tow Oldsmobile Silhouette 2004 s Owner's Guide

2.1. Pull the lever toward you. 2.2. Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
2-39

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ®rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called torque lock.
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see
Shifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-38.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-40

{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-42.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust Ð with CO Ð can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See
Winter Driving on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not 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 will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-38.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-38.
2-43

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lights behind you, pull the lever
toward you to the night position. To return the mirror to
the day position, push the lever away from you.
Outside Power Mirrors
The control located on the
driver's door operates both
outside rearview mirrors.Turn the control counterclockwise to select the driver's
side rearview mirror, or clockwise to select the
passenger's side rearview mirror.
Then use the control to adjust each mirror so that you
can see a little of the side of your vehicle and the
area beside and behind your vehicle when you are
sitting in a comfortable driving position.
If you are not adjusting either mirror, leave the control in
the center off position. This prevents moving the
mirrors accidentally once you have them adjusted.
Both outside mirrors can be folded forward or rearward.
In the rearward position, they will fold almost ¯ush
with the vehicle. This feature is particularly useful in
automatic car washes.
2-44

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.
2-52

Front Seat Storage Net
There may be a storage net that stretches between the
front seats. Pull the hooks towards the passenger's
seat and insert them into the holes.
To store the net, lift the hooks up and out of the holes.
The net does not detach from the driver's seat.
When not in use, it is recommended that you unhook
the net to extend its life and retain its elasticity.
Luggage Carrier
{CAUTION:
If you try to carry something on top of your
vehicle that is longer or wider than the luggage
carrier Ð like paneling, plywood, a mattress
and so forth Ð the wind can catch it as you
drive along. This can cause you to lose
control. What you are carrying could be
violently torn off, and this could cause you or
other drivers to have a collision, and of course
damage your vehicle. You may be able to carry
something like this inside. But, never carry
something longer or wider than the luggage
carrier on top of your vehicle.
2-54

Convenience Center
{CAUTION:
If any removable convenience item is not
secured properly, it can move around in a
collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle
could be injured. Be sure to secure any such
item properly.
Your vehicle may have a convenience center. It comes
with the stowable seat. It provides extra storage
space for the rear of the vehicle.
To open the convenience center, pull up on the door latch
located in the front. The convenience center cover has
two automatic prop rods to hold it up and in place.
To close the convenience center cover you must pull
one of the prop rod linkages toward you while holding
onto the door latch and lower the convenience
center cover to close it.
Removing the Convenience Center
1. Make sure that all items are off of the convenience
center and that it is empty.
2. Turn the hand knob counterclockwise until the knob
is loose.
3. Lift up on the hand knob, then grip the convenience
center to lift it up.
4. Pull the convenience center toward you to pull it out.
Replacing the Convenience Center
1. Make sure the stowable seat is properly installed in
the vehicle. SeeStowable Seat on page 1-19for
more information. If the stowable seat is not in the
vehicle with the convenience center, the
convenience center will not be locked into the
correct position in the vehicle.
2. Make sure that the convenience center is closed.
3. Lift the convenience center up and into the rear
of the vehicle.
2-58

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. Press down on the front of the convenience 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 while the stowable
seat is folded down. To do this, ¯ip 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 lbs. (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 lbs. (181.6 kg).
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
2-59

If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and check the
fuse. See
Bulb Replacement on page 5-50andFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-101.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will ¯ash at a
normal rate even if a turn signal bulb is burned
out. Check the front and rear turn signal lamps regularly
to make sure they are working.
Turn Signal On Chime
If either turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound to let the driver know to
turn it off. If you need to leave the signal on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km), turn off the signal and then
turn it back on.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from high to low beam or
from low to high, pull the turn signal lever all the
way toward you and release it.When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
Your fog lamps will turn off when you switch to high
beams. Using your high beams in fog is not
recommended.
Flash-to-Pass
When the headlamps are off, pull the lever toward you
to momentarily switch on the high beams. This will
signal that you are going to pass. When you release
the lever, they will turn off.
3-9

Windshield Wipers
WIPER:Turn this band to operate the
windshield wipers.
MIST:Turn the band to MIST for a single wiping cycle.
Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let go. The
wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipes,
hold the band on mist longer.
OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn off the
windshield wipers.
LOW:Turn the band to LOW, for steady wiping
at low speed.
HIGH:Turn the band to HIGH, for steady wiping
at high speed.
DELAY:Turn the band away from you to one of the
®ve sensitivity settings between OFF and LOW, to
choose the delayed wiping cycle. The further the band
is turned toward LOW, the shorter the delay will be.
Use this setting for light rain or snow.Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
L
(Windshield Washer):Press and hold the
windshield washer paddle with this symbol on it to wash
your windshield. The washers and wipers will operate.
When you release the paddle, the washers will stop, and
the wipers will continue to operate for two cycles,
unless your wipers had already been on. In that case,
the wipers will resume the wiper speed you had selected
earlier.
3-10