wiper blades OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994 Owners Manual

Feutuves & Conlrok
78
To Turn the Wipers Off Slide the
upper control to the
OFF position.
Remember that damaged wiper blades
may prevent you from seeing well
enough to drive safely.
To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow
from the wiper blades before using
them. If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw
them.
If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your
wipers.
A circuit breaker will stop them
until the motor cools. Clear away snow
or ice
to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
ro wash your windshield, press and
Told the windshield washer switch. The
washers and wipers will operate. When
JOU release the switch, the washers will
;top, and the wipers will continue to
lperate for two cycles, unless your
wipers had already been on. In that
case, the wipers will resume the wiper
speed you had selected earlier.
Driving without washer fluid can be
dangerous.
A bad mud splash can block
your vision.
You could hit another
vehicle or go off the road. Check your
washer fluid level often.
ProCarManuals.com

a driver who doesn’t lower the high
beams, or
a vehicle with misaimed
headlights), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching
lights.
Keep your windshield and all the glass
on your vehicle clean
- 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 film caused by dust.
Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract
repeatedly.
Remember that your headlights light up
far less of a roadway when you are in a
turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving;
that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlights
should be checked regularly for proper
aim, so should your eyes be examined
regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness
- the inability to see in
dim light
- and aren’t even aware of it.
4 Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving
trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop,
accelerate or turn as well because your
tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have
much tread left, you’ll get even less
traction. It’s always wise to go slower
and be cautious if rain starts to fall
while you are driving. The surface may
get wet suddenly when your reflexes are
tuned for driving on dry pavement. The
heavier the rain, the harder it is to
see. Even
if your windshield wiper
blades are in good shape, a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the
edge of the road, and even people
walking.
It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield
washer tank filled. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they
show signs of streaking or missing areas
on the windshield, or when strips of
rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
143
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
146
flow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your
turn signal, check your mirrors and
glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with
the traffic flow.
Once
you are on the freeway, adjust
your speed to the posted limit or to the
prevailing rate
if it’s slower. Stay in the
right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your
mirrors. Then use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance
quickly over your shoulder to make sure
there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
Once you are moving
on the freeway,
make certain you allow a reasonable
following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway,
move to the proper lane well in
advance. If you
miss your exit do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back
up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit
speed
is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually
are.
I Before Leaving on a Long
Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you‘re
not fresh
- such as after a day’s work
- don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If
it needs service, have it
done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Oldsmobile dealerships all
across North America. They‘ll be ready
and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are
all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
you checked all levels?
lenses clean?
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
Highway Hypnosis
Is tbere actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
ProCarManuals.com

4. Pull off the entire taillight housing.
5. Pinch the lever and twist the bulb
assembly
M turn countercloclwise to
remove.
~ 6. Remove the bulb by pressing in and
1 turning % turn counterclockwise.
7. Line up the small retainer bumps on
the replacement bulb
so that the
1 lower bump slides into the deepest
' slot in the housing. Press in and twist
the bulb
!4 turn clockwise. Reposition
the bulb assembly in the taillight
housing. Turn the assembly
M turn
clockwise to lock in place.
' 8. Replace the entire taillight housing
and screws.
9. Attach the spring clips to the
taillight housing and secure them.
liftgate.
signals and taillights.
IO. Close the rear side windows and
11. Test the bulbs by using your turn
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
205
ProCarManuals.com

1 I Glass
’ Glass should be cleaned often. GM
~ Glass Cleaner (GM Part No. 1050427)
or a liquid household glass cleaner will
remove normal tobacco smoke and dust
films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
’ because thejr may cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be
scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are
used on the inside of the rear window,
~ an electric defogger element may be
~ damaged. Any temporary license should
not be attached across the defogger
grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield, Backglass and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using
the windshield washer, or if the wiper
blade chatters when running, wax or
other material may be
on the blade or
windshield. Clean
the outside
of the windshield
with GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@
(GM Part No. l050011). The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously
with a cloth soaked in
full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse
the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a
regular basis and replaced when worn.
I Cleaning the Outside of Your
Oldsmobile
The paint finish on your vehicle
provides beauty, depth of color, gloss
retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle‘s
finish is to keep it clean by washing it
often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct
rays of the sun. Don’t use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand,
dish
or car washing (mild detergent)
soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that
contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and
not allowed to dry on the surface, or
they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a
100*/0 cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and
water spotting.
High pressure vehicle washes may
cause water to enter your vehicle.
215
ProCarManuals.com

264
Things Under the Hood ................ 186
Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 195
Chemical Paint Spotting
.................. 217
Child Restraints
.................................. 35
How to Install
.................................. 35
Where to Put
.................................... 36
Children and Safety Belts
............ 34. 39
Child Security Lock
............................ 55
Circuit BrealtedRelay Panel ............ 222
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ................. 219
City Driving
...................................... 145
Cleaner, Air
.............................. 194, 226
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
......................... 216
Compact Discs
............................... 129
Fabric
..................................... 213, 214
Finish Care
..................................... 216
Foreign Material
............................ 2 16
Glass
.............................................. 215
Inside of Your Oldsmobile
............ 212
Leather and Vinyl
.......................... 214
Outside
of the Windshield and Wiper
Blades
............................................. 215
Outside
of Your Oldsmobile ......... 215
Safety Belts
.................................... 214
Special Problems
........................... 213
Stains. Removing
........................... 213
Cigarette Lighter
................................ 89
Cassette Tape Player
...................... 128
Top of the Instrument Panel
......... 214 Underbody
Maintenance
............... 217
Vinyl or Leather
............................. 214
Warnings
........................................ 2 12
Weatherstrips
................................. 216
Windshield
..................................... 215
Climate Control System
............ 11 1. 113
Clock. Setting the
............................. 117
Cluster. Instrument Panel .................. 98
Comfort Controls
............................. 11 1
Air Conditioner .............................. 11 1
Heater ............................................ 111
Rear ................................................ 113
Ventilation ..................................... 1 16
(see
Audio Systems )
Compact Disc Player
Compact Overhead Console
.............. 95
Compact Spare Tire
......................... 178
Compass Display
................................ 81
Console, Overhead ............................. 79
Control
of a Vehicle ......................... 134
Convenience Net
................................ 91
Convex Outside Mirror
...................... 87
Coolant ............................................. 197
Checking
& Adding ....................... 198
Proper Mixture to Use
............ 168, 197
Safety Warnings About
.................. 167, 168, 169, 198
Temperature Gage
......................... 103
Cruise Control
.................................... 72
Cup Holder/Ashtray, Front
............... 89 Curves. Driving
on
........................... 138
Customer Assistance Information
... 249
Dead Battery: What to
Do ............. 158
Defensive Driving
............................ 132
Defogger. Rear Window
................... 115
Defogging and Defrosting
................ 115
Delco LOC II@
................................. 126
Dome Lights
....................................... 84
Door Locks
............................. 45. 46. 52
Door. Power Sliding ................... 52. 107
Door. Sliding
...................................... 51
Driver Position
................................... 22
Driving At Night
......................................... 142
City
................................................. 145
Controlling a Skid
......................... 141
Defensively
.................................... 132
Drunlten
......................................... 132
Freeway
.......................................... 145
Hill and Mountain
......................... 147
In a Foreign Country ..................... 184
In Rain
........................................... 143
Long Distance
................................ 146
Loss
of Control .............................. 141
On Curves
...................................... 138
Passing ........................................... 140
Through Deep Standing Water
....... 60
Winter Driving
............................... 148
With a Trailer
................................. 151
ProCarManuals.com

Index
I
270
Cruise Control ................................. 72
Headlight High-Low Beam
Changer
......................................... 75
Turn and Lane Change Indicator..
.... 71
Turn Signal Indicator
......................... 71
Underhood Light
........................... 190
Unleaded Gasoline
........................... 183
Upholstery Care
....................... 213, 214
Urban Driving
.................................. 145
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
............................................. 218
Vehicle Storage
................................ 203
Ventilation..
...................................... 116
VIN
................................................... 218
Visor Vanity Mirror
............................ 88
Voltmeter .......................................... 103
Vehicle Loading
......................... 92,
206 Warning
Flashers, Hazard
............. 158
Warning Lights Anti-Lock Bralte System
............... 104
Bralte
.............................................. 103
Liftgate Ajar
............................. 57, 107
Low Fuel
........................................ 101
Service Engine Soon
...................... 106
Sliding Door Ajar
.................... 53, 107
Warning, Used Oil
............................ 194
Washer, Windshield
........................... 78
Weatherstrips
................................... 216
Weight Gross Axle Weight Rating
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GAWR)
...................................... 206
(GVWR)
...................................... 206
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance..
......................................... 2 11
Wheel Nuts ....................................... 174 Wheel
Nut Torque
................... 177, 225
Wheel Replacement
.......................... 211
Windows
............................................. 69
Windows, Power
........................ 70, 223
Windshield Washer
............................ 78
Fluid ....................................... 200, 227
Windshield Wipers
..................... 77, 223
Blade Replacement
........................ 205
Cleaning the Outside
of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
....... 215
Pulse Delay
...................................... 77
Re .................................................... 79
Winter Driving
................................. 148
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
...... 149
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Deep Snow
.......................... 149, 179
Snow or Ice, Driving On
............... 148
Wipermasher, Rear Window
............ 79
Wrecker Towing
............................... 162
1
I
i
ProCarManuals.com