brand new here and in love with my black 97

[blondie]

Hey,

Brand new here... I just inherited my dad's 1997 Aurora, black, he bought it back in 1996 brand new and I loved it then and love it now. I've always loved the way it sounded and looked, especially head on with the fog lamps... everyone always compliments me on it and it's just great. ohman... It was funny because when I came back home from college it was sitting in my driveway with a bunch of little red bows that my mom stuck on (ah, parents :... a really nice surprise to come home to.

I have a few little quetions on it though and since I'm brand new here I hope some poeple can throw me some input. I intend on coming back to this thread a lot!

1. Just had an issue with my compressor; it got to the point where the engine just straight up froze and stalled. I got a re-built compressor put in, but now every time I throw on my a/c or defogger or anything else, the engine *sounds* like it's running a little harder, and I can almost feel it as I drive. Suggestions?

2. Leaking coolant! Every day or two when I go to my car I see a little puddle of red antifreeze/coolant (thought it should be green, but yeah it's red) on the ground on the left-hand side (right side if you were standing in front looking at it); I check my coolant level all the time but it doesn't seem low; still I refill it from time to time (not all the way up)

3. MY dashboard panel (where the stereo, air, and monitored systems section are) lights are slowly burning out. When it's dark out and the lights come on, I have patches where my dash doesn't light up, so you can't see buttons and stuff. What does it cost to get the lighting replaced?

4. Finally... sometimes I'm driving out in the bright sun and my lights stay on and won't shut off! Does that happen to anyone else?

Other than that, I love my 97.. haha.. Alright if anyone has anything to add please do so, I'm so glad I found this place online ;D

PS here's my baby..

[bufo]

Hello-Great looking ride!

I'll leave the tech questions to the experts. Regarding the compressor--Was it replaced by someone reputable?

[betonthis1]

sweet, great Parents to give you such a nice suprise. im not sure about your lights running but you know that these have daytime running lamps right? unless your talking about something else.

also you should feel the AC come on when your driving. thats in all cars. your engine works harder when it kicks on. but it ifs real noticable then might be a problem.

also check your hoses (hopefully its just a hose). there is also dies you can buy that you pour into the coolant and you use some special light to locate where the leak is.

[95rora]

Blondie, welcome to the board. Very nice lookin ride and the fact that your dad bought it new and now its yours is that much better...lucky .

As far as some of your tech questions, normally engines do run a little harder with the ac on but you sholdnt be able to feel it. I cant feel mine when its on. Id take it back and make sure its right.

The coolant is most likely just a leaky hose although one could be bad. Thats where I check first on any thing. Make sure the hose clamps are tight although dont strip them by overtightening. Dont know much about the other stuff but hopefully someone can help you out.

On another note I would recommend getting that red coolant out of your system. My parents have had three vehicles now with it and one of em ended up having to get a bunch of gasket work done costing some major $$$. For the next two my ole man listened to me and got it flushed out.

[blondie]

Wow, really happy that I got so many responses so fast! Yeah, parents were nice and I think the main reason I got it, other than the fact I would have been pretty upset if he sold it, was my dad really hated the idea of parting with it Can't blame him... I will hit 150,000 miles on it before I get my next tank of premium-octane fuel! My dad just "treated" himself to his first non-American car in his entire life, but I know he misses his Olds... haha.. this IS my father's Oldsmobile... okay corny joke time over.

1. Yeah, my compressor was replaced where we purchased the car, at a reputable Olds (well, they still service Olds's, anyway.. ) service place. As for noticing it, well, maybe it's just because I own the Aurora (ahh that sounds so great... seriously yes it sounds ridiculous but I loved that car from the moment it entered my driveway and now that it's mine I don't even have words) that I notice it when the A/C comes on, actually feeling it. What ended up happening was my compressor siezed and the belts could potentially have ripped... so maybe I have a belt issue now. Not sure. My previous car to this was a 91 Jeep Cherokee which I also loved... never had an air issue, but oh well. We'll see where this one goes.

2. Coolant issue: Coolant I use is that Prestone antifreeze-coolant which is a reddish-orangish color to begin with. I may have a small hole in my radiator; last time I got my oil changed (I'd do it myself but I don't have jacks) the guy mentioned it to me... ugh. I really should get it flushed? Why?

4. Haha yeah I am very much aware of the daytime running lamps. I'd feel pretty stupid if I didn't.. but no I mean my actual nighttime headlights come on when I start the car and stay on even after I pull out of my "dark" garage ...it's not all the time either, and I think it's probably because the car would spend a great deal of time parked outside so maybe the sensors are just a little messed up. Does anyone know where they are located?

If anyone has help with the dashboard light issue.. I'd make another corny joke but I said I wouldn't.. that would be great as well.

Is there such a thing as being too in love with an Aurora?

[95rora]

The coolant has been causing problems with eating intake manifold gaskets, especially on the vortec truck engines. GM no longer uses the red stuff in vehicles to my knowledge.

[betonthis1]

oh ok blondie. just checking. i think there is a adjustment you can do to turn down the control for that. not 100% sure though.

[Aurora40]

GM still uses Dexcool. I would stick with it if that's what your car came with. With a leak, you need to find where it's leaking from.

One possible problem is that the car may have had GM sealing tabs in the cooling system initially, but they were not put in later or not maintained. If the leak is very light, it's possibly a normal issue with these motors, and it just needs sealing tabs.

An easy possible fix, that also is good maintenance, is to drain the coolant out, refill it with fresh, and add the appropriate number of cooling system tabs. At the worst, it doesn't work, and you have fresh coolant in the car.

[20inchaurora]

blondie1483 said:

Is there such a thing as being too in love with an Aurora?

no, no such thing

[BuccaneersFan]

Welcome to the club blondie1483. ;D

aurora40 said:

GM still uses Dexcool. I would stick with it if that's what your car came with. With a leak, you need to find where it's leaking from.

Didn't GM recently come out with an improved version of Dexcool or was that the trans fluid?

[Mr. Javi]

Welcome to the club blondie1483,
Good luck with your Aurora.

[blondie]

Thanks for the welcome ..Not sure about the improved Dexcool... I do use GM's Dexcool though so I'm guessing it's the newest one?

[JimW]

Welcome to the club Blondie.

About your question number 4. Its possible your twilight sentinel is malfunctioning, however Auroras are equipped with Daytime running lights, so your headlights are always on when the car is in gear.

Good luck with getting everything else fixed up.

[blondie]

True. But, like I said, my actual HEADLIGHTS (like, dash lights up, foglights function, straight up headlights, not just the DRL) come on. It's not a common problem, just every once in a while, just enough to get annoying...

[JimW]

Oh, ok, I'm sorry, sounds like you have a few electrical gremlins. I suspect its twilight sentinel problems that are keeping things off-normal.

I'm sure some electrical experts will help out, not my expertise.

[betonthis1]

i had the opposite problem last night. my lights turned on automatically and during me driving half way to the grocery store they auto shut off so i had to turn them on. weird.

[blondie]

That IS weird... crazy headlights. :-p

[erw38]

Welcome blondie!

Sound like you have the common Aurora leak. One the passenger's side tank near where the upper radiator hose connects.

Good luck with everything!

[blondie]

Hmm.. actually it's on the driver's side.. Ugh that reminds me, I haven't checked up on her in about three days. Probably will take her for a spin tomorrow... I'm supposed to hit 150K before my next full tank of gas! ;D