Oldsmobile Silhouette 2001 s Owners Manual

1-79
CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap
-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child. If the child wears the belt in this way,
in a crash the child might slide under the belt.
The belt's force would then be applied right on
the child's abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child's thighs. This applies belt force to the child's
pelvic bones in a crash.
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
dealer 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.

1-80
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. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt 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.
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.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn't being used at
the time of the collision.
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.
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.

2-
2-1
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.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (Option)
2
-16 Multifunction Alarm Locks and
Lighting Choices
2
-26 Dual Sliding Doors
2
-28 Power Sliding Door (Option)
2
-35 Liftgate
2
-36 Theft
2
-37 Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-40 PASS-Key
III
2
-42 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-42 Ignition Positions
2
-44 Starting Your Engine
2
-45 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-47 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-51 Parking Brake
2
-52 Shifting Into PARK (P)2
-54 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-55 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-55 Engine Exhaust
2
-56 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-57 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-64 Exterior Lamps
2
-67 Interior Lamps
2
-72 Storage Compartments
2
-85 Accessory Inflator System (Option)
2
-87 Accessory Power Outlets
2
-88 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-91 HomeLink
Transmitter (Option)
2
-94 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-99 Warning Lights, Gages, Messages
and Indicators
2
-108 Message Center
2
-115 Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)
2
-118 Rear Parking Assist (Option)

2-2
Windows
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the windows
closed is dangerous. A child can be overcome
by the extreme heat and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke.
Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, especially
with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.

2-3
Power WindowsThe switches on the driver's door armrest control
the front windows when the ignition is in RUN,
ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. See ªRetained Accessory Powerº in
the Index. The left switch controls the driver's window.
The right switch controls the passenger's window.
The driver's power window switch has two down
positions. Push the switch to the first position to
lower the window normally.
To raise the window, pull up the front of the switch.
Express
-Down Windows
To activate the express
-down feature, push the switch
all the way down, to the second position, then release it.
The window will lower completely. To stop the window
from lowering all the way, pull up the front of the switch.

2-4 Side Window Latches
The rear of each side window swings open.
To open, push the latch
forward to release it,
then swing the window
outward. Press the center
of the latch to secure
the window in the
open position.
To close, pull the center of the latch forward and then
close the latch. Press the center of the latch to secure
the window in the closed position.
Power Rear Quarter Windows
(If Equipped)
This switch, located
in the overhead console
switchbank, is used
for opening and
closing the power
rear quarter windows.
Press the top ribbed side of the switch to open the
windows; both windows will open. The windows can
be opened fully or partway depending on how long the
switch is pushed.
Press the bottom of the switch to close both windows.
The windows can be closed fully or partway depending
on how long the switch is pushed.
The ignition must be in RUN, ACCESSORY or when
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active to use the
power rear quarter windows. See ªRetained Accessory
Powerº in the Index.

2-5
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving 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 the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-6
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 Oldsmobile dealer,
who can obtain the correct key code. In an emergency,
call Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº in the Index for more information.Your vehicle has the PASS-Key
III vehicle theft
system. The key has a transponder in the key head that
matches a decoder in the vehicle's steering column.
If a replacement key or any additional key is needed,
you must purchase this key from your dealer. The key
will have PK3 stamped on it. Keep the bar code tag that
came with the original keys. Give this tag to your dealer
if you need a new key made.
Any new PASS
-Key III key must be programmed before it
will start your vehicle. See ªPASS
-Key
IIIº in the Index
for more information on programming your new key.
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.

2-7
Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

Passengers -- especially children -- can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle won't open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in
a crash if the doors aren't locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock the doors
whenever you drive.

Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.

Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your doors can help
prevent this from happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or the optional remote
keyless entry transmitter.
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.
To lock either front door from the inside, push the
manual lever forward.
To unlock either front door from the inside, pull back on
the manual lever.

2-8 Power Door Locks
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 has the content theft
-deterrent
system, the power door lock switch will not unlock the
doors until the system is disarmed. See ªContent
Theft
-Deterrentº in the Index for more details.
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 has the content theft
-deterrent system,
the power door lock switch may cause the system to
arm. See ªContent Theft
-Deterrentº in the Index for
more details.
To unlock any door or the liftgate from the outside with
your key, turn the key towards the front of the vehicle
and release it. This will only unlock that door or the
liftgate. To unlock all the doors and the liftgate at once,
insert the key into the key cylinder, then turn it towards
the front of the vehicle and hold it for one second.
With power door locks, you can lock all the doors from
the outside by inserting the key and turning the key
toward the rear of the vehicle.
Also, when the doors are locked with the power door
locks, 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, unlock 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 located above the license
plate. This is also true if you use the optional remote
keyless entry transmitter. See ªRemote Keyless Entry
Systemº later in this section.