heating OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 2003 Owners Manual

Liftgate
To unlock the liftgate from the outside, turn the key in
the cylinder clockwise or use the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
To lock the liftgate using the key,
turn the key counterclockwise.
Open the liftgate using the handle located above the
license plate. Once slightly opened, the liftgate will rise
by itself. Lamps
in the rear of the vehicle will come
on, illuminating the rear cargo area. See
lnterior Lamps
on page 3-17.
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.
It can be dangerous to drive w ~~~ 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:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to
its highest speed and select the
control setting 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.
2-22

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to
direct the airflow inside of your vehicle. To
change the current mode, select one of the following:
2 (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
+2 (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel outlets, then directs the remaining
air to the floor outlets. Cooler air is directed to the
upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
tg (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets. Use this mode to send air to the rear of the
vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free of
objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear of the
vehicle.
The right knob can also be used to select defog or
defrost mode. For more information, see “Defogging and
Defrosting” later in this section.
8f? (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
?-c!rn the knnh tn OFF tn tL!!-!-! nfF the f3.n. The ?E!!? FLlSt he
turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate.
3-25

Dual Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to
direct the airflow inside of your vehicle. To
change the current mode, select one of the following:
f;’ (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
+2 (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel outlets, then directs the remaining
air to the floor outlets. Cooler air is directed
to the
upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
‘/i (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets. Use this mode to send air to the rear of the
vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free of
objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear of the
vehicle.
The right knob can also be used
to select defog or
defrost mode. For more information, see “Defogging and
Defrosting” later in this section.
@ (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn
off the fan. The fan must be
turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate.
3-28

Directing the Airflow
To direct the airflow to the rear-seating area, use the
right knob located on the main climate-control panel.
Select vent or bi-level mode to direct air to the
rear of the vehicle through the overhead outlets.
Select floor, defog or defrost mode to direct air to
the rear of the vehicle through the floor outlets.
Generally the upper outlets are used for air cor
and the floor outlets are used for heating.
Selecting the Fan Speed
8@ (Fan): Turn the fan knob on either rear far 1
ditioning
control
to numeral
1, 2, or 3 to increase or decrease airflow
to the rear-seating area. Turn the fan knob on either rear
fan control to
0 or OFF to turn off the fan.
Setting the Temperature
If the driver is adjusting the temperature, do the
following:
To increase or decrease the temperature for the entire
vehicle, use the temperature controls located on the
main climate-control panel.
If using the main climate-control panel, then the
air-conditioning system must be on to direct cooled air
to the rear of the vehicle. If it is not on, then the
temperature in the rear of the vehicle will remain at
cabin temperature.
If a rear-seat passenger is adjusting the temperature,
do the following:
Turn the right knob, located on the overhead
rear-control panel, behind the driver’s seat, clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or lower the temperature in
the rear-seating area only.
3-33

Directing the Airflow
These controls are overhead, on the control panel located
behind the front seats.
A rear-seat passenger can use
these controls to personally adjust the temperature and
the fan speed for the rear-seating area.
The fan knob located on the switchbank must be turned
to
R (Rear) to allow the rear-seat passengers to use
the controls located on the control panel in the
rear-seating area.
If this fan knob is not in R when the
FAN or TEMP button is pressed, the rear control
panel will show
DISABLED.
To direct the airflow to the rear-seating area, use the
right knob located on the main climate-control panel.
Select vent or bi-level mode to direct air to the
rear of the vehicle through the overhead outlets.
Select floor, defog or defrost mode to direct air to
the rear of the vehicle through the floor outlets.
Generally the upper outlets are used for air conditioning
and the floor outlets are used for heating.
Selecting the Fan Speed
If the driver is adjusting the fan speed, use the
following control:
@ (Fan): Turn the fan knob on the rear fan control
located below the main climate-control system on
the switchbank to numeral
1, 2, or 3 to increase or
decrease airflow to the rear-seating area. Turn the fan
knob on the rear fan control to
0 to turn off the fan.
!? 9 rear-se2.t passenger IC 2dj!E?k?g the f2n speed,
use the following control:
FAN: Press the FAN button on the rear control panel.
The display will show the current setting. Press the
left and right arrow buttons to cycle through the available
settings:
OFF, LOW, MED and HIGH.
3-35

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States
\[-I/
u
Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
drivinq conditions, vou should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States or Check Engine Light
in Canada
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-
Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that
emissions are at accepiabie ieveis ior ine iiie
of ihe
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.
3-47

All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning
Message
AWD
DISABLE
I I I I
United States Canada
Your vehicle may have this message. If
it does, it will
come on when there is a spare tire on the vehicle, or
when the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
or when the rear differential fluid is overheating. This
message will go out when the differential fluid cools.
The all-wheel-drive system will be disabled until the
compact spare tire is replaced by a full-size tire.
If the warning message is still on after putting on the
tull-slze tire, you need to reset the warning message.
To reset the warning message, turn the ignition
off
and then back on again. If the message stays on,
see your dealer right away. See
All-Wheel Drive
(A WD)
System on page 4-1 I for more information.
Low Fuel Warning Message
I
United States Canada
If your fuel is low, the warning message will come on
and stay on until you add fuel.
If the warning message is still on after adding fuel,
you need to reset the warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition off and then back on.
If the message stays on, see your dealer.
3-59

Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue
of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road
if it becomes separated from
the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not
attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough
slack
so you can turn with your rig. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 Ibs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install,
adjust and maintain them properly.
Because your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do,
both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
If you have a rear-most window open and
you pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. See “Engine
Exhaust” in the Index.
To maximize your safety
when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window
in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
the comfort control setting for maximum air because
it only recirculates the air
inside your vehicle. See ‘“Comfort
Controls” in
the Index.
4-40

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of
Your Vehicle .............................................. 5-4
Fuel
.............................................................. -5-5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5-5
Gasoline Specifications
................................... 5-5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
....................... .... ......... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
........... ..... 5-7
Filling Your Tank
............................ ..... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-9
Checking Things Under the
Hood .................. -5-1 0
Hood Release .............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview ....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-14
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-19
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................... 5-26
Engine Overheating
.................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................. , ....... 5-29
Power Steering Fluid .................. , ....... 5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid
................. , ....... 5-38
Brakes
.......................... .... ........ 5-39
r.--.:.-- ---I-.- b CI lyll IC uuvlal I1 4-LU c r)r) .............................................
Battery ........................................................ 5.43
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-44
All-Wheel Drive
.............................................. 5-50
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-52
Halogen Bulbs
.............................. ......... 5-52
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Headlamps
...................................... ..... 5-52
Parking Lamps
.............................. ..... 5-54
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-57
Back-up Lamps
......................................... 5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-58
Tires
.............................................................. 5-60
Inflation
- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-62
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-63
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.......................... 5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-66
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-66
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-67
Accessory Inflator
......................................... 5-68
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-69
Changing a Flat Tire ..................................... 5-70
Compact Spare Tire ...................................... 5-86
5- 1

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low.
If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-26.
A 5060 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F
(129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning messages and gages work as they
should.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use
of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@
is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
5-23