key OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1995 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: OLDSMOBILE, Model Year: 1995, Model line: SILHOUETTE, Model: OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1995Pages: 390, PDF Size: 20.27 MB
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Key in the Ignition 
If  you walk away from your vehicle with the keys 
inside,  it’s an easy target  for  joy riders or professional 
thieves 
-- so don’t  do  it. 
New Vehicle ''Break-in" 
When  you  park  your  Oldsmobile and open  the  driver’s 
door’  you’ll  hear  a chime  reminding  you  to remove your 
key  from  the  ignition  and  take it with  you.  Always 
do 
this. Your  steering  wheel  will  be  locked, and so will  your 
ignition  and  transaxle.  And  remember to lock  the doors. 
Parking  at Night 
Park in  a lighted spot,  close all windows and lock your 
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables  out 
of sight. 
Put  them  in  a storage area,  or  take them with you. 
Parking  Lots 
If you park in  a lot where someone will  be watching 
your vehicle,  it’s best to lock  it up and take your keys. 
But what  if you  have to  leave your ignition  key? What  if 
you  have 
to leave something valuable in your vehicle? 
Put your valuables  in a storage area, like your glove 
box  or locking storage  bin. 
Lock the storage bin. 
Lock all the doors except the driver’s. 
0 Then take the door key with you. 
NOTICE: 
Your modern  Oldsmobile  doesn’t  need  an 
elaborate  “break-in.”  But  it 
will perform  better 
in  the  long  run if you follow  these guidelines: 
Don’t  drive  at  any  one  speed -- fast  or 
slow 
-- for  the  first 500 miles (804 km). 
Don’t  make  full-throttle  starts. 
200 miles (322 km) or so. During  this  time 
your  new brake  linings  aren’t  yet  broken 
in.  Hard  stops  with  new  linings  can  mean 
premature  wear  and  earlier  replacement. 
Follow  this  “breaking-in”  guideline  every 
time  you get new  brake  linings. 
Don’t  tow a trailer  during  “break-in.”  See 
“Towing 
a Trailer”  in  the  Index  for  more 
information. 
0 Avoid  making  hard  stops  for  the  first 
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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. 
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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. 
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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. 
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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 
for about three  to  five seconds at a time until 
your engine starts.  Wait about 
15 seconds between 
each  try to help avoid draining your  battery. 
3. If your engine still won’t start  (or starts  but then 
stops),  it could be flooded  with too much  gasoline. 
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the  way 
to the 
floor and holding  it there as you hold the key  in 
START for about three seconds.  If the vehicle starts 
briefly  but  then  stops again,  do the same thing,  but 
this time keep the pedal down  for five  or six seconds. 
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. After 
waiting about 
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting 
procedure. 
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 
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. 
, properly. 
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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. 
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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). 
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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 
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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. 
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Locking Storage Bin 
I .1 I 
At the base or me  center  instrument  panel console  is a 
storage  bin. Use the  door key to lock and unlock  it. 
To 
open the bin, pinch the latch release.  Inside  the  storage 
bin will  find 
a coinholder. 
To remove the bin  for  cleaning,  open it  part  way, then 
pull  out and slightly up. 
To clean  the inside of the  bin,  vacuum or wipe with a 
slightly  damp  cloth. 
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