When the air conditioner compressor is
on, you may sometimes notice slight
changes in your vehicle’s engine
performance and power. This is normal,
because the system is designed to help
fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture
from the air,
so you may sometimes
notice water dripping from under your
vehicle when it is idling or after it has
been turned off. This is normal.
On very hot days, your vehicle will cool
down more quickly and economically if
you open the windows long enough to
let hot inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature control lever and
fan speed as desired.
Directional Controls
RECIRC (Recirculate): Press to get
maximum cooling or quick cool-down
on very hot days. This setting
recirculates much of the air inside your
vehicle.
It should not be used for long
periods
of time because the air may
become too cold and dry.
Slide the temperature control lever down
to the coolest setting and adjust the fan
speed as desired.
UPPER: For normal cooling on hot
days, press
A/C along with UPPER.
This setting cools outside air and directs
it through the instrument panel outlets.
Adjust the temperature of the air with
the temperature control lever.
BI-LEV (Bi-Level): This setting is
designed for use
on sunny days when
the air is only moderately warm or cool.
On days like these, the sun may
adequately warm your upper body, but
your lower body may not be warm
enough.
The
BI-LEV setting directs outside air
into your vehicle
in two ways. Cooler
air is directed toward your upper body
through the front instrument panel
outlets, while warmed air
is directed
through the heater ducts at your feet.
At
times this temperature difference may be
more apparent than others. For best
results, slide
the temperature control
lever to the middle position, and then
adjust for comfort.
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Directional Controls (CONI)
LOWER: This setting brings in most
heated
air through the heater ducts, and
some through the defroster vents.
DEFOG: Because of your Silhouette’s
larger windshield area,
this mode is
particularly useful during cold or
inclement weather. Press to direct
warmed air to the windshield and
through the heater ducts.
DEF (Defrost): Press to direct most
warmed air to the windshield and side
window vents. To
maximize air flow to the rear of your
vehicle, place the left second row bucket
seat in the forward position (see the
Index under Adjusting Rear Seats). This
uncovers the rear air outlet.
Also keep the area around the base of
the center instrument panel console and
the area between and under the front
seats free
of objects that could obstruct
air flow to the rear.
Rear Fan
The control for the rear fan is located
below the audio system.
First, select
LOWER, BI-LEV or
DEFOG to direct air flow to the rear air
outlet and to the rear side windows. Use
the temperature control lever to adjust
the temperature setting. Then, select the
force of air you want, from
LO to HI,
by sliding the rear fan control to the
desired setting.
To maintain a comfortable temperature
in the rear area without making the front
passengers uncomfortable, adjust the front
fan speed first, then adjust the
temperature setting.
To turn off the rear fan, slide the control
to
ow.
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r I
1 Rear Climate Control
(OPTION)
If you have this option, you will have a
master control for the rear fan on the
center instrument panel console, and a
rear control next to the rear seat, on the
driver side
of the vehicle.
Rear Air Vents
To maximize air flow through the rear
heater outlet, place the left second row
bucket seat in the forward position (see
the
Index under Adjusting Rear Seats).
The vent forward of the rear heater
outlet is the cold air return vent. Be sure
to keep it free of obstructions.
Also keep the area around the base
of
the center instrument panel console and
between and under the front seats free of
objects that could obstruct air
flow to
the rear.
U307
Rear Fan-Master Central
The master control for the rear fan is
located below the audio system.
To maintain a comfortable temperature
in the rear area, select the force of air
you want, from
LO to HI, by sliding the
control to
the desired setting.
To transfer control of the rear
fan to the
rear control switch, slide the master
control to
REAR. The rear control
switch will not operate when the master
control is in any other position.
To turn off the rear fan, slide the master
control to
OFF.
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Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
Rear Fan-Rear Control
This feature allows passengers riding in
the rear seats to control the flow of air
to the rear area of the vehicle. When the
heater
is on, warmed air is directed to
the third row seats and to the rear side
windows to defog them. When the air
conditioner is on, cooled air
is directed
to the second and third row seats
through upper vents. (See the
Index
under Climate Control System. )
The rear control switch is located on the
armrest next to the second row seat, left
position. The rear fan master control on
the instrument panel must be in the
REAR position for the rear control
switch to operate.
Select the force of air you want, from
LOW to HI, by turning the switch to the
desired setting. To turn the rear fan
off,
turn the switch to OFF. The rear fan can
also be turned off at the master control.
Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, slide
the temperature control lever
all the way
to
WARM and press DEF. Adjust the
fan to the highest speed.
To keep the windshield clear and bring
in heated
air through the heater ducts,
press
DEFOG.
When the temperature outside is above freezing, the air conditioner compressor
will run in these settings to help remove
moisture
from the air.
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Your vehicle is equipped with side
window defogger vents located on the
top of the instrument panel. For
additional side window defogging, press
the
BI-LEV button and adjust the fan to
the highest speed.
Aim the side vents on
the instrument panel toward the side
windows. For increased air flow to the
side vents, close the center vents.
Rear Window Defogger (omoiv)
Press R. DEF (Rear Defog) to warm the
defogger grid on the rear window. The
indicator light will glow while the rear window defogger is operating. The rear
window defogger will turn
off
automatically after about 10 minutes. If
you turn it on again, the defogger will
operate for about five minutes only. You
can
also turn the defogger off by turning
off the ignition or pressing the switch
again.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle
license across the defogger grid on the
rear window.
119
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Comfort Controls & Pdio Systems
Flow-Through Wntilation System
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation
system supplies outside air into the
vehicle when it is moving. Outside air
will also enter the vehicle when the
heater or the air conditioning fan is
running.
c
Ventilation Tips:
Keep the hood and front air inlet free
of ice, snow, or
any other obstruction
(such as leaves). The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing
the chance of fogging the inside of
your windows.
weather,
turn the blower fan to HIGH
for a few moments before driving off.
This helps clear the intake ducts of
snow and moisture, and reduces
the
chance of fogging the inside of your
windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold
Keep the area around the base of the
center instrument panel console and
the air path under the front seats clear
of objects. This helps
air to circulate
throughout your vehicle.
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Your
i
Anti-Lock Brakes (CONE)
This light on the instrument panel will
go on when you start your vehicle.
Your anti-lock brake system has
a two-
part system check:
When you start your vehicle and begin
to drive away you may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise
and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little while this is
going on. This is the
ABS system
testing itself. (You may
also hear this
noise if you leave the ignition in the
Run position for about four seconds
before starting the vehicle.)
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal, this check won’t happen until
the vehicle goes about
4 mph (6 Wh)
or until you take your foot off the
brake pedal.
You’ll also hear a clicking noise the
next time the vehicle goes about
4
mph (6 Wh).
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock
brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light will stay on
or flash. See
the
Inda under Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. YOU’E driving safely.
Suddenly
an animal jumps out in front
You
slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. The computer separately
works the brakes at each front wheel
and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions.
of you.
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Your Driving and the Road
Driving with a Trailer (CONT.)
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand
to the
left. To move the trailer to the right,
move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer,
make wider
turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different
turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal
a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to
turn, change
lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade,
shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 Wh) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating. If
your vehicle has a 3800 V6 engine, you
should also drive in
D instead of
Overdrive when towing a trailer on
fairly level roads. This will help your
engine and transaxle run cooler in
this
condition, too.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more
than 1,000 pounds (454 kg), and
you have an automatic transaxle with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
D
instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to,
a lower gear).
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