OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996 Owners Manual

Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
may have to do it more than once.
0 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if
you don’t get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
a
GM Vinylkeather Cleaner or equivalent product.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a GM VinyULeather Cleaner
or equivalent product.
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt is
allowed to work into the finish, it can harm the leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Pal -1
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Cleaning the Built-In Child
Restraint Pad
The built-in child restraint pad is attached to the seat
frame with fastener strips. You can remove the pad and
hand wash it with mild soap and water.
Care of Safety Belts and Built-in
Child Restraint Harness
Keep the safety belts and the built-in child restraint
harness clean and dry.
A CAUTION:
I
Do not bleach or dye safety belts or the built-in
child restraint harness. If you do, they may be
severely weakened.
In a crash, they might not be
able to provide adequate protection. Clean the
safety belts and the child restraint harness only
with mild soap and lukewarm water.
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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 they 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. 105001 1).
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.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
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.
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Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or
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% cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches and water spotting.
Before you enter an automatic car wash, if your vehicle
is equipped with the optional power sliding door, be sure
to have
the ON/OFF switch in the OFF position.
High pressure car washes may cause water
to enter
your vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your
Oldsmobile by hand may be necessary to remove
residue from
the paint finish. You can get GM-approved
cleaning products from your retailer. (See “Appearance
Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Oldsmobile has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish loohng
new by keeping your Oldsmobile garaged or covered
whenever possible.
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Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly,
dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners
or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage the surface.
Don’t take your vehicle through an automatic car wasn
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface
of these wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
I NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe
off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces on the body or wheels
of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint finish.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your retailer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your retailer’s body and paint shop.
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Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are
not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor
pan and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your retailer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
Collision Repair
Your vehicle was built with composite SMC (Sheet
Molded Compound) fiberglass body panels and molded
RIM (Reaction Injection Molded) front fenders and
bumper covers. These panels require different collision
repair procedures than metal-paneled vehicles. See your
Oldsmobile retailer for information on collision repair.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take
two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
Oldsmobile will repair, at no charge to the owner,
the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km)
of purchase, whichever occurs first.
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Appearance Care Materials Chart
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
0 I 11111111 1111 111 111111 111 11111111 IIIIIIIIIIII 1111
SAMPLE4UXTM072675 I
ENGlNE-6 f ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Oldsmobile. It
appears on a plate in the front corner
of the instrument
panel, on the driver’s side.
You can see it if you look
through the windshield from outside your vehicle.
The VIN also appears on the Vehicle Certification
and Service Parts labels and the certificates of title
and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specifications and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label inside the glove box door. It’s very
helpful
if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
0 paint information, and
a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
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NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Oldsmobile
unless you check with your retailer
first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and the damage-wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the lamp switch. An electrical overload will cause the
lamps to go on and
off, or,in some cases to remain off.
If this happens, have your headlamp system checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem, be
sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the circuit breakerhelay panel protect
the power windows and other power accessories. When
the current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting
the circuit until the problem
is fixed.
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Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of damages caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem on
the road and don’t have a
spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that
you can get along without
-- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as
soon as you can.
There are four fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block,
the Anti-Lock Brake
System
(ABS) junction block fuse, the circuit
breakerhelay panel and the injector fuse.
I
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
1
L 9
Pull the door open to gain access to the instrument panel
fuse block.
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Fuse
CTSY
ELC
Usage
Automatic Door Lock Module,
Dome Lamps, Courtesy Lamps,
Power Door Lock Switches, Glove
Box Lamp, Power Mirrors, Remote
Lock Control Receiver
Electronic Level Control,
Air Inflator, Underhood Lamp
Fuse
HORN
STOP HAZ
F PUMP
RDO
1 /AUX
TAIL ECM
TURN B/U
Usage
Horns, Horn Relay, Safety Belt
Buzzer, Lamps On Reminder,
Key in the Ignition Warning
Hazards, Rear Stoplamps, Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS), Center
High-Mounted Stoplamp
Fuel Pump, Rear Engine Fan Relay
Radio, Cigarette Lighter, Accessory
Power Outlet, Trailer Harness,
Heater-A/C Control
Headlamp and Instrument Panel
Dimmer Switch (to LPS
fuse),
Power Sliding Door Controller
Powertrain Control Module
Automatic Door Locks Module,
Back-up Lamps, Power Sliding
Door Alarm Module,
Fog Lamp
Relay, Power Sliding Door
Controller, Remote Lock Control
Receiver, Brake-Transaxle Shift
Interlock (BTSI), Front/Rear
Turn Lamps
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