OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 Owners Manual

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or
a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when
you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow
flashes faster than normal, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and check the
fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index).
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will flash at a
normal rate even
if a turn signal bulb is burned out.
Check the front and rear turn signal lamps regularly to
make sure
they are working.
Turn Signal Reminder Chime
If either turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile,
a chime will sound to let the driver know to turn it off.
If you need to leave the signal on for more than 3/4 of a
mile, turn off the signal and then turn it back on.
Headlamp HigWLow Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from high to low beam, or low
to high, simply pull
the turn signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument cluster will
also be on.
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Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER.
For a single wiper cycle: Turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let
go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle.
If you want more cycles, hold the
band
on mist longer.
For delayed wiper cycles: You can set the wiper speed
for a long or short delay between wipes. This can be
very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to
choose the delay time. The closer to
LOW, the shorter
the delay time.
For steady wiper cycles: For steady wiping at low
speed, turn the band away from you to the
LOW
position. For high-speed wiping, turn the band further to
HIGH. To stop the wipers, move the band to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before
using them. If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. Heavy
snow
or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, press and hold the windshield
washer paddle. The washers and wipers will operate.
When you release
the paddle, the washers will stop, and
the wipers will continue to operate for two cycles, unless
your wipers had already been
on. In that case, the wipers
will resume the wiper speed you had selected earlier.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous. A
bad mud splash can block your vision. You could hit
another vehicle or
go off the road. Check your washer
fluid level often.
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Rear Window Wiper and Washer
\-
I The rear window wiper
switch
is located in
the Instrument Panel
switchbank.
Push the wiper symbol on the bottom
of the button to
turn on the intermittent wiper. To turn off the wiper,
gently push the top
of the button.
To wash and wipe the rear window, push in the washer
symbol on the top
of the button. Washer fluid will spray
as long as the button is held
in. When the top of the
button is released, the wiper will continue to cycle three
more times.
To wash the rear window when the rear wiper is already on,
push on the top
of the button with the wash symbol on it.
Push in the bottom of the button to continue the intermittent
wiper cycle after the washing cycle is completed.
Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 kmh).
When you apply your brakes,
the cruise control
shuts
off.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on
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If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to
limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may
turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise, you might hit
a button
and
go into cruise when you don’t want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch
OFF until you
want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release
it.
4. Take your .foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Resuming a Set Speed Use the SET button to reset cruise (see “Setting Cruise
Control” earlier in this section).
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts
off the cruise control.
But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 kmk) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from
ON to
RESUME/ACCEL (R/A) for about half a second.
You’ll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A longer than half a second,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the
switch or apply the brake. You could be startled and
even lose control.
So unless you want to go faster, don’t
hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
0 Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and
the accelerator pedal. You’ll
now cruise at the higher speed.
0 Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch. (To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch
to R/A for
less than half a second and then release
it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph
( 1.6 km/h) faster.)
The accelerate feature will work whether or not you
have set an initial cruise control speed.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
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 kmh) 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.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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Lamps
300: : Turning the dial to this setting turns on:
0 Parking Lamps,
0 Sidemarker Lamps,
0 Taillamps and
0 Instrument Panel Lights.
--
20 : Turning the dial to this setting turns on the
headlamps, together with:
a Parking Lamps,
0 Sidemarker Lamps,
0 Taillamps and
0 Instrument Panel Lights.
0 : Turning the dial to this setting turns off all
the lights.
Lamps On Reminder
If the driver’s door is opened and you turn the ignition
to
the OFF or LOCK position while leaving the lamps
on, you will hear a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps (If Equipped)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front
of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful
in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
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A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered. The DRL system
will make your front parWturn signal lamps come
on in
daylight when:
The ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off, and
the parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your front park/turn signal
lamps will be on. Your instrument panel won’t be
lit up.
When it’s dark enough outside, the exterior lamps will
come on automatically. When it’s bright enough outside,
the exterior lamps will go
out and the DRL will turn on.
Of course, you may still turn on the headlamps any time
you need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL or exterior lamps off,
set the parking brake while the ignition is
in the OFF or
LOCK position. Then start the vehicle. The DRL will
stay off until you release
the parking brake,
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
Fog Lamps
r
v-
I The fog lamps switch is
located
in the Instrument
Panel switchbank.
Push the fog
on the rockel
on the lights. lamp symbol
- button to
turn
I J
The green indicator light will glow. Push the ribbed part
of the switch to turn them off. The indicator light will
go off.
Your parking lamps or headlamps must be on for your
fog lamps to go on.
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When your DRL are on, the headlamps switch must first
be turned from the off position before
the fog lamps can
be turned on. At night, when the
DRL automatically
turns on your headlamps,
the fog lamps can be turned
on
when the headlamps switch is in any position.
Your fog lamps will go
off when you switch to highbeams.
Using your highbeams
in fog is not recommended.
Interior Lamps
Battery Saver
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery,
in case you accidentally leave the
interior or underhood lamps on.
If you leave any of
these lamps on while the ignition is in the LOCK or
OFF position, they will automatically turn off after
10 minutes. The lamps won’t come back on again
until you:
0 turn the ignition to the RUN or ACCESSORY
position,
turn the interior lamps dial all the way to the right,
then slightly back to
the left; or
open (or close and reopen) a door that is closed.
Note that
if your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km)
on the odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
Turn the lights control, located below the headlamps
switch, all the way to the right to increase the brightness
of the instrument panel lights, and to the left to decrease
the brightness. Turn the control
all the way to the left to
turn them
off.
Interior Lamps Control
Turn the dial all the way to the right to turn on the
interior lamps,
if the interior lamps override switch is
off. Turn the dial to the left to turn the lights off.
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Interior Lamps Override Switch
V-
I This switch is located in
(- the overhead console
switchbank. Press the
symbol on the bottom of the
rocker switch to override
control of
the interior lights
and turn
off power to the
courtesy lamps, reading
lamps, glove
box lamp and
underhood lamp.
G
Press the top of the interior lamps override rocker switch
to turn power back on to the interior lamps. This will
allow the lamps to stay on when any door is open.
Illuminated Entry
With illuminated entry, the interior of your vehicle is
illuminated
so you can see inside before you enter your
vehicle. The lamps will come on for
40 seconds if you
unlock your door using your key
or the Remote Lock
Control key chain transmitter (if equipped) and the
ignition is
in the LOCK or OFF position. After
40 seconds have passed, the interior lamps will slowly
fade out. The lamps will turn off before the
40 seconds
if you:
0 lock all the doors using the key,
0 press LOCK on the power door lock switch or
press LOCK on the key chain transmitter
(if equipped).
When any door is opened, illuminated entry is cancelled.
The interior lamps will stay on while any door or the
liftgate is open, and slowly fade out when all doors and
the liftgate are closed.
The interior lamps may stay on for up to
25 seconds
after all doors have been closed
if they have not been
locked. See “Delayed Illumination” later in this section.
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