headlamp Oldsmobile Silhouette 2004 Owner's Manuals

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
·GTurn and Lane-Change Signals
·2Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
·Flash-to-Pass
·NWindshield Wipers
·LWindshield Washer
·ICruise Control
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is ®nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ¯ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ¯ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow
¯ashes faster than normal, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers will not see your turn signal.
3-8

If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and check the
fuse. See
Bulb Replacement on page 5-50andFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-101.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will ¯ash at a
normal rate even if a turn signal bulb is burned
out. Check the front and rear turn signal lamps regularly
to make sure they are working.
Turn Signal On Chime
If either turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound to let the driver know to
turn it off. If you need to leave the signal on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km), turn off the signal and then
turn it back on.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from high to low beam or
from low to high, pull the turn signal lever all the
way toward you and release it.When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
Your fog lamps will turn off when you switch to high
beams. Using your high beams in fog is not
recommended.
Flash-to-Pass
When the headlamps are off, pull the lever toward you
to momentarily switch on the high beams. This will
signal that you are going to pass. When you release
the lever, they will turn off.
3-9

Exterior Lamps
The control to the left of the steering column operates
the exterior lamps.
9(Off/Auto):Turning the control to this setting will
activate the automatic headlamp control when it is
dark enough outside and turn off all of the lamps and
lights during the day, except the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
;(Parking Lamps):Turning the control to this
setting turns on the parking lamps together with the
following:
·Sidemarker Lamps
·Taillamps
·Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps):Turning the control to this setting
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Lamps on Reminder
If the driver's door is opened and you turn the ignition to
OFF or LOCK while leaving the lamps on, you will
hear a warning chime.
3-16

Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
®rst sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered. The DRL
system will make your front parking and turn signal
lamps come on in daylight when:
·The ignition is on.
·The exterior lamps control is off.
·The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front parking and turn
signal lamps will be on. Your instrument panel will
not be lit up.When it is dark enough outside, the exterior lamps will
come on automatically. When it is bright enough
outside, the exterior lamps will turn off and the DRL will
turn on. Of course, you may still turn on the headlamps
any time you need to.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See ªInstrument
Panel Brightness Controlº under
Interior Lamps
on page 3-18.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL and automatic
headlamp control off, set the parking brake while the
ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start the vehicle.
The DRL and automatic headlamp control will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
3-17

Fog Lamps
Your vehicle may have
fog lamps. If it does, the
fog lamps switch is located
in the instrument panel
switchbank. Press the
fog lamp symbol on
the switch to turn on
the lamps.
The indicator light will be lit while the fog lamps are on.
Press the top part of the switch to turn them off.
When your DRL are on, the exterior lamps control must
®rst be turned from the off position before the fog
lamps can be turned on.
Your parking lamps or headlamps must be on for your
fog lamps to turn on.At night, when the light sensor automatically turns on
your headlamps, the fog lamps can be turned on
while the exterior lamps control is in any position.
Your fog lamps will go off when you switch to high
beams. Using your high beams in fog is not
recommended.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The thumbwheel for this feature is located below the
exterior lamps control. Turn the thumbwheel to the right
to brighten the lights, or to the left to dim them.
Interior Lamps Control
Turn the thumbwheel all the way to the right to turn on
the interior lamps, if the interior lamps override
switch is off. Turn the thumbwheel to the left to turn the
lamps off.
3-18

Here are some tips on night driving.
·Drive defensively.
·Do not drink and drive.
·Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce
the glare from headlamps behind you.
·Since you can not see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
·Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your headlamps can light up only so much
road ahead.
·In remote areas, watch for animals.
·If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect
your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in
bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses.Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night.
They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but
they also make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean Ð inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a ®lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ¯ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes
moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly lighted
objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be
examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness Ð the inability to see in dim light Ð and are
not even aware of it.
4-16

Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine's air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you can not avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through ¯owing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of
¯owing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through ¯owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
·Turn on your low-beam headlamps Ð not just
your parking lamps Ð to help make you more
visible to others.
·Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
·Have good tires with proper tread depth.
See
Tires on page 5-58.
4-19

·Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
¯oor mats Ð anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can not see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
4-29

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-22
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-25
Engine Overheating.......................................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-28
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-37
Brakes........................................................5-38Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-50
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-50
Headlamps..................................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-56
Tires..............................................................5-58
In¯ation - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-70
Buying New Tires.........................................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-73
Wheel Replacement......................................5-73
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
Accessory In¯ator.........................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-76
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-76
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-91
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Appearance Care............................................5-92
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-92
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-95
Weatherstrips...............................................5-95
Cleaning the Outside of
Your Vehicle.............................................5-95
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-98
Finish Damage.............................................5-98
Underbody Maintenance................................5-98
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-99Vehicle Identi®cation.....................................5-100
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)................5-100
Service Parts Identi®cation Label...................5-100
Electrical System..........................................5-100
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-100
Headlamp Wiring........................................5-101
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-101
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-101
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-101
Capacities and Speci®cations........................5-108
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2