1993 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE ECU

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
don’t shift your transaxle into
P (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, always be sure
to shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see the
Index under Shifting Into P (Park).
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of P (Park) 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 transaxle,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of
P (Park).
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Oldsmobile in good shape
for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant
mix is correct.
* Snow tires can help in loose snow, but
they may give you less traction on ice
than regular tires.
If you do not expect
to be driving in deep snow, but may
have to travel over ice, you may not
want
to switch to snow tires at all.
You may want to put winter
emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Include
an ice scraper, a small brush
or broom,
a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag,
some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight,
a
red cloth, and a couple of reflective
warning triangles. And,
if you will be
driving under severe conditions,
include a small bag
of sand, a piece of
old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items
in your
vehicle.
173
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1 Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting out
for the open road, you’ll want to get
to
know your rig. Acquaint yourself with
the feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and
not nearly
so responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment.
If the trailer has electric
brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
If you have a rear-most
window open and you pull a
mler 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 the
Inh under Engine Exhausb). To I
maximize your safety when towing
a trailer:
@ Have your exhaust system
inspected for leaks, and Make
necessary yirs before starting
on your trip.
closed.
If exhaust does corne into your
vehicle through a window in the
fear or another opening, drive
with your front, main heating or
cmling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This WU bring
fresh, outside air into your
vehicle.
Do not use RECIRC
because it only recirculates the
air imide ywr vehick, See the
Index under Comfort &m&.
e KWP the =-most windows
During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that
require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal longer,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return
to your lane.
0
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Problems on the Road
192
Towing Your Oldsmobile (CONT.:)
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed
from the front with sling-type
equipment.
drive.
vehicle. lever.
damaged.
That your vehicle has front-wheel
The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
If there was an accident, what was
When the towing service arrives, let the
tow operator know that this manual
contains detailed towing instructions and
illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
1 X6016
m,. ,
L ‘~‘n help avoid injury to you or
0 Never let passengers ride in a
vehicle that is
being towed.
* Never tow faster than safe or
0 Never tow with damaged parts
0 Never get under your vehicle
posted speeds.
not fully secured.
after it has been lifted by the tow
truck.
chains on each side when towing
a vehicle.
Never use “J” hooks. Use T-
hooks instead.
* Always use separate safety When your vehicle is being towed, have
the
ignition key
off. The steering wheel
should be clamped in a straight-ahead
position, with
a clamping device
designed for towing service. Do not use
the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transaxle should be
in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on
the
front wheels, unless you must. If the
vehicle must be towed on the front
wheels, don’t
go more than 35 mph
(56 km/h) or farther than 50 miles
(80 km) or your transaxle will be
damaged. If these limits must be
exceeded,
then the front wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.
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CAUTION
A
A vehicle can fall from a car
carrier if it isn’t properly
secured. This can cause a
collision, serious personal injury
and vehicle damage. The vehicle
should be tightly secured with
chains or steel cables before
it is
transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes,
C;-
leather straps, canvas webbing, &%
etc.) that can be cut by sharp edges‘
underneath the towed vehicle.
a
X508 1
Towing from the Front-
Vehice
Hook-up
Before hooking up to a tow truck, be
sure to read
all the information on
Towing Your Oldsrnobile earlier in this
section.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment
or fascia damage will occur. Use wheel-
lift or car carrier equipment. Additional
ramping may be required for car carrier
equipment. Use safety chains and wheel
straps.
1. Attach T-hook chains on both sides
in the slotted holes in the bottom of
the frame rails, about 2 feet behind
the front wheels.
193
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Problems on the Road
210
Changing a FIat Tire (CONT:)
1 6. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence as shown. Don’t
try to put a wheel cover on the
compact spare tire. It won’t fit. Store the
wheel cover securely in the rear of the
vehicle until
you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.
..;~ compact spare. If you try to 1
I-
.- wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover
Stop somewhere as soon
as you can and
have the nuts tightened with a torque
wrench. The torque setting should be
100 pound-feet (140 Nom).
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3.1L V6: Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace:
1. Remove the large wing nut and lift
can cause a damaging engine fire. 3
And, dirt can easily get into your the
cover.
engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner in
dace when you’re driving.
3.1L V6: Replacing Air Cleaner Filter
2. Remove the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing
nut securely.
231
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Service & Appearance Care
232
3800 V6: Checking Air Cleaner Filter
To Check or Replace:
I,+ Loosen the four wing nuts.
Air Cleaner (CONT.)
3800 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner
Filter
2. Pull the top of the air cleaner toward
the front of the vehicle and remove
the air cleaner filter.
3. Be sure to install the air cleaner filter,
replace the cover and tighten the
wing nuts securely.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transaxle fluid level is when the engine
oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See the
Index under
Scheduled Maintenance Services.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at an Oldsmobile dealership
Service Department. If you do it
yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
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Service & Appearance Care
Taillight Bulb Replacement
For the type of bulb, see the Ida under
Replacement Bulbs.
1. Open the rear side windows and
2. Remove the two screws from the
3. Undo the spring clips under the
liftgate.
taillight housing.
weatherstrip at the rear
of the side
window.
4. Pull off the entire taillight housing.
5. Pinch the lever and twist the bulb
assembly
yS turn counterclockwise to
remove.
6. Remove the bulb by pressing in and
turning
y8 turn counterclockwise.
7. Line up the small retainer bumps on
the replacement bulb
so that the
lower bump slides into the deepest
slot in the housing. Press
in and twist
the bulb
y8 turn clockwise.
Reposition the bulb assembly in the
taillight housing.
Turn the assembly
y6 turn clockwise to lock in place.
and screws.
8. Replace the entire taillight housing
9. Attach the spring clips to the
taillight housing and secure them.
liftgate. signals and taillights.
IO. Close the rear side windows and
1 1. Test the bulbs by using your turn
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