weight OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1993 Owners Manual

Features & Controls
98
luggage Carrier (CONT.)
luggage carrier may damage your
vehicle. When
you carry cargo on
the luggage carrier
of a proper size
and weight, put
it on the slats, as
far forward as you can. Then slide
the crossrail up against the rear of
the load, to help keep it from
moving. You can then tie it down.
Don't exceed the maximum vehicle
capacity when loading your Oldsmobile.
For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, see the
Index
under Loading Your 'Vehicle.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo as
you're driving, check now and then
to
make sure the luggage carrier and cargo
are still securely fastened.
u21
Your luggage carrier has release knobs
set in the ends of each crossrail. Turn
the release knobs counterclockwise,
then slide the crossrails forward or
back, as needed, to accommodate loads
of varying size.
After repositioning the crossrails, be
sure to tighten
the release knobs by
turning them clockwise, locking the
crossrails in place. Use
the adjustable tiedown loops in the
side rails to help secure large loads.
Reposition the tiedowns by turning them
counterclockwise, then slide them along
the side rail.
Turn the tiedowns
clockwise to tighten them
in place.
Tiedowns may be removed and used in
the adjustable tapped plates in the
crossrails. You may also use these
tapped plates to secure bicycle or
ski
racks.
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. ., .
Electronic Level Control
(OWION)
With this option, the rear of the vehicle
automatically adjusts
to changes in load
weight.
(See the Idex under Loading
Your Vehicle.)
You may hear the compressor operating
when you load or unload your vehicle,
and periodically
as the system self-
adjusts.
This is normal.
The compressor should operate for brief
periods
of time. If the sound continues
: for an extended period of time, your
vehicle
needs service. To keep your
battery
ffom being drained, you may
want to remove the 20-amp
ELC fuse in
the fuse control panel until you can get
your vehicle serviced
(see the Index
under Fuses & Circuit Breakers).
c
Sunroof (OPTION)
This feature may not be available on
your vehicle.
The sunroof has a glass panel that opens
for ventilation.
To Open the Sunroof:
Pull down on the latch release handle
and then push
it forward and up until
the glass panel locks into place.
To Close the Sunroof:
Pull the latch release handle forward
and down, then push it back and up.
Press firmly
to lock the latch release
handle into the closed position.
Compact Overhead Console
(OPTION)
If you have the optional sunroof, you
will have this front overhead console.
It
includes two reading lights and a storage
compartment.
To turn on or off either reading light,
press the switch next
to it.
If you have the optional power sliding
door, your overhead console will also
have two-power sliding door switches.
To operate these switches, see the Zrzdex
under Power Sliding Door.
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Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national
tragedy. It’s the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming
thousands of victims every year.
Alcohol takes away three things that
anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Police records show that half of all
motor vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol-a driver, a passenger or
someone else, such as a pedestrian, had
been drinking.
In most cases, these
deaths
are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. Over 25,000
motor vehicle-related deaths occur each
year because
of alcohol, and thousands
of people are injured. Just how much alcohol is too much if a
person plans to drive? Ideally, no one
should drink alcohol and then drive. But
if one does, then what’s “too much”? It
can be a lot less than many might think.
Although
it depends on each person and
situation, here is some general
information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of
someone who is drinking depends upon
four things:
How much alcohol is in the drink.
The drinker’s body weight.
The amount of food that is consumed
before and during drinking.
The length of time it has taken the
drinker to consume the alcohol. According
to the
American Medical
Association, a 180-pound
(82 kg) person
who drinks three 12-ounce (355
ml)
bottles of beer in an hour will end up
with a BAC of about
0.06 percent. The
person would reach the same BAC
by
drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks
if each
had 1% ounces (45
ml) of a liquor like
whiskey, gin or vodka.
It’s the amount
of alcohol that counts.
For example, if the same person drank
three double martinis (3 ounces or
90 ml of liquor each) within an hour,
the person’s BAC would be close to
0.12 percent.
A person who consumes
food just before or during drinking will
have a slightly lower
BAC level.
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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
don’t shift your transaxle into
P (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, always be sure
to shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see the
Index under Shifting Into P (Park).
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of P (Park) before you
release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need
to have another vehicle push yours a
little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transaxle,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of
P (Park).
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Oldsmobile in good shape
for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant
mix is correct.
* Snow tires can help in loose snow, but
they may give you less traction on ice
than regular tires.
If you do not expect
to be driving in deep snow, but may
have to travel over ice, you may not
want
to switch to snow tires at all.
You may want to put winter
emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Include
an ice scraper, a small brush
or broom,
a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag,
some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight,
a
red cloth, and a couple of reflective
warning triangles. And,
if you will be
driving under severe conditions,
include a small bag
of sand, a piece of
old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items
in your
vehicle.
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Towing a Tmiler
I I If you don’t use the correct I
L L equipment and drive properly,
you can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well-or even at all. You and
your passengers could be seriously
injured. Pull a trailer only
if you
have followed all the steps in this section. Your
Oldsmobile can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in
Weight of the
Trailer
that appears later in this section.
But trailering
is different than just
driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering
means changes
in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and
it
has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for
this section, In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer. Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and
tires
are forced to work harder against
the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads, generating
extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
All
of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
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Your Driving and the Road
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points.
There are many different laws having
to do with trailering. Make sure your
rig will be legal, not only where you
live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this information can
be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control if your
trailer will weigh 2,000 pounds
(900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control if your trailer will
weigh more than 2,000 pounds
(900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first
500 miles (804 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles
(804
km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of
your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,400
pounds (630 kg) with up to six occupants or more than 2,000 pounds
(900 kg) with up to two occupants
unless you have the optional trailer-
towing package. With the trailer-
towing package (available only with
the 3800
V6 engine), your vehicle can
tow up to 2,400 pounds (1 090 kg)
with up
to six occupants or up to 3,000
pounds (1 360 kg) with up to two
occupants. But even
that can be too heavy. It
depends on how you plan to use your
rig. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can
also depend on any special equipment
that you have on your vehicle. You can
ask your dealer for
our trailering
information or advice, or you can
write us at:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 30095
Lansing,
MI 48909
General Motors of Canada
L
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 8P7
In
Canada, write to:
Jmited
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total, gross
weight of your vehicle. The gross
vehicle weight
(GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo
you may carry in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer,
you must add
the tongue load
to the GVW because
your vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too.
See the Index under
Loading Your khicle for more
information about your vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.
If your vehicle is not equipped to tow
a trailer weighing more than
2,000
pounds (900 kg) with the 3.1L V6 or
3800 V6 engine, the trailer tongue (A)
should weigh 10% of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B).
If your vehicle is equipped to tow up
to
3,000 pounds (1 360 kg) with the
3800
V6 engine towing package, and
if you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch,
the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh
10% of the total loaded trailer weight
(B). Or, if you have a “weight-
distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12% of the total
loaded trailer weight
(B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are proper. If they
aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in
the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires I
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated
to the limit for cold tires.
You will find
these numbers on the Certification/
Tire label at the rear edge
of the
driver’s door (or see the
Index under
Tire Loading). Then be sure you don’t
go over the GVW limit for your
vehicle.
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Your Driving and the Road
180
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
(CON X)
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when
loaded, will weigh more than 2,000
pounds (900 kg), be sure to use a
properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and sway control of the proper
size. This equipment is very important
for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the
body of your vehicle when you install
a trailer hitch?
If you do, then be sure
to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If
you don’t seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can get into your vehicle. (See
Index under Carbon Monoxide in
Exhaust.) Dirt and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches. Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches to them. Use only a frame-
mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer
so that the tongue will not
drop to the road if it becomes separated
from
the hitch. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the
ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,OOO
pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its
own brakes-and they must be adequate.
Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do
not try to
tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If
you do, both brake systems
won’t work well, or at all.
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1 Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting out
for the open road, you’ll want to get
to
know your rig. Acquaint yourself with
the feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and
not nearly
so responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment.
If the trailer has electric
brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
If you have a rear-most
window open and you pull a
mler with your‘vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into
your vehicle. You can’t see or
smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death (see the
Inh under Engine Exhausb). To I
maximize your safety when towing
a trailer:
@ Have your exhaust system
inspected for leaks, and Make
necessary yirs before starting
on your trip.
closed.
If exhaust does corne into your
vehicle through a window in the
fear or another opening, drive
with your front, main heating or
cmling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This WU bring
fresh, outside air into your
vehicle.
Do not use RECIRC
because it only recirculates the
air imide ywr vehick, See the
Index under Comfort &m&.
e KWP the =-most windows
During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return
to your lane.
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Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Replacement blades for your vehicle are
24 inches in length. They come in
different
types and are removed in
different ways. Here's how to remove
the type with a release clip:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away
from the windshield.
2. Lift the release clip with a
screwdriver and pull the blade
assembly
off the wiper arm.
the wiper arm.
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on
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Loading Mur Vehicle
The CertificatiodTire label is found on
the rear edge of the driver's door.
The label shows the size
of your original
tires and the inflation pressures needed
to obtain the gross weight capacity of
your vehicle. This is called the
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The
GVWR includes the weight of the
vehicle,
all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The CertificatiodTire label also tells
you the maximum weights for the front
and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and rear
axles, you need to go to a weigh station
and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on both sides
of the
centerline.
Never exceed the
GVWR for your
vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for either the &ont or
rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you
should spread
it out.
Electronic Level Control
On vehicles equipped with optional
electronic level control, the rear of the
vehicle
is automatically kept level as you
load or unload your vehicle. For more
about
this option see the Index under
Electronic Level Control.
L
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