OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996 Owners Manual

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important
in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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NOTES
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur
on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
-
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your
front and rear turn signal
lamps will flash on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers switch is on the steering
column, below the ignition switch. Press the button in
to
turn on your flashers.
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Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, pull out on the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are
on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Oldsmobile. But please use the following steps listed to
do
it safely.
On vehicles equipped with the optional power sliding
door, a low voltage battery or replacing
a battery may
cause the system to become inoperative. See “Power
Sliding Door’’ in the Index for more information.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Trying to start your Oldsmobile
by
pushing or pulling it won’t work, and it could
damage your vehicle.
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Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
I 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you. NOTICE:
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you. You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in PARK
(P) or a manual ?
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with
a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
I
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
I
I transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
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3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn
off all
lamps that aren’t needed as well as radios. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
In
addition, it could save your radio!
I NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
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5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
Your Oldsmobile has
a remote positive (+)jump
starting terminal. The terminal is
in the red box
on the same side
of the engine compartment as
your battery. You should always use the remote
positive
(+) terminal instead of the positive (+)
terminal on your battery.
To open the remote positive
(+) terminal box, pull
the tab and open the cover.
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&!, CAWTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
(or batteries) installed in every new
GM vehicle.
But if
a battery has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there.
If it is low, add water to
take care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-)
or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other
parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
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8. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use
a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let
the other end
touch anything
until the
next step. The other end
of the negative (-) cable
doem ’t go to the dead
battery. It goes to
a heavy
unpainted metal
part on
the engine
of the vehicle
with the dead battery.
10. Attach the cable at least
18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery,
but not near engine
parts that move.
The electrical connection is just
as good there, but
the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is
much less.
1 1. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
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13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that
they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM retailer or a professional towing
service tow your Silhouette. They can provide the right
equipment and know how to tow your vehicle without
damage. See “Roadside Assistance”
in the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on
the hazard
warning flashers.
When
you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front
with sling-type equipment.
That your whicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives,
let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations.
The operator may want to
see them.
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1 CAUTION: I
‘1‘0 help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
Never get under your vehicle after it has
Always use separate safety chains on each
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
fully secured.
been lifted by the tow truck.
side when towing
a vehicle.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
in the OFF position. The steering wheel should be
clamped
in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock
for this. The transaxle
should be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
A vehicle can fall from a car-carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains
or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
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