warning light OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1998 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: OLDSMOBILE, Model Year: 1998, Model line: SILHOUETTE, Model: OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1998Pages: 444, PDF Size: 23.2 MB
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Vehicle Symbols 
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. 
For example, 
these symbols  are  used  on  an 
original battery: 
POSSIBLE A 
CAUTION 
INJURY 
PROTECT  EYES  BY 
SHIELDING 
CAUSTIC 
ACID  COULD  BAllERY 
CAUSE 
BURNS 
AVOID 
SPARKS 
OR 
FLAMES 
SPARK 
OR ,\I/, 
COULD  FLAME 
EXPLODE  BAllERY 
These  symbols 
are important 
for you and 
your passengers 
whenever 
your 
vehicle is 
driven: 
DOOR  LOCK 
UNLOCK 
FASTEN  SEAT 
BELTS 
These symbols 
have  to do  with 
your lamps: 
SIGNALS e 
TURN 
WARNING 
A 
HAZARD 
FLASHER 
FOG  LAMPS 
$0 
These symbols 
are on some of 
your controls: 
WINDSHIELD 
WIPER 
WINDSHIELD  DEFROSTER 
WINDOW 
DEFOGGER 
These symbols 
are used  on 
warning and  indicator lights: 
ENGINE E* 
COOLANT 
TEMP 
- 
CHARGING I-1 
BATTERY 
SYSTEM 
BRAKE 
(a) 
COOLANT a 
ENGINE OIL e, 
PRESSURE 
ANTI-LOCK 
(@) 
BRAKES 
Here are some other symbols you  may  see: 
FUSE 
LIGHTER 
m 
HORN )cr 
SPEAKER 
b 
FUEL e3 
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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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2-4 
2-8 
2-13 
2- 
14 
2-15 
2-20 
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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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2-40 
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2-6 
1 
2-64 
2-65 
2-78 
2-78 
2-8 
1 
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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NOTICE: 
Be sure  there  are  no  overhead  obstructions,  such 
as  a  garage  door,  before  you open  the  liftgate. 
You  could  slam  the  liftgate  into  something  and 
break  the  glass. 
To close the liftgate, pull down on the handle, then 
firmly  shut  the liftgate.  Don’t drive with the  liftgate 
open,  even slightly.  See “Engine Exhaust” 
in the Index. 
A light on your  instrument  panel will warn  you  if the 
liftgate 
is not  completely  closed  (see “Door Ajar 
Warning  Light” in the Index). 
It  can  be  dangerous  to  drive  with  the  liftgate  open  because  carbon  monoxide 
(CO) gas can 
come  into  your  vehicle. You can’t  see  or smell 
CO. It can  cause  unconsciousness  and  even  death. 
If you  must  drive  with  the  liftgate  open  or  if 
electrical  wiring  or  other  cable  connections  must 
pass  through  the  seal  between  the  body  and 
the  liftgate: 
0 Make  sure  all  windows  are  shut. 
Turn  the  fan  on  your  heating  or  cooling 
system  to  its  highest  speed 
with the  setting 
on  bi-level  (outside  air  button is pressed). 
That  will force  outside  air  into  your  vehicle. 
See  “Comfort  Controls”  in  the  Index. 
If you  have  air  outlets  on  or  under  the 
instrument  panel,  open  them  all  the 
way. 
See  ‘(Engine  Exhaust”  in  the  Index. 
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Ignition  Positions 
With the ignition key  in  the ignition switch,  you can turn 
the  switch  to  five  positions. 
C 
ACCESSORY  (A): This  is an on position  in which  you 
can  operate  your electrical power accessories. Press  in 
the  ignition switch  as you  turn  the top 
of it toward you. 
LOCK (B): This  is  the only position in which you can 
remove the  key. This  locks  your steering  wheel, ignition 
and transaxle. 
OFF (C): This  position unlocks the steering  wheel, 
ignition  and transaxle, but does not send electrical 
power  to any accessories. Use this position if your 
vehicle must be pushed  or  towed,  but never try to 
push-start  your vehicle. 
A warning  chime will sound if 
you open  the driver’s door when  the ignition is off and 
the  key is in  the ignition. 
RUN (D): This is an on position to which the switch 
returns after  you start your  engine and release the 
switch. 
The switch stays  in RUN  when the  engine is 
running. But 
even when the  engine  is not running,  you 
can  use  RUN  to  operate your  electrical power 
accessories, and  to display some  instrument panel 
warning lights. 
START (E): This  position  starts  the  engine.  When the 
engine  starts, release the  key. The ignition switch will 
return to RUN  for normal driving. 
Note that even 
if the  engine is not running, the positions 
ACCESSORY and RUN  are positions that allow  you to 
operate  your electrical accessories, such as the radio. 
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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 released  position. 
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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Exterior Lamps 
500: Turning the dial to this  setting turns on: 
0 Parking  Lamps 
Sidemarker  Lamps 
Taillamps 
Instrument  Panel  Lights 
@ Turning the dial to this setting turns on  the 
headlamps,  together with: 
. Parking Lmps 
Sidemarker  Lamps 
0 Taillamps 
0 Instrument  Panel  Lights 
0 Turning  the dial  to this  setting turns off all the lamps 
and lights. 
Lamps  On Reminder 
If the  driver’s  door  is  opened and you turn the ignition 
to 
OFF or  LOCK  while leaving  the  lamps  on,  you will 
hear  a warning chime. 
Daytime  Running  Lamps 
Daytime Running  Lamps (DRL) can make  it  easier  for 
others  to  see  the  front 
of your  vehicle  during  the day. 
DlU  can be helpful 
in many  different  driving 
conditions,  but they  can be  especially  helpful  in  the 
short  periods after  dawn and before  sunset. 
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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  SignalMultifunction  Lever 
D. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch 
E. Instrument  Cluster 
F. 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 (Option) 
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 
LOW Tk TRACTION 
SERVICE ENGINE SOON / 
1 
Your cluster  includes  indicator  warning lights and gages that  are explained on the  following pages. 
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Tachometer 
‘ -3 
 *2 I-;1 
R 
-0 77 
The tachometer displays the engine  speed in revolutions 
per  minute  (rpm). 
I NOTICE: I 
Do not  operate  the  engine  with  the  tachometer  in 
the  red  area,  or  engine  damage  may  occur. 
Warning  Lights,  Gages 
and  Indicators 
This  part describes the warning  lights and gages that 
may  be 
on your vehicle.  The pictures will help  you 
locate them. 
Warning  lights and gages can signal that something is 
wrong  before  it becomes serious enough  to  cause an 
expensive  repair  or  replacement. Paying attention  to 
your warning lights and gages  could also save  you or 
others  from injury. 
Warning lights come on  when there may be or is a 
problem  with one 
of your vehicle’s  functions. As you 
will  see in the details on the next  few pages, some 
warning lights come on briefly when  you start  the 
engine  just  to  let you  know  they’re  working. 
If you are 
familiar  with this section,  you should not  be alarmed 
when  this happens. 
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. 
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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. 
The safety belt  light will 
also  come  on and stay on 
for  about 
70 seconds.  If the 
driver’s belt  is already 
buckled,  neither  the  chime 
nor the light will  come  on. 
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 flash  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 ignition 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. 
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