Ask the Car People.SM


Oldsmobile Aurora

5876 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2012 at 3:08 PM

You are in the Oldsmobile Aurora Forum.

What is this discussion about? Oldsmobile Aurora, Sedan



Messages Page 178 of 589

#1762 of 5876 '01 to '02 trade info by hardesty

Oct 02, 2001 (6:10 am)

On paper, the trade sucks! Count on loosing about $12K off the '01 sticker on trade-in. In my case, with the GMO price (from my brother), the $1500 loyalty coupon, the $1000 rebate, and the fact the I had put up the depreciation as a down payment a year ago, I was able to lower my monthly payment $9 with no out of pocket cash. I had made only one payment on the '01 (got the defered loan), it only had the three year warranty, and it had been hit by a little old lady back in February. If you want a couple more features, you would be better off looking at an '01 still on a dealer lot, or a "program car" of some sort. It is going to be a long time before Oldsmobiles catch up with other cars in terms of trade-in values. We plan to keep the 2002s (Aurora & Silhouette) a long time, Oldsmobile and the warranty will both have expired by the time we are ready to trade again.

#1763 of 5876 Gearhead rambling by garnes

Oct 02, 2001 (3:41 pm)

Jimr97 - I'm not a gear head, and just get into this stuff a little, so I'm aware that my understanding of how everything works may not be complete. However, in response to your questions - the Caddy STS and the 95 through 99 Aurora (autobahn package) and ALL 2001 and newer Aurora 4.0's have the 3.71 transaxle. I'm assuming they are the same transaxle used throughout. The regular Aurora in 95 through 99 had a 3.48 transaxle - which is still pretty aggressive. Oh yeah, the Aurora has a slightly longer wheelbase than the Caddy STS too. 113.8 vs 112.2??, and is longer overall, so maybe the Aurora has at least the same amount of room. The 113.8 is shared with the Riviera I think.
 
I've been told that the difference between the STS and the SLS is indeed the cam and the SLS has a "slower" transaxle - it doesn't have the 3.71. Actually, when you look at the power curves for the STS and SLS, the 275 HP SLS has more HP and torque throughout most of the RPM range. The STS just peaks higher at the very high rpms for HP only. I really wonder if the 3.71 in an SLS would not be quicker than a stock STS. I really think it might. If you factor the 4.0 for size, it would put out about 288 HP and 299 ft-lbs of torque if it was a 4.6. It's really kind of got the best of both worlds of the STS and SLS engine when looking at power and torque/cu. in. I'm assuming the heads are basically the same here as well, and I would not wager anything on that assumption.
 
These engines are really very similar with slight differences in the cam and the 4.0 just has a smaller bore. Most everything else is the same.
 
The 4.0 is just a great engine, perhaps one of GM's all time best to date. The fun thing is that there is some extra power potential in these engines because they are literally "bottled up" at the induction and exhaust to keep the noise down at all rpm's. I've noticed some better performance by opening up the air box and then using a K&N to take advantage of the better box. When the warranty is out, I'm opening the bottom of the box even bigger by cutting the metal underneath. Maybe the performance is in my head, but I do hope to get to the dyno one of these days to experiment. I've also ordered the Granatelli mass air flow meter. They claim 10 to 15 HP at the rear wheels. They have graphs of the 5.7 in the Escalade gaining 18 HP at the wheels. I'll be happy if the 10 is true for the Aurora 4.0. My hopes of improved performance are as follows:
 
Improved air box with K&N - 5 min. at wheels
 
Mass air flow sensor - 10 min. at wheels
 
Cat back exhaust - 10 to 15 at wheels
 
Total - 25 HP to 30HP at wheels.
 
25HP/0.8 or 30/0.8 (losses) = 31 to 38 HP at the engine (for reference)
 
If torque is increased similarly, then you could look at it as a 280 to 288 HP and 290+?? torque Aurora.
 
I know you really can't add them because the improvements might not generate the increase at the same rpm, but the performance should be there just the same.
 
I don't think this is a radical change, and I think the increased performance could be realized without the computer interfering.

#1764 of 5876 1995 Aurora wont shift up past 2nd gear.. by johnny34

Oct 02, 2001 (9:16 pm)

I just aquired my fathers 1995 OLDS AURORA.
It has 177000 highway miles.
Just recently, the transmision is now stuck in second gear while in drive, and will not shift up into any other gear rendering the car undriveable.
My local dealer estimates the repair of anywheres
from $400to$4000 dollars to repair.
They are uncertain of the real problem, all they seam to want to do is sell me a different car; giving me a trade in of $1000 (not!!!) They won't give me a straight answer; I feel they know that it might be a simpler problem than what it really is and want this car, the tech seams quite interested in it, I don't want to sell it!! I want to drive it and keep this unique vehical!!!
The transmision was recently flushed by another AURORA dealer within the last 3 months if this helps at all.
 
Any help or direction to save this incredible automobile from service diaster would be greatly appreciated.(do you know any tricks I could do)
 
I am capable of doing most of the work myself, also, if anyone has info on where I could locate good repair manuals (dealer manuals) that would also help.

#1765 of 5876 by garnes

Oct 03, 2001 (4:50 am)

johnny34 - I'd get another opinion, and then another and then another. I don't know about do it yourself tranny work - on an Aurora too. Sounds scary to me. I'd save that project for the 31st.
 
Sounds like that dealer just wants the car. How has the service been from the rest of the car during the 177,000? Curious.

#1766 of 5876 Manuals & johnny34 by hardesty

Oct 03, 2001 (5:35 am)

You can get the 1996 GM transmission repair manuals from http://www.helminc.com they don't have the 1995 specific one, but 1996 should do. It is only $40 plus tax and shipping. These are the original, complete tear it apart and put it back together manuals. I have the 1999 version (bought for our Silhouette) so if there any specific questions, I could look them up. The transmission manuals (about 4,000 pages) cover all manual & automatic transmissions for a given year. Each model service manual ($120) has a good transmission section, but not as complete as the unit repair manual.

#1767 of 5876 Rear Shocks by jwadle

Oct 03, 2001 (11:44 am)

I hope someone out there can help me. I have a 97 Aurora, and I want to replace the rear shocks. I can just replace them with the stock units, but I think that the Air shocks are too bouncy. I found a pair of shocks that would fit, but when I took out the old shock and I could not remove the lower mounting bracket. This is the bracket that goes through the "eye" of the shock at the bottom. Then the bracket gets bolted to the A-Arm. All I need is that bracket. I have called the dealer and they said that they do not sell that part separate; it comes bolted to the shock. I called around to several other parts stores and they could not help me either. Has anyone replaced the rear shocks yet, with a shock other than the stock Air? If you have what shock did you replace it with, and did the part come with the shock.
If you did replace it with the stock air shock, did it bounce less after.
 
Thanks for any help

#1768 of 5876 extended warranty by fjk57702

Oct 03, 2001 (1:34 pm)

I can get GM's Major Guard to extend 3 years/75K for $1600 for my 98 Aurora with 42K now. Anyone have experience with this?

#1769 of 5876 Slow Speed "Washboarding" by taurich

Oct 04, 2001 (7:06 am)

I recently had my 1998 in for the 50k service and complained that it "washboarded" during slow speed manuevers. I had taken it in 25000 miles ago and complained of the same issue. This time they told me it was a known problem and they changed one of the power steering hoses. The problem is now gone. Has anyone else experienced this? I am amazed that the prognosis came so quickly and disappointed that it was not fixed a year ago.
 
I also had to have the alternator changed out due to a "ghosty" sound attributed to a bearing failure. Although I had 51K on the car, it was covered under warranty. Pretty happy with my olds dealer - too bad I won't be able to buy a car from them when I am due.

#1770 of 5876 Laundry by Henry

Oct 04, 2001 (2:40 pm)

What is washboarding?

#1771 of 5876 Its been a while by joeolds

Oct 04, 2001 (6:28 pm)

How is everyone? Just got done scanning over the last two months posts.
 
Zinc- Thanks for info on RPM 139. Our car shuts down 108 or so (non-autobahn).
 
My recommendation on battery replacement would be to stick with AC Delco. They are the only batteries I've ever owned that made it to or exceeded their "rated" life. ie 60 months, 72 months.
 
It appears that most of the owners report oil consumption between changes. Maybe we're just lucky, but no oil consumption between changes.
 
Our 98 now has over 32,000 miles (was purchased 0n 12-30-00 with just over 19,000 miles).
 
No other maintenance problems. We did replace tires at around 23-24 K because one of the originals was beginning to come apart.

Messages Page 178 of 589

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement