OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1998 Owners Manual

Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
retailer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you
go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. The extender
will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle
that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and
use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach
it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle
has a
built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure the
harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip, child head
restraint and anchorages are working properly.
Look for
any other loose or damaged safety belt and built-in child
restraint system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt or built-in child restraint system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like torn or frayed safety belts can. They may not
protect a child in a crash. If
a harness strap is torn or
frayed, get
a new harness right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired
or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new safety belts or
built-in child restraint parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the safety belts or built-in child restraint harness
straps were stretched, as they would be if worn during a
more severe crash, then you need new safety belts or
harness straps. If
safety belts or built-in child restraint harness straps
are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also
may mean you will need to have safety belt, built-in
child restraint or seat parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt
or built-in child restraint wasn’t being used at the time
of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in
this section.
If the frontal air bags inflate, you’ll also need to replace
the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belt
buckle assembly. Be sure to
do so. Then the new buckle
assembly will be there
to help protect you in a collision.
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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14
2-15
2-20
2-22
2-23
2-25
2-26
2-27
2-29
2-30
2-34 2-35
2-37 Keys
Door Locks
Remote Lock Control (Option)
Switchbanks
Sliding Door
Power Sliding Door (Option)
Liftgate
Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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2-38
2-39
2-40
2-50
2-52
2-59
2-6
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2-64
2-65
2-78
2-78
2-8
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2-82
2-86 2-99 Parking Over Things
That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Locks and Lighting Choices
Windows
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Sun Visors
Accessory Inflator System (Option)
Accessory Power Outlet
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)
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Keys
I
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
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The master key can be
used
for the ignition as
well
as all door locks,
the liftgate lock and the
storage compartments.
If you need a new key, contact your Oldsma,' :le
retailer,
who can obtain the correct key code. In an emergency,
call Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance at
1-800-442-OLDS (6537). (In Canada, call
1-800-268-6800.)
I NOTICE:
Your vehicle 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.
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Door Locks
I-
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).
To unlock either front door from the outside with the
key, insert the key and turn it toward the front
of
the vehicle.
You can lock either front door from the outside with
your key by inserting
and turning it toward the rear of
the vehicle.
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To lock either front door from the inside, push the
locking lever forward.
To unlock either front door from the inside,
pull back on
the locking lever. From the inside, press
the front of the power door lock
switch (on either front door) to unlock all doors and the
liftgate.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Content
Theft-Deterrent system, the power door lock switch will
not unlock the doors until the system is disarmed. See
“Content Theft-Deterrent,’
in the Index for more details.
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You can lock all doors and the liftgate from the inside by
pressing the rear of the power lock switch on either front
door. If your vehicle is equipped with the Content
Theft-Deterrent system, the power door lock switch may
cause the system to arm.
See “Content Theft-Deterrent”
in the Index for more details.
To unlock any door or the liftgate from the outside with
your key, turn the key to the unlock position and release.
This will only unlock that door or the liftgate. You can
unlock all the doors and the liftgate by holding the key
cylinder in the unlock position for one second.
With power door locks, you can lock all the doors from
the outside by inserting the key and turning the key
cylinder to the lock position.
With power locks, when the doors are locked, the inside
as
well as the outside door handle cannot open the doors.
This safety feature prevents a door from being accidentally
opened from the inside by moving the handle.
To override this safety feature, move the locking lever to
the unlock position on the door you want to open.
When the liftgate has been unlocked with the power door locks, you won’t
need the key to open it. Simply squeeze
the handle above the license plate.
This is also true if you
use the optional remote lock control transmitter. See
“Remote Lock Control” later in
this section.
Automatic Door Locks
All of the doors will lock automatically when you move
your shift lever out of
PARK (P). All doors will unlock
automatically when the ignition is turned off while the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
You can program the Automatic Door Locks to operate
with the remote lock control system and to lock and
unlock automatically to suit your needs. See “Locks and
Lighting Choices” in the Index.
With the Automatic Door Locks feature, you can still
lock or unlock the doors at any time, either manually or
with the power door lock switches.
Last Door Closed Locking
The Last Door Closed Locking feature makes it easier to
use your power door locks to lock all the doors and the
liftgate when leaving your vehicle.
When any door or the liftgate is open, the first time you
attempt to lock the doors using the power lock switch or
the remote lock control transmitter (if equipped), will
result in three chimes to signal that Last Door Closed
Locking is being used. All doors and
the liftgate can be
opened for five seconds from
the time the last door
is closed.
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Five seconds after the last door is closed, all the doors
will lock. You can lock the doors immediately by using
the power door lock switch or the remote lock
control transmitter.
If the ignition is in RUN or ACCESSORY, this feature
will not lock the doors.
To turn the Last Door Closed Locking feature off or on,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
Sliding Door Delayed Locking
If the sliding door is open when you use your power
door locks to lock the vehicle, the sliding door is not
locked. Normally the Last Door Closed Locking feature
will be used to lock the sliding door after it has
been closed.
When the ignition is on
or if the Last Door Closed
Locking feature has been overridden or programmed to
be off, the Sliding Door Delayed Locking feature will
lock your sliding door for you. Three seconds after the
sliding door is closed, all the doors will lock. If you
have the dual sliding doors, all doors will lock three
seconds after both sliding doors are closed.
Lockout Deterrent
The Lockout Deterrent feature makes it difficult for you
to lock your keys in your vehicle. If the driver’s door is
open while the keys are
in the ignition, you will not be
able to use your power door lock to lock the vehicle.
If you don’t leave the keys in the ignition or if you use
the manual door lock, you could still lock your keys in
your vehicle. Always remember to take your keys
with you.
To turn this feature
off or on, see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from the inside. Then get out and
close the door.
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Remote Lock Control (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors and the liftgate from about
3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m) away using the remote lock control
transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Your remote lock control system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada. This
device complies with Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-2
10 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation
of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.
This system has a range
of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement or
synchronization is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.
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