bulb 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.
2-53
ProCarManuals.com

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.
2-98
ProCarManuals.com

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a different turn signal flasher.
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if
the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear befure you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and
no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs.
(454 kg), you may prefer to drive in
THIRD
(3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
(or, as
you need to, a lower gear). This will minimize
heat build-up and extend the life of your transaxle.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a
hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
When
the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
Release the regular brakes.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

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
6-1
ProCarManuals.com

Jump Starting
For jump starting instructions, see “Jump Starting” in
the Index.
Bulb Replacement
For the type of bulbs, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the front parking/turn signal lamp assembly.
See “Front Parking/Turn Signal Lamps” later
in
this section.
6-31
ProCarManuals.com

3. Remove the two wing nuts located on top of the
headlamp assembly. 4. Unscrew the black retainer ring that holds the bulb
assembly
in place, and pull the bulb assembly out of
the lamp housing.
6-32
ProCarManuals.com

5. Unhook the electrical connector by lifting up the
blue tabs and pulling the bulb out.
6. Replace the new bulb through the black retainer ring
and into the electrical connector.
Push the bulb
firmly enough
so that the blue tabs hook over the tab
on the bulb.
7. Carefully put the bulb assembly back into the lamp
housing and tighten the
black retainer ring in place.
Be careful not to darnage the bulb on the headlamp
aiming bar.
6-33
ProCarManuals.com

4. Unscrew the bulb sockets from the lamp assembly
by pressing the tab while turning counterclockwise.
7. To replace the lamp assembly, line up and insert the
tabs on the back
of the assembly with the slots in the
fender. Engage the lower clip
on the front of the
5. Replace the bulb by pulling the old one out and lamp assembly, keeping the upper tab on the
6. Line up the tabs on the sockets with the gaps in the
gently pushing the
new one into the lamp socket. parkinghm signal lamp assembly inboard of
the
socket holes and screw the bulb sockets back into the 8. To align the parking/turn signal lamp assembly with the
lamp housing until an audible click
is heard (the tab headlamp assembly, lift up the parking/turn signal lamp
popping back out). assembly until the upper
edge is contacting the fender.
headlamp bracket tab.
9. Fasten the parkinghurn signal lamp assembly
to the
headlamp assembly with the thumb screw used in
Step
1.
6-35
ProCarManuals.com

Front Sidemarker
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the thumb screw attaching the parking/turn
signal lamp assembly
to the headlamp assembly.
3. Pull the parkinghurn signal lamp assembly away
from the body.
4. Unscrew the bulb sockets from the lamp assembly
by turning counterclockwise.
5. Replace the bulb by pulling the old one out and
gently pushing the new one into the lamp socket.
6. Line up the tabs on the sockets with the gaps in the
socket holes
and screw the bulb sockets back into the
lamp housing.
6-36
ProCarManuals.com

7. To replace the lamp assembly, line up and insert the
tabs on the back of the assembly with the slots in the
fender. Engage the lower clip on the front of the
lamp assembly, keeping the upper tab on the
parkinghrn signal lamp assembly inboard of the
headlamp bracket tab.
8. To align the parking/turn signal lamp assembly with the
headlamp assembly,
lift up the parking/turn signal lamp
assembly until the upper edge is contacting the fender.
9. Fasten the parking/turn signal lamp assembly to the
headlamp assembly with the thumb screw used in
Step
1.
Taillamps
1. Open the liftgate.
2. Remove the two screws from the taillamp housing
on the inboard side.
3. Pull off the entire taillamp housing. The locator/retaining
pins on the outboard side are part
of the lamp assembly
and will remain intact during removal.
4. Remove the bulb holder by pressing the four retaining
tabs and pulline the holder away from the assembly.
6-37
ProCarManuals.com