belt OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1997 Workshop Manual

The master key can be
used for
the ignition as
well as all door locks,
the liftgate lock and
the
storage compartments.
Door Locks
If you need a new key, contact your Oldsnmbile retailer,
who can obtain the correct key code.
NOTICE:
Your Oldsmobile has a number of new features
that can help prevent theft. But you can have a
lot of trouble getting into your vehicle
if you ever
lock your key inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you
have an extra key. Unlocked
doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and
fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you
will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or the Remote Lock
Control transmitter
(if your vehicle has this option).
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Delayed Illumination
The delayed illumination feature will continue to
illuminate the interior for 25 seconds after all doors
have been closed
so that you can find your ignition
and buckle your seatbelt at night. Delayed illumination
will not occur while the ignition
is in the RUN or
ACCESSORY position. After
25 seconds have passed,
the interior lamps will slowly fade
out. The lights will
fade
out before the 25 seconds have passed if you:
0 turn the ignition to the RUN or ACCESSORY
position,
lock all doors using the key chain transmitter
(if equipped) or
or the key.
lock all the doors using the power door lock switch
Exit Lighting
To turn the Delayed Illumination feature off or on, see
“Locks and Lighting Choices” in
the Index. With
exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on for
about
25 seconds whenever you remove the key from
the ignition switch.
If you turn the ignition switch to
RUN or ACCESSORY, the lamps will fade out. The
lamps will also fade out
if you lock the doors with the
power door lock switch or the key chain transmitter
(if equipped).
When any door is opened, exit lighting is cancelled.
The interior lamps will stay on while any door or 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” earlier in
this section.
To turn the Exit Lighting feature
off or on, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices”
in the Index.
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Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one of
the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of
the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what
to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds
to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light
will also come on and
stay on
until the driver’s
belt is buckled.
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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
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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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Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. It
is normal for
the cassette to eject while cleaning because
your unit is equipped with a cut tape feature. To
temporarily override this feature for vehicles with
Automatic Tone Control (for one insertion), turn on the
ignition and turn the radio off. Press and hold TAPE
AUX until the tape symbol flashes
on the display, and
insert the cassette again. For vehicles without Automatic
Tone Control, press both
SEEK arrows within five
seconds of inserting the cassette with the ignition and
radio off. Insert the cassette at least three times to ensure
thorough cleaning.
A scrubbing action cleaning cassette
is available through your Oldsmobile retail facility.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type
of cleaning cassette will not
eject. It may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing
type cleaner. The cassette
tape player
is able to detect a broken tape.
Some cleaning cassettes may appear as a broken tape. If
the cleaning cassette is ejected immediately from the
tape player, follow these steps:
1. Turn the radio off.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press and hold the TAPE-AUX button until the tape
symbol flashes.
4. Insert the cleaning cassette and the radio will turn on
in cassette mode.
5. Eject the tape after the tape player has been cleaned.
When
the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the broken
tape detection feature is active again.
After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will
display
--- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is
in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
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Please start with a very important safety device in
your Oldsmobile: Buckle
up. (See “Safety Belts” in
the Index.)
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads
or freeways, it means
“always expect
the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents.
Yet they are common. Allow enough
following distance. It’s
the best defensive driving
maneuver,
in both city and rural driving. You never
know when the vehicle in front of you
is going to
brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your Oldsmobile
can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking
in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed
as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or
right depending
on the space available. An
emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn
it a full I80 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule
for more
on this. Things that are especially important
in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to
see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Oldsmobile. This section begins with service information, and
then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted
to its appearance care.
6-2
6- 3
6-4
6-5
6-7
6-10 6-15
6-16 6-17
6-20 6- 24
6-25
6-26
6-30 6-30
6-3
1
6-38 Doing
Your Own Service Work
What Kind
of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine
Oil
Air Cleaner
Pollen Filter
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Power Steering Fluid
Where to Fill
the Windshielc 9 Washer Fluic
Important Brake Information
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 6-40
6-42
6-44
6-47 6-49
6-50
6-52
6-53 6-54
6-55 6-56
6-57
6-62
6-62
6-62 6-63
6-63 How and
When to Check Tire Inflation
When
it is Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of the Safety Belts
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recommended Appearance Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
Vehicle Dimensions
Normal Replacement Parts
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When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire
if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or hbric.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of
the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the CertificatiodTire label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when
it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
your vehicle will continue to have tires
that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed
by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
0 oet ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial)
as your original tires.
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