engine problem. I had the solenoid replaced then the tranny rebuilt with another new solenoid and a new torque converter I've replaced a sticking EGR valve and cleaned the passages which lessened the surge. Cleaned the throttle body Replaced the plugs and plug wires. The local GM Tech scratched his head on this for a while at $50.00/hr but I shut him off at $300+ which included the new EGR valve I love the car it has 59k looks great. It drives solid but the check engine light continues to come on. If anyone has any tips as to what may cause this It sure would help. thanks LRT51
Hello to Garnes, 800watt, javidogg, and all of the more frequent posters as well as the newbies. I have had my 97 Silver Classic for about two years now (92K), and wouldn't have any other car. It is especially great to have this board and the other Classic page (Zincster's) to deal with our cars. The Aurora is definitely one of the finest cars in not just GM but American car culture. I look forward to keeping mine and am in the process of finding a second. I just love the car and all of us owners who are so willing to share and spread the love of our car with whomever will listen. I used to own a 72 Toronado and the Aurora is more than a worthy sucessor. See you all on the boards.
I posted my (help!) letter on the wrong board. messed up the first time I posted! I know I can do better. My Aurora is the best car I've had in a long time. In the 80s I had a Riviara. that car set the mark but only two doors was inconvenient. The Aurora, Sport, Power, space & luxury. For a 1995 It's not even dated in appearance. Looks and feels new at 59K. I'm the type of tightwad that will never buy new and suffer that evaporating financial value.
As soon as I take some pictures, I'll be sure to post them. I am happy to say I haven't come across a more enthusiastic car crowd than us Aurorans!! The amount of help and support that comes from these boards is fantastic! There isn't a problem that anyone has that shouldn't have been covered by this and the other board. Happy motoring to all, whether you are riding, cruising or racing.!
I'm Steve from Indiana. Bought a 1996 after riding in my brother-in-laws 1995.It had 75,000 on it and looked cleaned. Now that I have 107,000 and starting to have trouble with it and have discovered this post, I feel better about what to expect for maintenance. Thank you all for your feedbacks.
Live north of Marion in the big town of Lafontaine Thanks for your reply. Posted a message in problem and solutions topic. No one has responded to it yet #1230.
I have been looking around for Aurora stuff associated with INDY too but have not been able to find hardly anything. The online stores with Indy collectibles never seem to mention any Aurora stuff. I guess if you called the giftshop at INDY, you might get a better response but I haven't done that yet. The only stuff I have seen has been on ebay. Not even the Olds dealership has anything. Good Luck.
Have you ever taken your car over to Muncie drag on a Wednesday night. Went over their for the first this summer. Pretty neat how they will let street cars run the 1/4 mile.
No I haven't. If you give me more info as to where they are and times and all, maybe I'll head over there some day. That would be fun. However I swear having new tires is critical. Mine are still good, but not a grippy as the day they were installed.
Where in Wisconsin do you live? I'm in Waukesha, and also have a black/black Aurora ('98). I've got some co-workers going to SEMA, so I'm going to have them talk to Corsa to make sure I'll be able to get their exhaust next summer (when she's paid off :-)
Back in first part of Nov 03, A friend of mine who drives a wrecker service told me about an Aurora, that would sell on sealed bid. He knew of somebody that had bid $450, so I bid $500, and got it. He told me about the car over the phone and I trust him so it was mine.
Black on Black, and very straight 183,000 mi. He put cables on it and lo and behold, it started. albiet with a top end rattle. He was convinced that it was not internal. The car had been abandoned at an Oklahoma gas station, and was thought to have a blown engine due to the oil stain underneath it.
So welcome to the wide wide exciting world of AURORAville!
From looking at the postings, am I the only person in America stupid enough to tear into this engine? don't answer that!
We were pretty much convinced that the noise which sometimes stopped while revving the engine, was coming from the PS pump. After towing it 500 miles to my home and checking it. it seems that the noise was coming from the timing gears on the left side of the engine looking from the passenger side of the car. Experience told me that it was probably a timing chain tensioner.
I have since torn into this engine with a passion, and am constantly amazed at the design of this 4.0. (this ain't no small block Chevy) Upon finally removing the timing chain cover, it was obvious that the tensioner on the left side of the engine was at full extension and frozen there. The guide that this tensioner pushes on was worn to the point that it would not hold the chain tight.
Car fax shows This car had the same owner for the most part of it's life. If I were to make an educated guess from its condition, it was the product of a heavy smoking female who obtained it from a divorce or something similar. It Has a tag from a country Club on the bumper. Yet many things don't seem right. it appears to have been bottomed out repeatedly on country roads, as the oil pan had been scrapped through, and a patch was made with what looks like gasket material, a piece of Aluminum, and some short sheet metal screws.
It gets better... This car is really straight on the outside, needs some polishing, but it had only 1 hub cap, no spare, no jack, no floor mats, radio ate my CD, Cassette was stuck inside, power antenna did not work, the horn did not work, only one good tire, the front two are so bald you can see the air, one of the rear tires is off of a chevy pickup, all the hood and trunk supports broken or barely working. and JB weld spilled and hardened on the passenger side fender. (I still haven't figured out where that came from)
I have parts ordered but have yet to get them in to put it back together. I ordered an oil pan gasket, but from reading the posts, this might not be the leak. I changed the oil in it as soon as I got the car, and it sat in my garage for about 2 months before I had a chance to work on it more. The car had not been started since the oil change, and it leaked oil all over the place, and not from the patch. PROBLEM 1.
A friend of mine from way back in the military is well versed on all things mechanical, who is interested in the Northstar/Aurora mystic. He stated that he was concerned as to why this timing chain tensioner failed, as he felt that a drop in oil pressure would cause this. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
My wife loves the car and wants to drive it, but after 4 months of trying to work on it in my spare time, I am beginning to wonder if all my work and money spent will be a waste.
I noticed in a post that some seal might go out that would cause the oil pressure to drop...
When I started the car before disassembly, it smoked slightly out of the drivers side tail pipe. like oil smoke.
I am really concerned for many reasons, the car even though the body is straight, it looks like it was driven fast on rough roads. the front lower splash shield is gone, the passenger side inner fender well shield is also gone. It looks like somebody sat on the roof with the sun roof open, and dented the corners at the rear of the sunroof opening.
I have about $1200 invested in this car so far, it needs tires, and a windshield (what do these cost?) I really want to drive and enjoy this car, but I don't need a money pit!
I searched on this site for a forum or postings on my families current car, we bought it at 6 months old in 1991, with low miles, have taken care of it with regular 2000 mile synthetic only oil changes, only premium gas, and alot of TLC for what is now over 230,000 miles! Well I found one posting, this car was built virtually unchanged for 5-7 years. What is it? A PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM!!!
Yea the aRoara is sooooooooo kewl, but I am having my doubts. has anybody had similar problems with the tensioners or a leak that might have caused the tensioner to go out? Please let me know if you can. I want to keep this car so bad, but not if I have to mortgage the kids.
Second I see you have the heart for the Aurora's like most of us here, I just hope that everything turns out well for you in the process of putting back together of your Aurora.
I can tell you that the Auroras need lots of attention, the consequences can be brutal.
Also you might want to look on ebay for parts, believe it or not, there is stuff you can get for the Aurora there, to start you can always find those center hub caps there.
Well I really hope everything turns out well at the end.
Also you might want to read through the Oldsmobile Aurora Owners: Problems & Solutions post, you might find tons of information there about the Aurora's problems.
If I were you I would keep the $500 car as a parts car and buy another Aurora of the same year on ebay. This way your "investment" dollars may be the most effective for you since the cars on ebay generally do not go for much and you get a working drivable car to start with. Just a thought.
I have spent alot of money on E-bay already buying all the small broken and missing incidentals, It has become a quest to search almost daily. I have purchased door switches, hub caps, jack, antenna, owners manual, Factory service manuals, cup holder, and I still need alot more stuff. I was inspired to write here because of the Aurora problems and solutions post.
Hello all, my name is Mike and I am an Aurora fan(atic). Perhaps you'll find it odd, but I do not own one as of yet. Last month I drove my friend's 98 classic, and wanted an Aurora ever since: The performance, good looks, and usability of the Aurora seem perfectly balanced to my taste and simply can't be beat by any other automobile. I test drove the classic, the current v6 and v8 model, and after some deliberation decided on the current v8 model. I am currently in the process of building up funds to buy one sometime late May. Until then, I'll keep on learning about this great automobile and hope to participate in group discussions!
Found this site by researching a new car purchase. I have enjoyed reading all the posts and have found them very helpful as I made my decision on a new car. Unfortunately for me, it will not be a new Oldsmobile Aurora. I already have a 2003 Bordeaux Red 4.0, that I really enjoy. It has most if not all the options, including the gold package. It was a spec order by the dealer and I bought it via GM Buy Power the day after it was delivered . Great deal with 0% financing, extended warranty--too good NOT to do. I use it mostly as long hauler on weekend trips to the Delaware coast--130 miles each way. Great comfort, and plenty of power when needed on the two-lane roads.
Because Oldsmobile no longer exists, I ordered a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP, due for delivery mid to late May, and will also use it for long haul trips--now I'll just have two Northstars to choose from. I'll miss the Oldsmobile brand, and I have owned several--77 Cutlass Supreme Salon coupe, 83 98 Regency sedan; 95 Cutlass Convertible; 96 LSS, and the 03 Aurora. I really like the body styling coupled with the performance. In fact, I still own the Cutlass and the LSS, in addition to the Aurora.
I've had a few problems with the Aurora--Bose stereo was defective; sunroof rattled mercilessly unless the sunshade was open all the way; back seat replaced due to bad spring; cup holder was rattling and had to be "reset", and one of the monitor sensors (check coolant level) was replaced. Nothing too serious--it was all repaired/replaced under warranty, and I got the car back freshly washed each time! Performance wise--I've put on 12,000 trouble-free miles in 15 months. And, I'm getting 25.4 to 25.7 miles per gallon on the highway.
The car is going in for service next week--oil change, etc. I will also have them "new car prep" it, which is a new service this dealer is now offering. I'll get some pix of it really clean and shiny, and then try and post them (real amateur here). The Bordeaux Red is darker than your Cherry Metallic, I know for sure. I was really taken by the high/low contrast between the paint and the light tan interior, and when it is clean, the car gets noticed. However, not everyone believes it's an Oldsmobile. I enjoyed looking at your pix--your car is awesome looking.
hey, My name is Bill, live in N.Virginia. I have liked the looks and ride of the Aurora for awhile. Found a Black on Black '97, V-8,85,000 miles. I spoke to the fellow that has worked on my cars for years. He told me 2 things: 1)The Aurora is maintenance intensive and expensive to work on, 2)There will be a parts availability problem since they are not making them anymore. My question to you owners is this, is he right? I would really like to buy this car but do not want to bite off more than I can chew. Any help or advice you could provide would be appreciated.
Comments
Javi
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
HI!
I'm Chris, or Dregan, as my Aurora's license plate reads. I have 3 of them, one of which I'm in the process of turning into a super-sleeper. I do a lot of my own work, owning a car shop and all. As soon as I get some decent pics, I'll post one or two.
Anyway, nice to meet you all!
-D.
Hope to see some pictures of you Auroras soon, like to see the colors of them.
In the mean time you can see pictures of mine at the link below.
Javier M.
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
-Brian
DC
-Brian
He got the car as a trade-in on a taurus. It's black inside and out, MINT cond, leather, aluminum wheels, 4.0, 84,000 , I think it has everything but the sun roof, No rust. I had the trans repaired (2 shift solenoids) $487. I replaced the a/c comp. $280. and put new tires on it $400. He sold it to me for $500!!! I ran a carfax on it and it's clean. What an awesome car.
I'll post some pic's as soon as i can. Thanks, Rod(OH) P.S. He gave them $100 for the trade-in.
Henri
thanks LRT51
So what color is your and do you have any pictures of your Aurora, so we can see the appreciation in her.
Peace.
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
I'm Steve from Indiana. Bought a 1996 after riding in my brother-in-laws 1995.It had 75,000
on it and looked cleaned. Now that I have 107,000 and starting to have trouble with it and have discovered this post, I feel better about what to expect for maintenance.
Thank you all for your feedbacks.
Thanks for your reply.
Posted a message in problem and solutions topic. No one has responded to it yet #1230.
If you ever want to hot-rod the Aurora a bit, I'm not too far away if you want to see what can be done first hand.
Let me know.
Henri
Steve
Have you ever taken your car over to Muncie drag
on a Wednesday night. Went over their for the first
this summer. Pretty neat how they will let street cars run the 1/4 mile.
Steve
Pics:
http://www.minjanindy.us/images/aurfr.jpg
http://www.minjanindy.us/images/aurback.jpg
you can see my Aurora at the link below
Peace.
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
--Robert
Nice car.
Black on Black, and very straight 183,000 mi. He put cables on it and lo and behold, it started. albiet with a top end rattle. He was convinced that it was not internal. The car had been abandoned at an Oklahoma gas station, and was thought to have a blown engine due to the oil stain underneath it.
So welcome to the wide wide exciting world of AURORAville!
From looking at the postings, am I the only person in America stupid enough to tear into this engine? don't answer that!
We were pretty much convinced that the noise which sometimes stopped while revving the engine, was coming from the PS pump. After towing it 500 miles to my home and checking it. it seems that the noise was coming from the timing gears on the left side of the engine looking from the passenger side of the car. Experience told me that it was probably a timing chain tensioner.
I have since torn into this engine with a passion, and am constantly amazed at the design of this 4.0. (this ain't no small block Chevy) Upon finally removing the timing chain cover, it was obvious that the tensioner on the left side of the engine was at full extension and frozen there. The guide that this tensioner pushes on was worn to the point that it would not hold the chain tight.
Car fax shows This car had the same owner for the most part of it's life. If I were to make an educated guess from its condition, it was the product of a heavy smoking female who obtained it from a divorce or something similar. It Has a tag from a country Club on the bumper. Yet many things don't seem right. it appears to have been bottomed out repeatedly on country roads, as the oil pan had been scrapped through, and a patch was made with what looks like gasket material, a piece of Aluminum, and some short sheet metal screws.
It gets better... This car is really straight on the outside, needs some polishing, but it had only 1 hub cap, no spare, no jack, no floor mats, radio ate my CD, Cassette was stuck inside, power antenna did not work, the horn did not work,
only one good tire, the front two are so bald you can see the air, one of the rear tires is off of a chevy pickup,
all the hood and trunk supports broken or barely working. and JB weld spilled and hardened on the passenger side fender. (I still haven't figured out where that came from)
I have parts ordered but have yet to get them in to put it back together. I ordered an oil pan gasket, but from reading the posts, this might not be the leak. I changed the oil in it as soon as I got the car, and it sat in my garage for about 2 months before I had a chance to work on it more. The car had not been started since the oil change, and it leaked oil all over the place, and not from the patch. PROBLEM 1.
A friend of mine from way back in the military is well versed on all things mechanical, who is
interested
in the Northstar/Aurora mystic. He stated that he was concerned as to why this timing chain tensioner failed, as he felt that a drop in oil pressure would cause this. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
My wife loves the car and wants to drive it, but after 4 months of trying to work on it in my spare time, I am beginning to wonder if all my work and money spent will be a waste.
I noticed in a post that some seal might go out that would cause the oil pressure to drop...
When I started the car before disassembly, it smoked slightly out of the drivers side tail pipe.
like oil smoke.
I am really concerned for many reasons, the car even though the body is straight, it looks like it was driven fast on rough roads. the front lower splash shield is gone, the passenger side inner fender well shield is also gone. It looks like somebody sat on the roof with the sun roof open, and dented the corners at the rear of the sunroof opening.
I have about $1200 invested in this car so far, it needs tires, and a windshield (what do these cost?) I really want to drive and enjoy this car, but I don't need a money pit!
I searched on this site for a forum or postings on my families current car, we bought it at 6 months old in 1991, with low miles, have taken care of it with regular 2000 mile
synthetic only oil changes, only premium gas, and alot of TLC for what is now over 230,000 miles!
Well I found one posting, this car was built virtually unchanged for 5-7 years. What is it?
A PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM!!!
Yea the aRoara is sooooooooo kewl, but I am having my doubts. has anybody had similar problems with the tensioners or a leak that might have caused the tensioner to go out? Please let me know if you can. I want to keep this car so bad, but not if I have to mortgage the kids.
Thanks PR
Second I see you have the heart for the Aurora's like most of us here, I just hope that everything turns out well for you in the process of putting back together of your Aurora.
I can tell you that the Auroras need lots of attention, the consequences can be brutal.
Also you might want to look on ebay for parts, believe it or not, there is stuff you can get for the Aurora there, to start you can always find those center hub caps there.
Well I really hope everything turns out well at the end.
Do keep us posted.
Javi
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
Javi
http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
Welcome aboard.
Javi
Http://www.cardomain.com/id/javidogg
Because Oldsmobile no longer exists, I ordered a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP, due for delivery mid to late May, and will also use it for long haul trips--now I'll just have two Northstars to choose from. I'll miss the Oldsmobile brand, and I have owned several--77 Cutlass Supreme Salon coupe, 83 98 Regency sedan; 95 Cutlass Convertible; 96 LSS, and the 03 Aurora. I really like the body styling coupled with the performance. In fact, I still own the Cutlass and the LSS, in addition to the Aurora.
I've had a few problems with the Aurora--Bose stereo was defective; sunroof rattled mercilessly unless the sunshade was open all the way; back seat replaced due to bad spring; cup holder was rattling and had to be "reset", and one of the monitor sensors (check coolant level) was replaced. Nothing too serious--it was all repaired/replaced under warranty, and I got the car back freshly washed each time! Performance wise--I've put on 12,000 trouble-free miles in 15 months. And, I'm getting 25.4 to 25.7 miles per gallon on the highway.
Thanks,
Bill