1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE headlight

Your Driving and the Road
144
Driving too fast through large water
puddles or even going through some car
washes can cause problems, too. The
water may affect your brakes. Try to
avoid puddles. But
if you can’t, try to
slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much
water can build up under your tires that
they can actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough
and you’re going fast enough. When
your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little
or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often.
But it can if your tires haven’t much
tread or if the pressure in one or more is
low. It can happen
if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see
reflections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops
“dimple” the water’s surface, there
could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher
speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best
advice is to slow down when it is
raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlights -
not just your parking lights - to help
make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some
extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to
have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. (See
Tires in the Index.)
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
150
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats
- anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm,
but be careful. Run your engine
ody as long as you
must. This saves fuel. When you run the
engine, make it go a little faster than
just idle. That
is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat
that you get and
it keeps the battery
charged.
You will need a well-charged
battery to restart the vehicle, and
possibly for signaling later on with your
headlights. Let the heater run for
awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the
window almost
all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when
you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it
as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as
long as you can.
To help keep warm,
you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half
hour or
so until help comes.
ProCarManuals.com

Service &Appearance Care
204
Headlight Bulb Replacement
For the type of bulb, see the Index
under Replacement Bulbs.
1. Remove the two black knobs.
2. Tilt the bulb housing forward.
3. Twist the L-shaped bulb assembly
counterclockwise
M turn until the
flanges align with the slots in the
retainer ring.
4. Pull out the bulb assembly.
5. Disconnect the bulb wiring harness
from the bulb assembly by lifting the
plastic locking tab.
6. Snap a new bulb assembly onto the
7. Replace the bulb assembly by
8. Replace the bulb housing and the two
wiring harness.
reversing step
3.
black knobs.
Taillight Bulb Replacement
For the type of bulb, see the Index
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.
ProCarManuals.com

have been approved for use on General
~ Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to
Federal safety requirements in addition
to these grades.
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.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. 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. If wheel nuts keep
coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If
the wheel leala air, replace it (except
some aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your Oldsmobile 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.
If you need to replace any of your
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Oldsmobile model.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
21 1
ProCarManuals.com

Injector 3365 Fuse
(3800 V6 ENGINE ONLY)
This 20-amp fuse is located underhood,
on a bracket just behind the passenger
side headlight. It is mounted on the face
of the bracket in the position closest to
the passenger side of the vehicle. The
fuse services the injectors, fuel pump,
oil pressure sender and fuel pump
switch.
To access the fuse, pry back the latch
with a screwdriver, then pull down on
the base
of the unit. If you need to
replace the fuse, be sure to use a 20-
amp fuse.
Push the base of the unit firmly up into
the cover until the latch snaps into the
locked position.
Headlight Wiring
The headlight wiring is protected by a
circuit breaker in the light switch. An
electrical overload will cause the lights
to go on and off: or
in some cases to
remain off. If this happens, have your
headlight system checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is
protected by a circuit breaker and a
fuse.
If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop
until the motor cools.
If the overload is
caused by some electrical problem, have
it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the circuit
breakerhelay panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories.
When the current load is too heavy, the
circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem
is fixed.
223
ProCarManuals.com

~ Service & Appearance .... Care
228
Replacement Bulbs
OUTSIDE LIGHTS
Back-up
Lights ........................................................................\
....
Center High-Mounted Stop Light ..............................................
Front Parkinflurn Signal Lights ..............................................
License Plate Light ......................................................................
Halogen Headlights
Outer
........................................................................\
.................
Inner ........................................................................\
.................
Fog Lights ........................................................................\
............
Front Side Marker Lights ...........................................................
Stop/Tail/Turn Signal Lights
Upper
2 Positions .....................................................................
Lower 2 Positions .....................................................................
Underhood Light ........................................................................\
.
BULB
3057
577
3357
194
9006
9005
HI-55W 194NA
194
2057
561
.
ProCarManuals.com

lndex
Accessory Power Outlet ................... 84
Adding Brake Fluid
............................. 201. 227
Electrical Equipment
........ .60. 117 . 2 19
Engine Coolant
.......... 167.197.224. 227
Engine Oil
.............................. 190. 224
Power Steering Fluid
..... 199.225. 227
Sound Equipment
.......................... 11 7
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 195. 224. 227
Windshield Washer Fluid
...... 200. 227
Air Bag Readiness Light
..................... 27
Air Bags
............................................... 26
Air Cleaner
............................... 194. 226
Air Conditioner
................................ 11 1
Air Inflator System ............................. 85
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence
of ..................................... 132
Alcohol in Gasoline
.......................... 183
Aluminum Wheels .................... 21 1. 216
Antenna
............................................ 129
Anti-Lock
.......................................... 135
Anti-Lock Brake System
................... 135
Brake Master Cylinder ................... 201
Junction Block Fuse
...................... 222
Warning Light
................................ 104
Appearance Care
.............................. 212
Adjusting
Rear Seats
.......................... 17
Antifreeze
......................... 197. 224. 227
Ashtrays and Lighter
.................... 89. 90 Audio
Systems
.................................. 117
AM/FM Stereo Radio
.................... 1 19
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Compact
Disc Player
..................................... 124
Care
of Audio Systems .................. 128
Setting the Clock
........................... 117
Steering Wheel Touch Controls
.... 127
Adding Fluid
.................. 197. 225. 227
Checking Fluid
............................... 195
Shifting
............................................. 62
Battery
............................................ 203
Jump Starting
................................. 158
Battery Warning Gage ...................... 103
Blizzard
............................................. 149
Brake Cassette
Player
...................... 120. 122
Radio Reception. For the Best
...... 128
Automatic Transaxle
(( Blowout. .. Tire ................................ 172
Adjustment
.................................... 202
Anti-Lock Brakes
.......................... 135
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
............................................ 104
Fluid
....................................... 201. 227
Parking
............................................. 65
Pedal Travel
................................... 202
Rear
Drums .................................... 202
Junction
Block Fuse
...................... 222
Master Cylinder
............................. 201 Warning Light
................................ 103
Wear Indicators
............................. 202
Brake System Warning Light
........... 103
Braking
............................................. 134
Braking in Emergencies
................... 138
Braking Technique
........................... 134
“Break.1n.
.. New Vehicle ............. 57. 152
Bucket Seats. Removable Rear
.......... 15
Buckling Up (see
Safety Belts)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
....................................... 203
Taillight
.......................................... 204
Bulbs, Replacement
.......................... 228
Capacities
81 Specifications ............ 224
Carbon Monoxide in
Exhaust
...................... 57, 68. 150. 154
Cassette Tape Player
(see
Audio Systems )
Center Passenger Position
(see
Safety Belts)
Chains. Safety ................................... 154
Chains. Tire
.............................. 179, 212
Changing a Flat Tire
......................... 172
Checking
Brake Fluid
.................................... 201
Engine Coolant
.............................. 197
Engine Oil ...................................... 190
Power Steering Fluid
..................... 199
Safety Belt Systems
......................... 41
.
263
ProCarManuals.com

266
Gate Ajar Light ................................ 107
Gear Positions
Gearshift Lever
Glove Boxes/Storage (see
Shifting the Transaxle )
(see Shifting the Transaxle)
Compartment 88
alogen Bulbs ............................... 203
...................................
H
Hazard
Warning Flashers ................ 158
Replacing
....................................... 203
Headlights
.......................................... 74
Headlight
& Taillight. Removing
and
High-Low Beam Changer
.................. 75
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
.. 76
On” Reminder
................................ 75
Replacement Bulb
.......................... 228
Wiring
............................................ 223
Head Restraint
................................... 14
Heater (see
Comfort Controls)
High Beams ........................................ 75
Hill and Mountain Roads
................ 147
Hood Release
................................... 186
LL
Operation ......................................... 75
“Highway Hypnosis”
....................... 146
Hills. Parking on
.............................. 156
Safety Warning
.............................. 187
Warning. Overheated
Engine
.......................... 187. 198. 199
Horn .................................................... 69 Hot
Engine. Safety
Warnings
............. 166. 187. 198. 199
Hydroplaning
.................................... 144
Identification Number. Vehicle
...... 21 8
Idling Your Engine ....................... 67. 68
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud.
Ice or Snow
.................................... 179
Ignition Key
................................................... 44
Positions
.......................................... 58
Illuminated Entry System
.................. 50
Indicator Lights (see Warning Lights)
Infant Restraint (see Child Restraints)
Inflation. Tire ........................... 178. 208
Inflator.
Air ......................................... 85
Inside Rearview Mirror
...................... 86
Instrument Panel
................................ 97
Instrument Panel Cluster
................... 98
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
.. 76
Instrument Panel Warning Lights
... 100
Interior Lights
........................ 76, 79. 80
Override Switch
83 ...............................
J- ack, Tire ......................................... 172
Jump Starting
................................... 158
Keyless Entry, Remote
..................... 48
Keys
.................................................... 44
L ane Change Indicator .................... 71
Front
................................................ 23
Rear
.................................................. 32
Use by Children ......................... 34, 39
Level Control, Electronic
............ 94, 206
Liftgate
....................................... 56, 107
Lighter
................................................ 89
Lights Dome
................................................. 84
Fog
................................................... 76
Headlights
........................................ 74
Interior Lights Control
.................... 76
Interior Lights Override Switch
...... 83
On” Reminder
................................ 75
Reading
...................................... 80, 83
Removing &
Lap-Shoulder Belt .............................. 23
(6
Rear Interior Lights ......................... 84
Replacement Bulbs
........................ 228
Replacing Bulbs
................... 204, 228
Taillights
........................................ 204
Turn Signal
...................................... 71
Underhood
..................................... 190
Warning Lights
.............................. 100
Lights On Reminder
........................... 75
Loading Your Vehicle
................ 92, 206
Locks Manual
....................................... 45, 52
Power ............................................... 46
ProCarManuals.com