load capacity OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: OLDSMOBILE, Model Year: 1996, Model line: SILHOUETTE, Model: OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996Pages: 372, PDF Size: 19.39 MB
Page 125 of 372

Your vehicle  will have  an open  storage  compartment 
and  cupholder  on either  side  of the third  row. 
onve--'en - 7 Net (Optic-- 
The optional  convenience  net is designed to help  keep 
small loads, like grocery  bags,  from  falling over during 
sharp  turns or quick  stops and starts.  Install the 
convenience  net at the rear  of your vehicle, 
just  inside 
the liftgate. Attach the upper loops to the 
posts  on either  side  of the liftgate opening  (the label on 
the  net should be 
in the upper right-hand  corner). Attach 
the lower loops to the  hooks  on the floor. 
The  side  of the  convenience  net closest 
to the  front of 
the vehicle is higher  than  the  side  closest to the liftgate. 
Once  you've  loaded items into the 
net, stretch  the higher 
side  of the 
net up  and  over  the top  of the load to hold it 
firmly in place. 
The  convenience  net has  a maximum capacity  of 
100 Ibs. (45 kg). It is not designed  to hold larger, 
heavier  loads.  Store  such loads on the 
floor of your 
vehicle,  as  far  forward 
as you can. 
When  not 
in use, we recommend  that  you take down the 
convenience 
net to  extend  its life  and retain its elasticity, 
and to keep 
the rear exit clear.  Store the net in the pouch 
behind  either  front  seat. 
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Page 127 of 372

I NOTICE: 
Loading cargo  that  weighs more than 125 lbs. 
(56 kg) on  the  luggage  carrier may damage 
your  vehicle. 
When  you carry  cargo  on  the  luggage carrier 
of a 
proper size and  weight,  put  it on the  slats,  as  far 
forward  as  you can.  Then  slide the  crossrail  up 
against  the  rear 
of the load,  to help keep  it  from 
moving.  You can  then  tie it down. 
Don’t exceed the maximum  vehicle capacity when 
loading your  Oldsmobile. For more  information on 
vehicle  capacity  and loading,  see  “Loading Your 
Vehicle” 
in the Index. 
To prevent  damage  or loss  of cargo  as you’re  driving, 
check  now and then to  make  sure the luggage  carrier and 
cargo  are  still securely fastened. 
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Page 201 of 372

Loading Your Vehicle 
ml GVWR MFD 
BY GENERAL  MOTORS  CORP XWXX 
GAWR 
FRT  GAWR RR 
LB/KCI 
THIS  VEHICLE  CONFORMS  TO  ALL. APPLICABLE 
U.S. FEDERAL 
MOTOR VEHICLE  SAFETY  STANDARDS  IN EFFECT  ON THE DATE 
OF  MANUFACTURE  SHOWN  ABOVE. 
MODEL: 
MPBY  TIRE 
SIZE RTC. RIM 
FRT 
RR 
SPA  SERIAL  NUMBER 
M.P.V. 
SPEED 
SEE  OWNERS  MANUAL  FOR ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  PSVKPA 
(COLD 
The Certification/Tire  label is found  on  the rear edge of 
the driver’s door.  The 
label  shows  the size  of your  original  tires and the 
inflation pressures needed  to obtain the  gross weight 
capacity 
of your vehicle.  This is called the GVWR 
(Gross  Vehicle  Weight  Rating). The GVWR  includes  the 
weight 
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and  cargo. 
The  CertificatiodTire  label also tells 
you the maximum 
weights  for the  front  and rear  axles, called 
the Cross 
Axle Weight  Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual 
loads  on  your  front  and rear axles, 
you need to  go  to a 
weigh station and weigh  your vehicle.  Your retailer  can 
help  you  with  this. Be  sure  to  spread out your load 
equally  on both  sides  of the  centerline. 
Never exceed the GVWR  for your vehicle,  or the 
Gross Axle  Weight Rating  (GAWR)  for  either the front 
or  rear  axle. 
!7 
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Page 204 of 372

Your vehicle can  tow a trailer.  To identify what the 
vehicle trailering capacity  is for your vehicle,  you 
should read the information in  “Weight  of the Trailer” 
that appears later  in this  section.  But trailering  is 
different than  just driving  your  vehicle by itself. 
Trailering means changes 
in handling, durability  and 
fuel  economy.  Successful,  safe  trailering takes correct 
equipment, and it has 
to be used properly. 
That’s the reason  for this section. 
In it are  many 
time-tested,  important trailering tips  and safety rules. 
Many 
of these  are important for your safety and that  of 
your  passengers. 
So please read this section carefully 
before  you pull  a trailer. 
Load-pulling  components such as the  engine,  transaxle, 
wheel assemblies and tires  are forced to  work harder 
against the drag 
of the added weight.  The  engine is 
required to operate  at relatively higher  speeds and under 
greater loads, generating  extra heat. What’s more,  the 
trailer  adds considerably to  wind resistance, increasing 
the pulling requirements. 
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer 
If  you  do, here are some important points: 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
There  are  many different laws, including speed  limit 
restrictions, having  to  do with trailering.  Make sure 
your  rig  will  be  legal, not only where  you live but 
also where  you’ll be driving. 
A good source  for this 
information can  be state  or  provincial police. 
Consider  using a sway  control 
if your trailer  will 
weigh 
2,000 lbs. (900 kg)  or less.  You should always 
use 
a sway control  if your trailer  will weigh  more 
than 
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask  a hitch dealer 
about sway controls. 
Don’t  tow 
a trailer  at  all during the first 500 miles 
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven.  Your engine, 
axle  or  other parts could be damaged. 
Then,  during the first 
500 miles (800 km) that you 
tow  a trailer,  don’t  drive  over 
50 mph (80 km/h) and 
don’t  make  starts at  full throttle.  This helps your 
engine  and other parts  of your vehicle wear  in at the 
heavier loads. 
You should  use THIRD (D) (or, as you  need  to, a 
lower gear)  when towing  a trailer. Operating your 
vehicle 
in THIRD (D) when  towing  a trailer  will 
minimize heat buildup and extend the life  of 
your transaxle. 
4-30 
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Page 206 of 372

Weight of the  Trailer  Tongue 
The tongue load  (A) of any trailer is an important 
weight  to measure because  it affects the total  or gross 
weight 
of your vehicle.  The Gross  Vehicle  Weight 
(GVW) includes the  curb weight  of the vehicle, any 
cargo 
you may  carry in it, and the people who will  be 
riding  in 
the vehicle.  And if  you  will tow a trailer,  you 
must add the tongue load to the  GVW because your 
vehicle will  be carrying  that weight, too.  See “Loading 
Your  Vehicle”  in  the Index  for  more information about 
your vehicle’s  maximum load capacity. 
A B 
If you’re using  a weight-carrying  hitch,  the trailer 
tongue (A) should weigh 
10 percent  of the  total loaded 
trailer weight 
(B). If  you’re using  a weight-distributing 
hitch, the trailer tongue 
(A) should  weigh 12 percent  of 
the total loaded trailer weight 
(B). 
After you’ve loaded  your trailer, weigh the trailer and 
then  the tongue, separately, to  see 
if the weights are 
proper.  If they  aren’t,  you  may  be  able 
to get them right 
simply  by moving  some  items  around in the trailer. 
Total Weight  on Yo Vehicle’s Tires 
Be  sure  your vehicle’s  tires are inflated to  the limit  for 
cold tires.  You’ll find these numbers  on the 
CertificationEire  label at the rear edge of  the  driver’s 
door or  see “Tire Loading” 
in the Index. Then be sure 
you  don’t 
go over  the GVW  limit for your vehicle, 
including the weight  of the trailer tongue. 
4-32 
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Page 286 of 372

Warning: The traction  grade assigned to this tire is based 
on  braking (straightahead) traction tests and  does not 
include  cornering (turning) traction. 
Temperature -- A, B, C 
The temperature  grades  are A (the highest), B, and C, 
representing  the  tire’s resistance  to the generation  of 
heat and  its ability to  dissipate  heat  when tested under 
controlled conditions  on a specified indoor laboratory 
test wheel. Sustained high temperature  can  cause the 
material 
of the tire to  degenerate  and reduce tire life, and 
excessive  temperature  can lead to sudden tire  failure. 
The  grade 
C corresponds to  a level  of performance 
which all passenger car tires must meet under the 
Federal Motor  Vehicle Safety  Standard 
No. 109. Grades 
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the 
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required  by  law. 
Warning:  The temperature  grade for this tire is 
established  for  a  tire that is properly inflated and not 
overloaded.  Excessive  speed,  underinflation, or 
excessive  loading, either separately or  in combination, 
can  cause  heat buildup and possible tire failure. 
Wheel  Alignment  and  Tire  Balance 
The wheels on  your vehicle were aligned and balanced 
carefully at the factory to give 
you the longest  tire  life 
and  best overall performance. 
In  most  cases, you  will  not  need  to have  your wheels 
aligned again. However,  if  you notice unusual  tire wear 
or  your vehicle pulling  one way  or the other, the 
alignment  may  need to be  reset.  If  you  notice your 
vehicle vibrating  when driving on  a smooth road,  your 
wheels  may  need 
to be rebalanced. 
Wheel  Replacement 
Replace  any wheel that  is bent,  cracked,  or  badly rusted 
or  corroded.  If wheel 
nuts keep  coming  loose, the wheel, 
wheel bolts  and wheel nuts should be replaced.  If the 
wheel leaks  air, replace it (except  some aluminum 
wheels,  which can sometimes be repaired).  See your 
Oldsmobile retailer  if any  of these conditions  exist. 
Your  retailer  will know the kind 
of wheel  you need. 
Each  new  wheel  should have 
the same load-carrying 
capacity, diameter, width, offset  and be mounted the 
same  way as the  one it replaces. 
6-40 
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