brake OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994 Owner's Guide

When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed
from the front with sling-type
equipment.
drive.
vehicle.
lever. damaged.
That your vehicle has front-wheel
The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
If there W~S an accident, what was
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.
I should be clamped in a straight-ahead
When your vehicle
is being towed, have
the ignition key
off. The steering wheel designed for towing service.
Do not
use
the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transaxle should be in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the
front wheels, unless
you must. If the
vehicle must be towed on the front
wheels, don’t go more than
35 mph (56
l or your transaxle will be damaged.
If these
limits must be exceeded, then the front
wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
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Problems on the Road
1 72
Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially if
you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever
have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer
to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well
out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way
you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to
use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
Air Inflator
Your vehicle may have an air inflator
for use in bringing tires up to the proper
pressure.
To learn about it, see the
Index under Air Inflator System.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
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Here you will find information about
the care of
your Oldsmobile . This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it shows how
to check important fluid and
lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about
your
vehicle. and a section devoted to its
appearance care
.
Part 6
Service & Appearance Care
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 182
Fuel
........................................................................\
.................................................. 183
Hood Release ........................................................................\
................................... 186
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
........................................ 190
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
...................................... 194
Transaxle Fluid
........................................................................\
................................ 195
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
................................ 197
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
....................... 199
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
................ 200
Brakes
........................................................................\
.............................................. 201
Battery
........................................................................\
............................................. 203
Bulb Replacement
........................................................................\
........................... 203
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
................................................................... 205
Loading Your Vehicle
........................................................................\
..................... 206
Tires
........................................................................\
................................................. 207
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
............................. 212
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.................................................................... 218
Add-on Electrical Equipment
........................................................................\
........ 219
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 219
Capacities and Specifications
........................................................................\
......... 224
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................................................... 226
Fluids
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 227
Replacement
Bulbs ........................................................................\
.......................... 228
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Service &Appearance Care
3100 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Air Cleaner
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoi
6. Battery r
7. Automatic
Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
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P
3800 V6 Engine
1. Engine Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Battery
7. Air Cleaner
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Engine Oil Fill Cap
10. Radiator Cap
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Service &Appearance Care
196
To get the right reading, the fluid
should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 ltm) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it's colder than 50°F ( 10°C), you may
have to drive longer.
To Check the Fluid Level
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
shift lever in
P (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.
Then, Without Shutting Off the
Engine, Follow these Steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable
range, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
3100 V6: Checking Automatic
rransaxle Fluid
3800 V6: Checking Automatic
rransaxle Fluid
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NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-
use washer fluid. Water can cause
the solution to freeze and damage
your washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as
washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only %
full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could
damage the tank
if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your washer system and
paint.
I
Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is
filled with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only
two reasons why the
brake fluid level in your master cylinder
might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear.
When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up.
The other reason is that fluid is leaking
out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed,
since a leak means that sooner or later
your brakes won’t work well, or won’t
work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to
“top off’’ your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid
won’t correct a leak. If you add
fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get
new brake linings. You should add (or
remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only
when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low
level, your brake warning light will
come on. See
Brake System Warning
Light
in the Index.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only
DOT-3 brake fluid
- such as Delco
Supreme
ll@ (GM Part No.1052535).
Use new brake fluid from a sealed
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Service & Appearance Care
202
container only, and always clean the
brake fluid reservoir cap before
removing it.
NOTICE:
DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can
Don’t let someone put in the
damage
your vehicle. Don’t use it.
wrong kind of fluid. For example,
just a few drops of mineral-based
oil, such
as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll
have to be replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so
be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. See
Appearance
Care
in the Index.
Brake Wear
Your Oldsmobile has front disc brakes
and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make
a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn
and new pads are needed. The
sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving (except
when you are pushing on the brake
pedal firmly).
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
may cause
a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with your brakes. Your
rear drum brakes don’t have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear
brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake
linings inspected. Also, the rear brake
drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When
you have the front brakes replaced,
have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there
is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This
could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes
moderately, with or without the vehicle
moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern
vehicle is complex. Its many parts have
to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really
good braking. Vehicles we design and
test have top-quality
GM brake parts in
them, as your Oldsmobile does when it
is new. When you replace parts of your
braking system
- for example, when
your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put in
- be sure
you get new genuine
GM replacement
parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are
wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can
change,
for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone
puts in the wrong replacement brake
parts.
I Battery
Every new Oldsmobile has a Delco
Freedom@ battery.
You never have to
add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend a
Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that
has the catalog number shown on the
original battery‘s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle
for
25 days or more, take off the black,
negative
(-) cable from the battery. This
will help keep your battery from
running
down.
Contact your dealer to learn how to
prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
I Halogen Bulbs
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have been approved for use on General
~ Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to
Federal safety requirements in addition
to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However,
if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked
or badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep
coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If
the wheel leala air, replace it (except
some aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your Oldsmobile dealer
if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Oldsmobile model.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
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