tow OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994 Owner's Manual

Comfort Controh &Audio Systems
112
This setting cools outside air and
directs it through the instrument panel
outlets. Adjust the temperature of the
air with the temperature control lever.
BI-LEV (Bi-Level): This setting is
designed for use
on sunny days when
the air is only moderately warm or cool.
On days like these, the
sun may
adequately warm your upper body, but
your lower body may not be warm
enough.
The
BI-LEV setting directs outside air
into your vehicle in two ways. Cooler
air is directed toward your upper body
through the front instrument panel
outlets, while warmed air
is directed
through the heater ducts
at your feet.
At times this temperature difference may be
more apparent than others. For
best results, slide the temperature
control lever
to the middle position, and
then adjust for comfort.
LOWER: This setting brings in most
heated air through the heater ducts, and
some through the defroster vents.
DEFOG: Because of your Silhouette’s
larger windshield area, this mode is
particularly useful during cold or
inclement weather. Press to direct
warmed air to the windshield and
through the heater ducts.
DEF (Defrost): Press to direct most
warmed air to the windshield and side
window vents.
To maximize air flow to the rear of your
vehicle, place the left second row
bucket seat in the forward position (see
the
Index under Adjusting Rear Seats).
This uncovers the rear air outlet.
Also keep the area around the base of
the center instrument panel console and
the area between and under the front
seats free of objects that could obstruct
3ir flow to the rear.
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II I(
Rear Fan
The control for the rear fan is located
below the audio system. Select
LOWER, BI-LEV or DEFOG to direct
air flow to the rear air outlet and to the
rear side windows.
Use the temperature control lever to
adjust the temperature setting. Then,
select the force of air you want, from
LO to HI, by sliding the control to the
desired setting.
To maintain a comfortable temperature
in the rear area without making the
front passengers uncomfortable, adjust
the front fan speed first, then adjust the
temperature setting.
To turn off the rear fan, slide the
control to
OFF.
Rear Climate Control (OPTION)
If you have this option, you will have a
master control for the rear fan on the
center instrument panel console, and a
rear control next to the rear seat, on the
driver side of the vehicle.
To maintain a comfortable temperature
in the rear, use either rear fan control to
adjust the force
of air coming through
the rear outlets. See
Rear Fan-Master
Control
and Rear Fan-Rear Control
later in this section. The temperature of
heated or cooled air directed to the rear
of the vehicle cannot be adjusted with
the temperature control lever.
Select the desired climate control mode
using the directional controls on the
instrument panel (see
Directional
Controls
earlier in this section). The
mode you choose will regulate both the
front and rear climate control systems.
Select
RECIRC, UPPER, BI-LEV or
LOWER when outside temperatures
are warm or moderate.
In the
RECIRC mode, or if you press
A/C when the system is in the UPPER
or BI-LEV modes, cooled air will be directed
to the rear
of the vehicle
through the overhead and third-row air
conditioning outlets. If
you select A/C
in the LOWER mode, cooled air will be
directed through the rear floor vent
unless the temperature control lever is
set more than
25 percent toward full
WARM. Such settings will produce
heated air.
So, to receive cooled air
through the rear floor vent, set the
temperature control lever closer to full
COOL (see Rear Air Vents later in this
section).
If
you do not select A/C in the UPPER
or BI-LEV modes, air directed to the
rear of the vehicle will be cabin
temperature.
Select
LOWER, DEFOG or DEF when
outside temperatures are cool. In these
modes, heated air will be directed to the
rear of the vehicle through the rear side
window vents and the rear floor heater
vent.
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Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, slide
the temperature control lever all the
way to
WARM and press DEF. Adjust
the fan to the highest speed.
To keep the windshield clear and bring
in heated air through the heater ducts,
press
DEFOG.
When the temperature outside is above
freezing, the air conditioner compressor
will run in these settings to help remove
moisture from the air. Your vehicle
is equipped with side
window defogger vents located on the
top of the instrument panel. For
additional side window defogging, press
the
BI-LEV button and adjust the fan
to the highest speed. Aim the side vents
on the instrument panel toward the side
windows. For increased air flow to the
side vents, close the center vents.
Rear Window Defogger
Press R. DEF (Rear Defog) to warm
the defogger grid on the rear window.
The indicator light will glow while the
rear window defogger is operating. The
rear window defogger will turn off
automatically after about
10 minutes. If
you turn it on again, the defogger will
operate for about five minutes only.
You can also turn the defogger off by
turning off the ignition or pressing the
switch again.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle
license across the defogger grid on the
rear window.
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Here you’ll find infoimation about
driving on different kinds
of roads
and in varying weather conditions
.
We’ve also included many other
useful tips on driving
.
Part 4
Your Driving and the Road
Defensive DrlWg 132
Dmnken Driving
........................................................................\
............................. 132
Control
of a Vehicle
Braking
........................................................................\
.......................................... 134
Anti-Locls: Brakes
........................................................................\
.......................... 135
Traction Control System
........................................................................\
.............. 137
Steering Tips
........................................................................\
................................. 138
Steering in Emergencies ........................................................................\
............... 139
Passing
........................................................................\
.......................................... 140
Driving at Night
........................................................................\
.............................. 142
Driving in the Rain ........................................................................\
.......................... 143
City Driving
........................................................................\
..................................... 145
Freeway Driving
........................................................................\
.............................. 145
Hill and Mountain Roads
........................................................................\
................ 147
Winter Driving
........................................................................\
................................. 148
Towing a Trailer
........................................................................\
.............................. 151
.. ........................................................................\
............................
..
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Towinga Trailer
L
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,
follow the advice in this section,
and see your Oldsmobile dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle 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.
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.
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Your Driving and the Road
152
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first
500 miles (800 ltm) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or
other parts could be damaged.
. Then, during the first 500 miles (800
km) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive
over
50 mph (80 lun/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
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
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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
or 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
Loading
Your Vehicle in the Index for more
information about your vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.
I If you’re using a “dead-weight’’ hitch, 1 the trailer tongue (A) should weigh
i 10% of the total loaded trailer weight
’ (B). If you have a “weight-distributing”
I
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
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated
to the limit for cold tires. You’ll find
these numbers on the Certification/Tire
label at the rear edge
of the driver’s
door or see
Tire Loading in the Index.
Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hifches
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
Engine Exhaust in
the
Index). Dirt and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches.
Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
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Your Driving and the Road
154
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 1,000
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.
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.
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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.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer to the left, just move that hand to
the left.
To move the trailer to the right,
move your hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will
also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal
when they are not.
It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t
shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and
no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 lwh) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more than
1,000 pounds (454 kg), and
you have an automatic transaxle with
Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
D
instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to,
a lower gear). This will minimize heat
build-up and extend the life of your
transaxle.
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Your Driving and the Road
156
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place choclts under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
P (Park).
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave
Affer Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while
you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of
the chocks.
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 quicltly. 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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