light OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 2003 Service Manual

Defogging and Defrosting
There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows
of fog or moisture and warm
the defrost mode to remove
windshield more quickly.
Turn the right knob to select the passengers.
Use
fog or frost from the
the defog or defrost mode.
+3 (Defog): This mode directs air to the windshield
and the floor outlets. When you select this mode,
the system turns
off recirculation and runs the
air-conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. The recirculation
mode cannot be selected while in the defog mode.
(Defrost): Pressing this button directs most of the
air to the windshield and the side window outlets, with
some air directed to the floor outlets. In this mode,
the system will automatically turn
off recirculation and
run the air-conditioning compressor, unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezina. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in the defrost mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
@ REAR: Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or
off. An indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn
off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately
five minutes before turning
off. The defogger can also
be turned
off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
Notice: Don’t use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window.
If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
3-27

a (Outside Air): Press this button to turn the
outside air mode on or
off. When this mode is on,
outside air will circulate throughout your vehicle.
When this mode is on, an indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that it is activated.
The outside air mode can be used with all modes,
but it cannot be used with the recirculation mode.
(Recirculation): This mode keeps outside air
from coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or help
heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Press this button to turn the recirculation mode on or
off.
When the button is pressed, an indicator light will
come on. The air-conditioning compressor also comes
on. The recirculation mode can be used with vent
and bi-level modes, but it cannot be used with floor,
defog, defrost or outside air modes.
Temperature Control: Use the driver’s and
passenger’s temperature levers to increase or decrease
the air temperature inside your vehicle.
a A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn
the air-conditioning system on or off. When
A/C is
pressed, an indicator light in the button will come on
to let you know that air conditioning is activated. You may
notice a slight change in engine performance
when the air-conditioning compressor shuts
off and
turns
on again. This is normal. The system is designed
to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while
still maintaining the selected temperature.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the recirculation mode.
3. Select
A/C.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become
too dry. To prevent this from happening, after the
recirculation mode
off.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air,
so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning
off the engine. This is normal.
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3-29

Defogging and Defrosting
There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows
of fog or moisture and warm the passengers. Use
the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly.
Turn the right knob to select the defog or defrost mode.
@ (Defog): This mode directs air to the windshield
and the floor outlets. When you select this mode,
the system turns
off recirculation and runs the
air-conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. The recirculation
mode cannot be selected while in the defog mode.
(Defrost): Pressing this button directs most of the
air to the windshield and the side window outlets, with
some air directed to the floor outlets. In this mode,
the system will automatically turn
off recirculation and
run the air-conditioning compressor, unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in the defrost mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
@ REAR: Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or
off. An indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn
off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately
five minutes before turning
off. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
Notice: Don’t use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
3-30

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.
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.
Your vehicle also has a message center that works
along with the warning lights and gages. See
Message
Center on page
3-52.
3-39

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster 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.
The indicator warning lights and gages are explained on the following pages.
United States version shown, Canada similar
3-40

The trip odometers will continue to keep track of
miles (kilometers) driven even
if they are not currently
displayed. To reset the odometer to zero
(0), press
and hold the tripheset button for at least
1.5 seconds,
but less than three seconds. Only the trip odometer that
is showing in the display will be reset.
Retro-Active Reset
Each of the two trip odometers has a feature callea
retro-active reset. This feature can be used to set
either (or both) trip odometer(s) to the number of miles
(kilometers) driven since the ignition was last turned
on. This can be used
if you forget to reset your
trip odometer at the beginning of a trip. To use the
retro-active reset feature, press and hold the tripheset
button for at least three seconds. The trip odometer
will then display the number of miles (kilometers) driven
since the ignition was last turned on and you began
driving. (If you use the retro-active reset feature
after you have started the vehicle, but before you begin
moving, the display will show the number of miles
(kilometers) you drove during the last ignition cycle.) Once you
begin driving, the trip odometer will
accumulate mileage. For example,
if you have driven
5.0 miles (8.0 km) since you started your vehicle,
and then activate the retro-active reset feature, the
display will show
5.0 miles (8.0 km). As you drive,
the display will then increase to
5.1 miles (8.2 km),
5.2 miles (8.4 km), etc. Only the trip odometer that is
displayed will be affected by the retro-active reset
so that both trip odometers can be used separately.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light will also come on and stay
on for several seconds.
If the driver’s belt is
already buckled, neither
the chime nor the light
will come on.
3-42

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. 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 sensor, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see
Air Bag
Systems on page
1-69.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, 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
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
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start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags
in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness
light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
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.
3-43

Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on
if your parking brake
doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means you have a brake
problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system
is divided
into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good braking,
though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a
brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to
RUN. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
closer
to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
3-44

If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
See
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
F e 3-45 and Towing \’ rr Vehicle on page 4-32.
Your brake system may not be working
properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
r
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have
this light. If it does, the
anti-lock brake system
warning light should come
on for
a few seconds
when you turn the ignition
key to RUN.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, the anti-lock brake system needs
service and you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
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on briefly 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.
3-45

Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
TRAC
OFF
United States Canada
Your vehicle may have a traction control system
warning light. The traction control system warning light
may come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
button located in the instrument panel switchbank
the warning light will come on and stay on.
To
turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go
off. See Traction
Control System
(TCS) on page 4-10 for more
information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn
off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
3-46