tow Oldsmobile Silhouette 2002 s User Guide

1-62
Third Row (Stowable Seat)
The anchor bar for the stowable bench seat is located on
the passenger's side of the crossbar. Use the center
seating position to use the anchor bar properly. If the
convenience center is in the vehicle, you must lift the
tray sill to use the anchor. See ªConvenience Centerº
in the Index for more information.
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You'll find
anchors (A) in both second row captain's chairs.
To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this
child restraint system, each seating position with the
LATCH system will have latches between the seatback
and cushion.

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CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can't properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured. A belt must be used by
only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child's face or neck?
A:Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child's
shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide. If the
child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see
ªRear Safety Belt Comfort Guidesº in the Index.
If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child's face or neck, you might
want to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt,
if your vehicle has one.

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. From the inside, use the
manual or power door locks.
To unlock either front door from the outside with the key,
insert the key and turn it toward the front of the vehicle.
To lock either front door from the outside with your key
insert the key and turn it toward the rear of the vehicle.
To unlock either front door from the inside, pull back on
the manual lever. To lock either front door from the
inside, push the manual lever forward.

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 toward 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 toward
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 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.

2-26 Exiting Programming Mode
To exit programming mode, turn the key from
ACCESSORY to OFF and put the BCM PRGRM
fuse back into the instrument panel fuse block.
After programming a feature, you can exit the
programming mode at anytime. Also, if your vehicle is
equipped with the content theft
-deterrent system,
remember to arm the system before exiting.
Dual Sliding Doors
To open either sliding door from outside the vehicle,
pull the handle out and then pull the door toward the
rear. If you slide the door all the way back, the door will
rest in a detent position.
To move the door forward, you must first pull the door
past the open detent position.
The driver's side sliding door is designed to open only a
little if the fuel door is open. If this ever happens, don't
try to force the sliding door. Just close the driver's side
sliding door. Then when the fuel filler door is closed, the
driver's side sliding door can be opened normally.
Sliding Door Lock

2-32
CAUTION:
If your vehicle is facing downward on a steep
grade (15 percent or more), the door may not
stay open and could slam shut, possibly injuring
someone. To make sure the door does not slam
shut, turn on the power sliding door feature.
Then if the door closes, it will close under the
control of the power door system.
If you want to close the power sliding door(s) when the
override switch(es) is turned off, pull the inside or
outside handle or the edge of the door. Move the door
about 4 inches (10 cm) toward the closed position and
release it. The door will close completely and latch
for you.
To close the power sliding door(s) when the override
switch(es) is turned on, pull the inside or outside
handle and slide the door all the way forward to the
latched position.

2-42
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:

Don't drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.

Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.

Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn the key
to five different positions.
A (ACCESSORY): This is the position in which you can
operate your electrical accessories. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top of the key toward you.
B (LOCK): This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This position locks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle.

2-43
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. Turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
C (OFF): This position unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle, but does not send 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.D (RUN): This is the position to which the switch
returns after you start the 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 accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning lights.
E (START): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
If the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and RUN
are positions that allow you to operate the electrical
accessories, such as the radio.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With RAP, the power windows, the power rear quarter
windows (if equipped), audio system and electronic
level control (ELC) will continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to
OFF and none of the doors are opened.

2-47
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Maximum engine speed is limited when you're in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This gear position locks your front wheels.
It's the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can't move easily.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system. You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN. As you step on the
brake pedal, while in PARK (P), you may hear a click
from the solenoid of the system. This ensures that the
system is operating properly.If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
ªShifting Out of PARK (P)º in this section.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº
in the Index.

2-48
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
ªStuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn't connect with the wheels. To restart when you're
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is ªracingº (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don't shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn't covered by your warranty.