tow OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 Owner's Manual

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is
for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (56 kdh), push your
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator
all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the
next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, but
it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are some times
you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer (so there is less shifting
between gears).
0 When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power, but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want
to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles
(41 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transaxle. Use
THIRD (3) or
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D) as much as
possible. Don’t shift into SECOND (2) unless you
are going slower than
65 mph (105 km/h) or you
can damage your engine.
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Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake
pedal down
with your right
foot and push down
the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on. See “Brake System Warning Light” in
the Index.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down
with your right foot while you push down
on the parking brake pedal with your left foot. (To
release the tension on the parking brake cable, you will
need to apply about the same amount of pressure to the
parking brake pedal as you did when you set the parking
brake.) When you remove your foot from the parking
brake pedal,
it will pop up to the release position.
I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You
may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You
or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move,
even when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the
steps that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
II
I
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
like this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
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Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key
in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK
(P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK
(P) and your
parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK
(P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully
locked into PARK
(P).
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Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
3ver have to, here are some things to know.
A CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the air system control
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even
if the fan switch is at the highest setting. One
place this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.) It
can be dangerous
to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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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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Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror Power Remote Control Mirrors The
control on the driver’s
door controls both outside
rearview mirrors.
Turn the control to the left to select the driver’s side
rearview mirror, or to
the right to select the passenger’s
side rearview mirror. Then use the control to adjust each
mirror
so that you can just see the side of your vehicle
when
you are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
To reduce glare from lights behind you, pull the lever
toward you (to the night position).
To return the mirror
to the day position,
push the lever away from you.
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Cunholders Storage Bin
There are cupholders on the inboard side of the front
passenger seat and the right side of the second row
bench seat.
To use the cupholders, simply pull down the tray. Keep
the trays up when not
in use.
Your vehicle has storage compartments and cupholders
on either side
of the vehicle, next to the third row seats.
The back of the seats have cupholders that can be used
when the seatbacks are folded down.
At the base of the center instrument panel console, there
is a storage bin,
To open the bin, lift the latch release
and the door will fold down.
Inside the bin,
you will find a tray that slides out. Slide
the tray all the way toward the rear
of the vehicle until
the tray locks onto
the plastic tabs at the end of the guide
rails. The tray holds
CDs or cassettes in the center area.
You can also store cassettes
in the left side area. The
right side area can hold either
the coinholder, which lifts
out, or another cassette. The tray can be removed for
cleaning or when you want to replace the selection
of
CDs or cassettes. Slide the tray back into the storage bin
before closing the bin door.
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Front Seat Storage Net
There is a storage net that stretches between the front
seats. Pull the hooks towards the passenger’s seat and
insert them into
the holes next to the cupholder.
To store the net, lift the hooks up and out of the holes.
The net does not detach from
the driver’s seat.
When not
in use, we recommend that you unhook the
net to extend its life and retain its elasticity.
Rear Storage Compartments
and Cupholders
Your Silhouette has a storage compartment and
cupholder
on either side of the vehicle, next to the third
row seat(s).
Convenience Net (Option)
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.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If
one part isn’t working, the other part
can still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem or the brake fluid level could be low. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition
key to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you
if there’s a
problem.
If the light comes
on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing
after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
. UTIO--:
4
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light
will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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