
(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 
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![OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994  Owners Manual I Climate  Control  System 
Your vehicle’s heater  and air 
conditioner  work best if you  keep your 
windows closed. Your vehicle  also  has 
flow-through  ventilation, described late] 
in  this  s OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994  Owners Manual I Climate  Control  System 
Your vehicle’s heater  and air 
conditioner  work best if you  keep your 
windows closed. Your vehicle  also  has 
flow-through  ventilation, described late] 
in  this  s](/manual-img/31/58207/w960_58207-112.png)
I Climate  Control  System 
Your vehicle’s heater  and air 
conditioner  work best if you  keep your 
windows closed. Your vehicle  also  has 
flow-through  ventilation, described late] 
in  this  section,  to  bring outside  air into 
your vehicle. 
If you  have  the optional  engine coolant 
heater  and  use it during  cold weather, 
0°F (-18°C) or lower, your  heating 
system  will more quicldy provide  heat 
because  the engine  coolant  is already 
warmed.  See the 
Index under Engine 
Coolant  Heater. 
OFF: Press  to  turn  the  system off. Press 
any  climate  control  setting  to  turn  the 
system  on. 
8: Slide the lever  to  the  right to  increase 
fan speed, 
decrease  fan speed.  to  the  left 
to 
Temperature  Control Lever: Slide 
the 
lever  to  the  right for warmer,  heated  air; 
slide  it to  the  left  for  cooled  air. 
Air Conditioner 
When the temperature  outside  is above 
freezing,  the air  conditioner  compressor 
will  automatically  condition the air 
when 
you press RECIRC (the A/C 
indicator  light will glow), DEFOG or 
DEF (the A/C indicator  light  will not 
Press 
A/C (the A/C indicator  light will 
glow)  to condition  the air when  you 
press 
UPPER,  BI-LEV or LOWER. To 
turn  off the  air conditioner  compressor 
in  these  settings,  press 
A/C again (the 
indicator  light will  go  off). 
glow). 
Each  time you turn  on  the  ignition, the 
air  conditioner  will default  to  the setting 
you  had  selected before last  turning off 
the  ignition. 
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. 
1 
111 
ProCarManuals.com 

h d II 
II I( 
Rear Fan 
The  control for the  rear  fan  is located 
below  the  audio  system. 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 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 
OFF. 
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. 
To maintain  a  comfortable  temperature 
in the  rear,  use  either  rear  fan  control  to 
adjust  the force 
of air coming  through 
the  rear  outlets.  See 
Rear Fan-Master 
Control 
and Rear  Fan-Rear  Control 
later  in  this  section. The  temperature  of 
heated  or  cooled air  directed  to  the rear 
of  the  vehicle  cannot be adjusted  with 
the  temperature  control  lever. 
Select  the desired  climate  control mode 
using  the directional  controls on  the 
instrument  panel  (see 
Directional 
Controls 
earlier  in  this  section).  The 
mode  you  choose will regulate  both  the 
front  and  rear  climate control systems. 
Select 
RECIRC,  UPPER,  BI-LEV or 
LOWER when  outside  temperatures 
are  warm  or  moderate. 
In  the 
RECIRC mode,  or if you press 
A/C when  the system  is in  the UPPER 
or BI-LEV modes,  cooled air will  be  directed 
to  the rear 
of the vehicle 
through  the  overhead and  third-row  air 
conditioning  outlets.  If 
you select A/C 
in the LOWER mode,  cooled  air will  be 
directed  through  the  rear  floor vent 
unless  the  temperature  control  lever  is 
set more  than 
25 percent  toward  full 
WARM. Such settings  will produce 
heated  air. 
So, to  receive  cooled  air 
through  the  rear  floor vent,  set the 
temperature  control  lever closer  to full 
COOL (see Rear Air Vents later in  this 
section). 
If 
you do  not  select A/C in  the UPPER 
or BI-LEV modes,  air  directed  to the 
rear  of the  vehicle  will  be cabin 
temperature. 
Select 
LOWER,  DEFOG or DEF when 
outside  temperatures  are  cool. In  these 
modes,  heated  air will  be  directed  to the 
rear  of the  vehicle  through  the  rear  side 
window  vents  and  the  rear  floor heater 
vent. 
113 
ProCarManuals.com 

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.  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 
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. 
115 
ProCarManuals.com 

116 
Comfort Controh di Audio Systems 
NOTICE: 
Don’t use a razor blade  or 
something else  sharp  on  the inside 
of  the  rear window.  If you  do, you 
could  cut  or  damage  the warming 
grid,  and the repairs wouldn’t  be 
covered  by your  warranty. 
elow-Through Ventilation System 
four vehicle’s flow-through ventilation 
;ystem  supplies  outside  air  into  the 
{ehicle  when 
it is  moving.  Outside  air 
will also enter  the  vehicle when the 
leater  or  the  air  conditioning fan  is 
sunning. 
I I 
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. 
When  you  enter a vehicle in  cold 
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. 
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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Problems on the Road 
If  Steam Is Coming  From Your 
Engine 
NOTICE: 
If your engine  catches fire because 
you  keep  driving  with no coolant, 
your  vehicle  can be  badly  damaged. 
The  costly  repairs would  not be 
covered  by your  warranty. 
If No Steam  Is Coming  From Your 
€ngine 
If you get the  overheat warning  but see 
or  hear  no  steam,  the  problem may not 
be  too  serious.  Sometimes the engine 
can  get a little  too hot when  you: 
Climb a long hill on a  hot  day. 
Stop after high speed driving. 
Idle  for  long  periods in traffic. 
Tow  a trailer. 
If  you  get  the overheat warning with 
no 
sign  of steam, try this  for a minute  or so: 
1. Turn off your air conditioner. 
2. Turn  on your  heater  to full hot at the 
highest fan speed 
and open  the 
window  as necessary. 
3. Try to keep your engine  under load 
(in  a drive  gear where  the engine 
runs  slower). 
If you no longer have  the overheat 
warning,  you can drive.  Just  to  be safe, 
drive slower  for about  ten  minutes.  If 
the  warning  doesn't  come back 
on, you 
can drive normally. 
If the  warning  continues,  pull over, 
stop,  and park your  vehicle right away. 
If there's still no sign  of  steam, you can 
idle the engine  for two  or  three  minutes 
while  you're  parked,  to  see if the 
warning  stops. But then, 
if you  still 
have  the  warning,  TURN 
OFF THE 
ENGINE AND GET  EVERYONE  OUT 
OF THE VEHICLE  until it  cools  down. 
You may decide not  to lift  the  hood  but 
to  get  service help right away. 
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Service & Appearance  Care 
202 
container only, and always  clean the 
brake  fluid reservoir  cap before 
removing  it. 
NOTICE: 
DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can 
Don’t  let someone  put in the 
damage 
your vehicle.  Don’t use it. 
wrong kind  of fluid. For example, 
just  a  few drops  of mineral-based 
oil,  such 
as engine  oil, in your 
brake system  can damage brake 
system  parts 
so badly that they’ll 
have  to be replaced. 
Brake  fluid can damage  paint, so 
be careful  not  to spill brake  fluid 
on  your vehicle.  If you  do, wash  it 
off  immediately.  See 
Appearance 
Care 
in  the Index. 
Brake  Wear 
Your  Oldsmobile  has  front disc brakes 
and  rear drum 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  firmly). 
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 first applied  or lightly 
applied.  This does not  mean something 
is  wrong with your brakes.  Your 
rear drum brakes  don’t have wear 
indicators,  but  if you  ever hear  a rear 
brake rubbing noise, have  the  rear brake 
linings  inspected.  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  brakes 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 
moderately, with or  without  the vehicle 
moving,  your brakes  adjust for wear. 
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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 
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