instrument panel OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 Owner's Manual

The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
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Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much
fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
Refer to the accompanying diagram of your instrument panel
to locate the components listed below.
A. Side Vents
B. Front Vent
C. Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
D. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
E. Instrument Cluster
E Center Vents
G. Audio System
H. Side Vents
I. Lamps Switch
J. Hood Release
K. Steering Wheel Touch Controls (Option)
L. Horn
M. Ignition Switch
N. Steering Wheel Touch Controls (Option)
0. Climate Controls
P. Rear Fan Controls
Q. Accessory Power Outlet
R. Storage Bin
S. Remote CD Player (Option)
T. Instrument Panel Switchbank
U. LightedAshtray
V. Glove Box
W. Front Vents
X. Fuse Panel
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Instrument Panel Cluster
I- -
PRND APPLY BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK
Your cluster includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explained on the following pages.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows a deployed air bag. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag
module, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will tlash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system
is ready.
If
the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes
on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The air
bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the key to
RUN. If the light
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
1+1
The charging system light
will come on when you turn
on the ignition as a check to
show you it is working. It
will remain on as long as
the engine is
not running.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system. It could indicate that
you have problems with a generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Traction Control System Warning
Light (Option)
#-I
This warning light should
come on briefly
as you start
the engine.
If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn
you if there’s
a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be
a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. The
traction control system warning light may come on
for
the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the traction
control button located
in the instrument panel
switchbank, the warning light will come
on and stay
on. To
turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go off. (See
“Traction Control System”
in the Index for
more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system
will turn off and the warning light will come
on
until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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Low Traction Light (Option)
If your vehicle has the
traction control system,
there will be a LOW
LOW
TRACTION
TRACTION light on the
instrument panel.
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
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.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
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Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system work
for
you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your Oldsmobile. Your vehicle
also
has a flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Fan Knob
The left knob is the fan knob and selects the force of air
you want. Turn the knob clockwise to increase fan speed
and counterclockwise to decrease fan speed.
The fan
must be turned on for the air conditioning compressor
to operate.
Temperature Knob
The center knob controls the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn it counterclockwise
(toward the blue area) for cooler air. Turn it clockwise
(toward the red area) for warmer air.
Mode Knob
This knob selects the direction of where the air will
enter the vehicle.
+e
/J UPPER: This setting directs outside air through
the instrument panel outlets.
+fl BI-LEV This setting directs outside air into your
vehicle
in two ways. Cooler air is directed toward your
upper body through the front instrument panel outlets,
while warmed air is directed through the heater ducts at
your feet.
+e
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Ventilation Tips
0
0
0
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). This will allow
the heater and defroster
to work much better, reducing
the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle
in cold weather, turn the
blower fan to
5 for a few moments before driving
off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and
moisture, and reduces the chance
of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Keep the area around
the base of the center
instrument panel console and the air path under the
front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate
throughout your vehicle.
Rear Climate Control (If Equipped)
If you have the optional rear climate control, the rear
seat passengers can control the temperature and
the
amount of air directed to the rear of the vehicle. The
amount
of air directed to the rear of the vehicle can also
be adjusted using
the front control for the rear fan.
Set the main climate control mode knob to
BI-LEV,
LOWER or DEFOG, when outside temperatures are
cold or moderate, to send air to the rear of the vehicle
through the lower vents.
Set the main climate control mode knob
to UPPER
to send air to the rear of the vehicle through the
headliner outlets.
To send conditioned air to the rear of the vehicle, press
the
A/C button (the light will glow) on the main Climate
Controls.
If you do not select A/C, air directed to the
rear
of the vehicle will be cabin temperature.
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Rear Fan Control
This option comes with the Rear Climate Controls.
Please keep
the area around the base of the center
instrument panel console and the area between and
under the front seats free of objects that would obstruct
airflow to the rear
of the vehicle.
-1 The rear fan control is
Turn the fan to
the desired setting for the amount of air
to be directed to the rear of the vehicle. The temperature
of the air will be the same as the air in the front of the
vehicle. The rear fan control in the instrument panel
switchbank has an
R setting which allows the rear
passengers to use the rear Climate Control knobs to
adjust the air through the rear air outlets.
Rear Comfort Controls
The rear climate control knobs are in a panel next to the
second row seat.
If your vehicle has the optional dual
sliding doors, the panel is above the driver’s seat.
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Turn the temperature knob counterclockwise (to the blue
area) for cooler air, or clockwise (to the red area) for
warmer air.
To maintain a comfortable temperature
in the rear, use
either rear fan control
to adjust the force of air coming
through the rear outlets.
Select the desired climate control mode using the
directional controls on
the instrument panel (see “Mode
Knob” earlier
in the section). The mode you choose will
regulate both the front and rear climate control systems.
Rear Air Vents: To maximize airflow through the rear
heater outlet, place the
left bucket seat in the second row
in
the forward position (see “Adjusting Rear Seats’’ in
the Index).
The vent behind the left rear seat
is the cold air return
vent, Be sure to keep it free of obstructions.
Please keep the area around the base
of the center
instrument panel console and between and under the
front seats free of objects that could obstruct airflow to
the rear.
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