1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE warning light

The Instrument Panel-Your
Information System
Your instrument panel is designed to let
you know at
a glance how your vehicle
is running. You’ll know how fast you’re
going, how much fuel you’re using, and
many other things you’ll need
to drive
safely
and economically.
Refer to the accompanying diagram
of
your instrument panel to locate the
components listed below.
1. Side Vents
2. Light Controls
3. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
4. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
5. Instrument Cluster
6. Gearshift Lever
7. Wipermasher Controls
8. Center Vents
9. Storage Compartment
IO. Side Vents
11. Circuit Brealter/Relay Panel
12. Glove Box/Fuse Panel
13. Audio System
14. Rear Fan Controls
15. Cup Holders/Ashtray
16. Locking Storage Bin
17. Lighter
18. Interior Lights Override Switch
19. Traction Control Switch
20. Climate Controls
21. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
22. Ignition Switch
23. Horn
24. Steering Wheel Touch Controls
(Option)
97
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
98
I Instrument Panel Cluster
Your cluster includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explained on the following pages.
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
100
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This section describes the warning
lights and gages that may be on your
vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something
is wrong before it becomes
serious enough to cause an expensive
repair or replacement. Paying attention
to your warning lights and gages could
also save you or others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may
be or is a problem with one of your
vehicle's functions. As you will see in
the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you turn the ignition key just to let you
know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be
or
is a problem with one of your
vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you
know when there's a problem with your
vehicle. When
one of the warning lights comes
on and stays on when you are driving,
or when one
of the gages shows there
may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please
follow the manual's advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly
- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your
warning lights and gages. They're a big
help.
- UNLtADtU FUtL
-
I
loo= ,
fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how
much fuel you have left, when the
ignition is
on. When the gage first
indicates
E (Empty), you still have a
little fuel left, but you should get more
soon.
Here are four things that some owners
ssk about. None of these show a
problem with your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump
shuts off before the gage reads
F
(Full) .
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill
up than the gage indicated. For
example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the
tank's capacity to
fill the tank.
ProCarManuals.com

The gage moves a little when you turn
The gage doesn’t go back to E when
For your fuel tank capacity, see
Service
Station Information
on the last page of
this manual. a corner, brake or
speed
up.
you turn off the ignition.
_____ 0
‘F
I
00-
- 1/2
Low Fuel Warning Light
When there is between 3 gallons (1 1
liters) and 0.5 gallon (1.8 liters) of fuel
left in the tank, the warning light next
to the fuel symbol will go on.
This light will also come on when you
turn on the ignition, but the engine is
not running, to show you it is working.
If it doesn’t come on as you start your
vehicle, have it fixed right away.
d
Oil Pressure lndicator
(31 00 V6 ENGINE)
Your vehicle is equipped with an oil
pressure indicator rather than an oil
pressure gage. Your oil pressure indicator
lets
you know when you may have a
problem with your engine oil pressure.
When the engine is running, readings
within the white graduation band
indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in or below the red area
indicate that the engine’s oil level may
be dangerously low, or there may be
another problem causing low oil
pressure.
Driving your vehicle with low oil
pressure can cause extensive engine
damage. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately.
101
ProCarManuals.com

18 ‘I I
Voltmeter
Your charging system gage will show
:he rate
of charge when the engine is
running.
The reading will change as the rate of
:barge changes (with the engine speed,
?tc.), but readings between the red
warning zones indicate the normal
3perating range. Readings in either red
zone indicate a possible problem with
your charging system. Have your
Oldsmobile serviced immediately.
When the engine is not running but the
ignition
is on (in the Run position), the
display measures the voltage output of
your battery.
I’ 260
1
‘
1
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage
rhis gage shows the engine coolant
Iemperature. If the gage pointer moves
.nto the red area, your engine is too hot
[t means that your engine coolant has
werheated. If you have been operating
{our vehicle under normal driving
:onditions, you should pull off the road
;top your vehicle and turn off the
mgine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
[n
Problems on the Road, this manual
shows what to do. See the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
LOW
BAG
E SOON
Brake System Warning Light
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts.
If one
part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts
working well.
If the warning light comes on, there
could be a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on as you start
the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are
driving, pull off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push.
Or, the pedal may go
103
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
104
closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See
Towing
Your Vehicle in the Index.)
The brake system warning light will also
come on when
you set your parking
brake, and it will stay on if your parking
brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on
after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have
a brake
problem.
L Wb
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With anti-lock, this light will go on
when you start your engine and it will
stay on for three seconds. That’s
normal. If the light doesn’t come on,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving,
you don’t have anti-lock brakes and
there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. Pull off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. Have the vehicle towed for
service. (See
Towing Your Vehicle in
the
Index.)
I
If the anti-lock brake system warning
light stays on longer than normal after
you’ve started your engine, turn the
ignition off. Or, if the light comes on
i
and stays on when you’re driving, stop !
as soon as possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset
! I
the system. If the light still stays on, or j
comes on again while you’re driving, ~
your Oldsmobile needs service. If the !
light is on but not flashing and the
regular brake system warning light isn’t
on,
you still have brakes, but you don’t
have anti-lock brakes.
ProCarManuals.com

(J LOW
TRACTION -'I
AIR BAG
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Low Traction Light (OPTION)
: If your vehicle has the traction control
~ i system, there will be a LOW
TRACTION light on the instrument
panel. When your anti-lock system is
adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a
braking skid, or when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin,
the
LOW TRACTION light will come
on. Slippery road conditions may exist
if this light comes on, so adjust your
driving accordingly. The light will come
on and stay on for four seconds when
your anti-lock system adjusts brake pressure
for less than four seconds or
when your traction control system
limits wheel spin for less than four
seconds. Otherwise, the light will go out
as soon as the anti-lock system stops
adjusting brake pressure or the traction
control system stops limiting wheel
spin. The
LOW TRACTION light also
comes on briefly,
as a bulb check, when
the engine is started.
P* -
40 ~m
rn
60
100
81)
ZO 1
1fin
Traction Control System Warning
Light (OPTION: 3800 V6 ENGINE)
The TCS (Traction Control System)
warning light may come on if your
brakes overheat. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. This means that your
traction control system has temporarily
shut down to allow the brakes to cool.
(The traction control system will not
shut down while it is actively
controlling wheel spin.) When the
brakes have cooled down, the
TCS
warning light will go off.
If the TCS warning light comes on and
stays on for an extended period of time,
your vehicle needs service.
105
ProCarManuals.com

I
Features & Controls
-
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels when the
TCS warning light is on can
destroy parts of your vehicle as well
as the tires.
If you spin your wheels
too fast while shifting your
transaxle back and forth, you can
destroy your transaxle. When
you're stuck, spin the wheels as
little as possible.
106
LOW
TRACTION
AIR BAO
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
c
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission controls
systems. This light should come on
when the ignition is on but the engine is
not running, as a check to show you it
is working.
If it does not come on at all,
have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or
it comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have a
problem.
You should tale your vehicle
in for service soon.
ProCarManuals.com