ignition OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1995 User Guide

Ignition Switch
ACCE
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
ACCESSORY An ON position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. Press
in the
ignition switch
as you turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK: The only position in which you can remove the
key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
transaxle.
OFF: This position unlocks the steering wheel, ignition,
and transaxle, but does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use this position
if your vehicle must be
pushed or towed, but never try
to push-start your
vehicle. A warning chime will sound if
you open the
driver’s door when the ignition is off and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN: An ON position to which the switch returns after
you start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in
the RUN position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
RUN to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
2-23
ProCarManuals.com

START This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
ACCESSORY and RUN are
ON positions that allow
you to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure
it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or
number for your engine. You will find the VIN at the top
left
of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number” in the Index.) Follow the proper
steps to start the engine.
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Oldsmobile
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
To Start Your 3.1L V6 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
2-24
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START.
If it doesn’t start in three seconds (or starts
but then stops), push the accelerator pedal about
one-quarter of the way down for
12 more seconds, or
until it starts.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try this:
Wait
15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down.
Then push your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor. Hold it there. Then hold the key in START.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. When
the engine starts, let
go of the key and the accelerator
pedal.
If the engine still doesn’t start, wait another
15 seconds and repeat this step.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with your retailer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that
tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
To Start Your 3800 V6 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition
key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets
warm.
2-25
ProCarManuals.com

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It’s
the best position to
use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
Ensure the shift lever
is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your Oldsmobile has brake-transaxle shift
interlock
(BTSI). You must fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is
in the RUN position.
As you step on the brake pedal,
while in PARK (P),
you may hear a click from the solenoid
of the
BTSI. This ensures that the BTSI is operating
properly.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
“Shifting Out of PARK
(P)” in this part.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE: I
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to REVERSE
(R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see “If
You’re Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
2-29
ProCarManuals.com

FIRST GEAR (1): This position gives you even more
power,
but lower fuel economy, than SECOND (2). You
can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If
the selector lever is put in FIRST
(1), the transaxle
won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
_-
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud
or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. If the ignition is on, the
brake system warning light will come on. See “Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position like
this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
walk away from your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
2-34
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Uldsmobile has braketransaxle shift interlock.
You have to fully uppZy your regular brake before you
can shift from PARK (P), when the ignition is in the
RUN position. See “Shifting the Automatic Transaxle”
in
the Index.
~f you cmot wt out of PARK e), ,&e pressure on
the shift lever A- push the shift lever all the way into
PARR (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever
hold
the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of’
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake til the end of Step 4.
PARK (P), try this:
3. shift to NEUTRAL m.
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
5. Have the vehicle €ixd as soon as you can.
want.
Parking Over Things That Burn
2-36
ProCarManuals.com

With power windows, switches on the driver’s door
armrest control the front windows (when
the ignition is
on). The left switch controls the driver’s window. The
right switch controls the passenger’s window.
The driver’s power window switch
has two down
positions. Hold the rear
of the switch in the first position
to lower the window normally.
To activate the auto down feature, fully press the rear of
the switch, then release. The window will lower
completely.
To stop the window from lowering all the
way, press the front
of the switch.
Side Window Latches
To raise the window, press and hold the front of the
switch.
The rear
of the side windows swings open.
To open, pull the latch forward to release
it, then swing
the window outward. Press the center
of the latch to
secure the window in the open position.
To close, pull the center of the latch forward and then
close the latch.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbols on
your steering wheel.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com

If you have the 3.1L V6 engine, the accelerate feature
will work whether or not you have set an initial cruise
control speed.
If you have the
3800 V6 engine, the accelerate feature
will only work after you have set the initial cruise
control speed by pushing the
SET button.
To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise
Control
0 Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release
it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll
go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down
to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
To Erase Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased. If
you have the
3800 V6 engine, cruise control memory
will also be erased when you place the transaxle
in
PARK (P).
2-48
ProCarManuals.com

Headlamps
PE: Push this switch to turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
Instrument Panel Lamps
Pull the switch to turn
off the lamps.
-‘a- ‘ I : Push this switch to turn on the headlamps, together
with:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lamps
Pull the switch
to turn off the lamps.
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
Slide the upper lights control all the way up to increase
the brightness
of the instrument panel lamps, down to
decrease the brightness. Slide the control all the way
down to turn them
off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition key to the OFF or LOCK
position while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.
ProCarManuals.com