load capacity OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 2003 Owners Manual

Storage Areas
Your vehicle's large carrying capacity can store many
items.
If you have the extended wheelbase version, you
can carry things as large as a
4' x 8' piece of plywood.
You can also use the floor pins that are used to
attach the seats, to secure larger loads.
Glove Box
Your vehicle has a glove box below the instrument
panel.
To open the glove box, lift the latch release.
The glove box door has a detent to prevent the door
from lowering too far. Open the glove box until the door
is partway open, then pull the door down if you need
it fully open. To close the glove box, the door must
be pushed up past the detent.
Cupholder(s)
There are cupholders located below the center
instrument panel switchbank. The cupholders have a
removable liner for larger size cups and for cleaning
the cupholders.
To use the cupholders, simply pull out the tray.
Keep the tray stowed in when not in use. Your
vehicle also has cupholders on the bottom inboard
side of the second row driver's side captain's chairs
and the seatbacks have cupholders that can be
used when the seatbacks are folded forward.
Compact Overhead Console
The front overhead console includes two reading lamps,
a storage compartment and a switchbank.
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When you carry cargo on the luggage carrier of a
proper size and weight, put it on the slats, as far fowa
as you can. Then slide the crossrail up against the
rear of the load, to help keep it from moving. You can
then tie it down.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, see
Loading Your Vehicle on
page
4-34.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving,
check now and then to make sure the luggage
carrier and cargo are still securely fastened. .rd
Notice: Loading
cargo that weighs more than
150 Ibs. (68 kg) on the luggage carrier may damage
your vehicle.
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Convenience Net
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. The
convenience net is designed to help keep small loads,
like grocery bags, from falling over. Install the
convenience net at the rear
of your vehicle,
inside the liftgate.
To use the convenience net, do the following:
2. Attach the lower hooks to the metal rings on the floor.
3. Once you’ve loaded items into the net, stretch the
higher side
of the net up and over the top of the
load to hold it firmly in place.
1. Attach the upper loops to the posts on either side
of the liftgate opening. The label on the net should
be in the upper left-hand corner. The convenience
net has a maximum capacity of
100 Ibs. (45 kg). It is not designed to hold larger, heavier
loads. Store such loads on the floor of your vehicle,
as far forward
as you can.
When not in use, it
is recommended that you take down
the convenience net to extend the life of the net and
to help retain its elasticity, and to keep the rear
exit clear.
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I
I’
4. Put the tray sill, located on the back of the
convenience center, in the upright position.
5. Slide the convenience center in and align it so that
the forks, located on the bottom rear of the
convenience center, slide into the seat anchors.
6. PESS dc>jc? c?n the frnnt cf the ccnv~nience center
so the center locates on the sill mounting bracket.
7. Turn the hand knob clockwise until it is tight.
8. Pull up on the convenience center to make sure it
is locked into place. The
tray sill can be folded down onto the stowable seat
to close the space between the two when the stowable
seat
is folded down. To do this, flip the sill plate up
and over toward the stowable seat.
The cover of the convenience center can be left in its
upright position while the vehicle is moving.
The convenience center has six hooks on the inside
cover for hanging items on. The prop rods can hold
up to
49 Ibs. (21.8 kg) on the cover of the convenience
center while in its upright position.
The convenience center and the stowable seat both
have a maximum weight capacity of
400 Ibs. (181.6 kg).
Nofice: Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because
of overloading.
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Loading Your Vehicle
The CertificationDire label is found on the rear edge of
the driver's door.
The label shows the size of your original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle. This is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. The
Certificationflire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
To find out the actual loads
on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load
equally on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the GAWR
for e:'"er the front or rear axle.
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and
it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose
control and crash.
Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle.
Notice: Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because
of overloading.
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Towiv a Trailer
=mm
If you don’t use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well
-- or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps
in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result
in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice
in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle. Additional rear axle maintenance
is required for a vehicle used to tow a trailer.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. Your
vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment
and
it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many
of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
4-36

Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,400 Ibs. (630 kg) with
up to six occupants or more than
2,000 Ibs. (900 kg)
with up to two occupants.
If you have the optional trailer
towing package, your vehicle can tow up to 2,900 Ibs.
(1 300 kg) with up to six occupants or up to 3,500 Ibs.
(1 575 kg) with up to two occupants. But even that
can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example,
speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and
how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all
important. And, it can also depend on any special
equipment that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 33171
Detroit,
MI 48232-51 71
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight
to measure because
it affects the total or gross weight
of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you
may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in
the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight,
too. See Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-34 for more information about your vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.
A B
4-38

Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace
it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
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