brakes Oldsmobile Silhouette 2004 s Owner's Guide

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and may have rear
drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal ®rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes will not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation
or changing. When you have the front brake pads
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
5-40

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality GM brake parts.
When you replace parts of your braking system Ð for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
need new ones put in Ð be sure you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change Ð for the
worse. The braking performance you have come to
expect can change in many other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelcožbattery. When it is time for a new battery,
get one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery's label. We recommend an ACDelco
ž
battery.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
5-41

(A) Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter ªLTº
as the ®rst two characters in the tire size means a light
truck tire engineered to standards set by the U. S.
Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example,
if the tire size aspect ratio is ª75,º as shown in item ªCº
of the illustration, it would mean that the tire's sidewall
is 75% as high as it is wide.(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter
ªRº means radial ply construction; the letter ªDº means
diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter ªBº
means belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description:The service description
indicates the load range and speed rating of a tire.
The load index can range from 1 to 279. Speed ratings
range from ªAº to ªZº. The light truck tire size example
above shows dual or single tire con®gurations.Tire Terminology and De®nitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire's height to
its width. Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
5-64

Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, we certainly hope you'll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-442-6537, or write:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33171
Detroit, MI 48232-5171In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and speci®cations for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00
7-12

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-96
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-98
Automatic Door Locks.....................................2-62
Automatic Level Control...................................4-38
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-34
B
Backing Up....................................................4-44
Battery..........................................................5-41
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-8
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Before You Drive............................................3-85
Bench Seat, Split............................................. 1-9
Brake
Parking......................................................2-37
System Warning Light..................................3-46
Brake Fluid....................................................5-38
Brake Wear...................................................5-40
Brakes..........................................................5-38
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-30
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-52Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Headlamps.................................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-56
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps.................................5-54
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-8
Canceling the Sliding Door
Security Lock..............................................2-16
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-108
Captain Chairs, Rear.......................................1-14
Carbon Monoxide...................4-26, 4-38, 2-21, 2-42
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-95
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-98
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-100
Your CDs and DVDs....................................3-99
Cargo Lamp...................................................3-22
Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module)....................................5-49
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-71
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-71
2

T
Taillamps
Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps......5-54
TCS Warning Light..........................................3-47
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-96
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-26
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-26
PASS-Key
žIII .............................................2-28
PASS-KeyžIII Operation..............................2-28
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-7
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-58
Tire Size.......................................................5-63
Tire Terminology and De®nitions........................5-64
Tires.............................................................5-58
Buying New Tires........................................5-70
Chains.......................................................5-74
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-76
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-91
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-76
In¯ation - Tire Pressure................................5-67
Inspection and Rotation................................5-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-73Tires (cont.)
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-73
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-70
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-33
Top Strap......................................................1-56
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-57
Torque Lock...................................................2-40
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires..................4-41
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-38
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Active Message...........................................3-54
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-8
Control System Warning Light.......................3-47
Service Traction System Warning
Message.................................................3-53
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-42
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................4-46
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-19
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-34
Transfer Case (Power Transfer Unit)..................5-48
15