engine coolant OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1995 Owners Manual

L
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BAlTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BAllERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols have to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
HIGH
LAMPSoR BEAM = zo
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
TEMP --
ENGINE
CHARGING BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
RADIATOR COOLANT
a
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
w4
TEMP OIL pk;
ANTI-LOCK (a)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
43
TRUNX~
RELEASE
HORN
)tr
SPEAKER
b
V
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Driving Through Deep Standing Water Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine's air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody
of your vehicle. If you
can't avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 "C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
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I NOTICE: I
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
~~ ~ ~ - ~
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in?
The answer depends on the weather, the kind of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything
here, we
ask that you contact your Oldsmobile retailer in the
area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The retailer can \
give you the best advice for
that particular area.
Shifting the Automatic Transaxle
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
R NOD21 1
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1. Low Traction Light (Option: 3800 V6)
2. Air Bag Readiness Light
3. Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
4. Power Sliding Door Warning Light (Option)
5. Liftgate Ajar Warning Light
6. Brake System Warning Light
7. Voltmeter
8. Oil Pressure Gage
9. Tachometer
10. Safety Belt Reminder Light
11. Right Turn Signal 12.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
1 3. Speedometer 14. High Beam Indicator
15. Traction Control System Warning Light
(Option: 3800
V6)
16. Left Turn Signal
17. Odometer
18. Trip Odometer Reset Button
19. Trip Odometer
20. Fuel Gage
21. Low Fuel Warning Light
22. Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
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Low Traction Light (Option)
If your vehicle has the
traction control system,
there will be a
LOW
TRACTION light on
the instrument panel.
LOW
TRACTION
When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking
skid, or when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the
LOW TRACTION light will come on. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this light comes on,
so adjust
your driving accordingly. The light will come
on and
stay on for four seconds when your anti-lock system
adjusts brake pressure for 'less than four seconds or
when your traction control system limits wheel spin
for
less than four seconds. Otherwise, the light will go out
as soon as the anti-lock system stops adjusting brake
pressure or the traction control system stops limiting
wheel spin. The
LOW TRACTION
light also comes on briefly, as a
bulb check, when the engine is started. If the light
doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to
tell you when the system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
In
260
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
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HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
A computer monitors
operation
of your fuel,
ignition and emission
controls systems. This light
should come on when the ignition is on but
the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is
worlung.
If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right
away.
If it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle in for service
soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Q
~
In this section you’ll find out how to operate the comfort
control systems and audio systems offered with your
Oldsmobile. Be sure to read about the particular system
supplied with your vehicle.
Zllimate Control System
COOL /st /--- I WARM --
Your vehicle’s heater and air conditioner work best if
you keep your windows closed. Your vehicle also has
flow-through ventilation, described later in this section,
to bring outside air into your vehicle.
If you have the optional coolant heater and use it during
cold weather,
0°F (- 1 8 “C) or lower, your heating
system will provide heat more quickly because the
engine coolant is already warmed. See “Engine Coolant
Heater”
in the Index.
OFF: Press this button to turn the system off. Press any
climate control setting to turn the system on.
* : Slide this lever to the right to increase fan speed.
To decrease fan speed, slide this lever to the left.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL LEVER: Slide the
lever to the right for warmer, heated air. For cooled air,
slide this lever
to the left.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Oldsmobile’s instrument panel. See “Coolant
Temperature Gage” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
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3800 V6: Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see: If
the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan (or fans if you have the 3800 V6
engine).
3.1L V6: Recovery Tank Level
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3800 V6: Recovery Tank Level
l I I
The coolant level should be at or above the FULL HOT
mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan is running.
If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
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