
How to Use this Manual 
These  symbols  are on some of your 
controls: 
Windshield  Wipers 
Windshield  Washer 
w 
Windshield  Defroster 
Rear  Window  Defogger 
Rear  Window  Wiper 
Rear  Window  Washer  Ventilating  Fan 
Power  Window 
10 
3f 
These  symbols  are  used on warning 
and indicator  lights: 
Engine  Coolant  Temperature 
Battery  Charging 
System 
Fuel 
Engine 
Oil Pressure 
Brake 
AntXock  Brakes 
p3 
Here  are  some  other symbols you 
may  see: 
Fuse 
Lighter 
Horn 
Speaker 
Hood  Release 
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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 
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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 
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Towing from  fhe  Rear-Vehicle 
HOOk-Up 
Before hooking  up  to a  tow  truck,  be 
sure  to read  all the  information 
on 
Towing Your Vehicle earlier  in  this 
section. 
1. Attach  T-hook  chains  on  both  sides 
in  the  slotted holes  in the  frame rails 
just  ahead 
of the  rear  wheels. 
I 
2. Position  the lower  sling  crossbar 
directly  under the rear  bumper.  No 
4x4 wood beam  is needed. 
3. Attach a separate  safety chain around 
the  end  of each axle inboard 
of the 
spring. 
4. Be  certain your  vehicle is towed no 
faster  than 
35 rnph (56 ltm/h)  and  no 
farther  than 
50 miles (80 ltm) to 
avoid damage  to your  transaxle. 
Engine  Overheating 
You  will  find  a coolant  temperature 
gage  on your  Oldsmobile's  instrument 
panel. See  the 
Index under Coolant 
Temperature  Gage. 
1 
165 
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How to Add Fluid 
Refer to  the  Maintenance  Schedule  to 
determine  what  kind of transaxle  fluid 
to  use.  See 
Recommended  Fluids and 
Lubricants 
in  the Index. 
If the  fluid  level  is  low, add only  enough 
of  the  proper  fluid to bring  the level  into 
the  cross-hatched  area 
on the dipstick. 
1. Pull  out  the  dipstick. 
2. Using a long-neck  funnel:  add 
enough  fluid at  the  dipstick hole  to 
bring  it to  the  proper level. 
It  doesn’t  take  much fluid, generally  less 
than  a  pint 
(OSL). Don’t  overfill. We 
recommend  you  use only  fluid  labeled 
DEXRONo-I11  or DEXRON@-IIE, 
because fluids with  that label  are made 
especially  for your automatic  transaxle. 
Damage  caused by fluid  other  than 
DEXRONo-I11  or DEXRONB-IIE  is  not 
covered  by your  new vehicle  warranty. 
After adding fluid, recheck  the fluid 
level  as described  under 
How to 
Check. 
obtained,  push  the dipstick back in  all 
the  way. 
When  the correct  fluid  level  is 
3100 V6: Adding  Automatic  Transaxle 
Fluid 
3800 V6: Adding  Automatic  Transaxle 
Fluid 
Engine Coolant 
The  following  explains your cooling 
system  and how  to add  coolant  when  it 
is 
low. If  you  have  a problem  with 
engine  overheating,  see 
Engine 
Overheating 
in  the Index. 
The proper  coolant for your Oldsmobile 
will: 
Give  freezing  protection  down to-34”F 
Give boiling  protection  up  to  262°F 
Protect against rust  and  corrosion. 
Help keep  the proper engine 
Let  the  warning  lights work as they 
What to Use 
Use a mixture  of one-half clean  water 
(preferably distilled)  and one-half 
antifreeze  that meets 
“GM Specification 
1825-M:” which won’t damage 
aluminum  parts. 
You can also use  a 
recycled  coolant conforming  to 
GM 
Specification  1825-M with  a complete 
coolant flush  and refill. 
If you use this 
mixture, 
you don’t  need to add  anything 
else. 
(-37°C). 
( 12SoC). 
temperature.  should. 
197 
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To Add Coolant 
If you  need  more  coolant, add  the proper 
mix 
at  the  coolant  recovery  tank. 
Add  coolant  mix at  the  recovery  tank, 
but  be  careful  not  to spill it. 
Radiator  Pressure  Cap 
NOTICE: 
Your radiator  cap  is a 15 psi (105 
kPa)  pressure-type  cap and  must  be 
tightly  installed  to prevent  coolant 
loss  and possible engine damage 
from  overheating.  Be sure  the 
arrows  on  the  cap  line up  with  the 
overflow  tube  on  the  radiator  filler 
neck. 
When  you replace  your radiator 
pressure  cap,  an  AC8 cap is 
recommended. 
Thermostat 
Engine  coolant  temperature  is 
controlled  by a  thermostat  in  the  engine 
coolant  system. The  thermostat  stops 
the  flow  of coolant  through  the  radiator 
until  the  coolant  reaches  a  preset 
temperature. 
When  you  replace your  thermostat,  an 
AC@ thermostat is recommended. 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
How To Check  Power  Steering 
Fluid 
Unscrew  the cap  and  wipe  the  dipstick 
with  a  clean rag.  Replace  the  cap  and 
completely  tighten  it.  Then  remove the 
cap  again  and look  at the  fluid  level  on 
the  dipstick. 
When  the engine  compartment  is hot, 
the  level  should  be at  the 
H (Hot) 
mark. 
When  the engine  compartment  is 
cool,  the level  should  be  at  the 
C 
(Cold) mark. 
199 
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Maintenance  Schedule 
238 
Explanation of Scheduled 
Maintenance  Services 
Following  are explanations  of the 
services  listed  in Schedule I and 
Schedule  11. 
The  proper  fluids  and lubricants  to use 
are  listed  in Section  D.  Make sure 
whoever  services  your  vehicle  uses 
these.  All parts should  be  replaced and 
all  necessary  repairs done before  you or 
anyone  else  drives  the vehicle. 
ITEM 
NO. SERVICE 
1. Engine  Oil  and  Filter  Change* - 
Always  use SH or SG  Energy 
Conserving 
I1 oils  of proper  viscosity. 
The 
“SH” or “SG” designation  may 
be  shown alone 
or in combination 
with others, such  as “SH/CD,” 
“SH, 
SG, CD,” “SG/CD,”  etc.  To 
determine  the preferred  viscosity  for 
your  vehicle’s  engine (e.g., 
SAE 5W- 
30 or  SAE 10W-30),  see 
Engine  Oil 
in the Index. 
2. Chassis  Lubrication - Lubricate 
suspension and steering  linkage. 
Lubricate  the transaxle  shift  linkage, 
and  parking  brake cable  guides, 
underbody  contact points and 
linkage. 
3. Tire  and  Wheel  Rotation  and 
Inspection 
- For  proper  wear and 
maximum  tire life,  rotate  your tires 
following  the instructions  in this 
manual.  See 
Tires,  Inspection E. 
Rotation in  the Index. Check the 
tires  for uneven  wear 
or damage.  If 
you  see  irregular  or premature  wear, 
check  the wheel  alignment.  Check  for 
damaged  wheels  also. 
Engine  Accessory  Drive  Inspection 
- Inspect the drive  belt  for cracks, 
fraying,  wear  and proper tension. 
Replace  as needed. 
I 
Cooling  System Servicee - Drain, 
flush  and refill  the system  with new 
or  approved  recycled  coolant 
conforming  to GM  Specification 
I 
1825M.  Keep  coolant  at the  proper 1 
mixture  as specified.  See  Coolant in 
the 
Index. This  provides  proper 
freeze  and boil  protection, corrosion 
I 
inhibitor  level and maintains proper ’ 
engine operating temperature. 
Inspect  hoses 
and replace if they are 
cracked,  swollen  or  deteriorated. 
Tighten  screw-type  hose clamps. 
Clean  the outside  of the  radiator and 
air  conditioning  condenser. Wash  tht 
pressure cap and  neck. 
To help ensure  proper  operation,  we 
recommend 
a pressure  test of both the 
cooling  system  and the pressure  cap. 
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264 
Things  Under the Hood ................ 186 
Transaxle  Fluid 
.............................. 195 
Chemical  Paint Spotting 
.................. 217 
Child  Restraints 
.................................. 35 
How  to Install 
.................................. 35 
Where  to Put 
.................................... 36 
Children  and Safety  Belts 
............ 34. 39 
Child  Security  Lock 
............................ 55 
Circuit  BrealtedRelay  Panel ............ 222 
Circuit  Breakers 
& Fuses ................. 219 
City  Driving 
...................................... 145 
Cleaner,  Air 
.............................. 194, 226 
Cleaning  Aluminum  Wheels 
......................... 216 
Compact  Discs 
............................... 129 
Fabric 
..................................... 213, 214 
Finish  Care 
..................................... 216 
Foreign  Material 
............................ 2  16 
Glass 
.............................................. 215 
Inside  of Your  Oldsmobile 
............ 212 
Leather and  Vinyl 
.......................... 214 
Outside 
of the  Windshield  and Wiper 
Blades 
............................................. 215 
Outside 
of Your Oldsmobile ......... 215 
Safety  Belts 
.................................... 214 
Special  Problems 
........................... 213 
Stains.  Removing 
........................... 213 
Cigarette  Lighter 
................................ 89 
Cassette  Tape  Player 
...................... 128 
Top  of the  Instrument  Panel 
......... 214 Underbody 
Maintenance 
............... 217 
Vinyl  or Leather 
............................. 214 
Warnings 
........................................ 2 12 
Weatherstrips 
................................. 216 
Windshield 
..................................... 215 
Climate  Control  System 
............ 11 1. 113 
Clock.  Setting  the 
............................. 117 
Cluster.  Instrument  Panel .................. 98 
Comfort  Controls 
............................. 11 1 
Air Conditioner .............................. 11 1 
Heater ............................................ 111 
Rear ................................................ 113 
Ventilation ..................................... 1 16 
(see 
Audio Systems ) 
Compact  Disc  Player 
Compact  Overhead  Console 
.............. 95 
Compact  Spare Tire 
......................... 178 
Compass  Display 
................................ 81 
Console,  Overhead ............................. 79 
Control 
of a  Vehicle ......................... 134 
Convenience  Net 
................................ 91 
Convex  Outside  Mirror 
...................... 87 
Coolant ............................................. 197 
Checking 
& Adding ....................... 198 
Proper  Mixture  to Use 
............ 168, 197 
Safety  Warnings  About 
.................. 167, 168, 169, 198 
Temperature  Gage 
......................... 103 
Cruise  Control 
.................................... 72 
Cup  Holder/Ashtray,  Front 
............... 89 Curves.  Driving 
on 
........................... 138 
Customer  Assistance  Information 
... 249 
Dead  Battery:  What  to 
Do ............. 158 
Defensive  Driving 
............................ 132 
Defogger.  Rear  Window 
................... 115 
Defogging  and Defrosting 
................ 115 
Delco  LOC  II@ 
................................. 126 
Dome  Lights 
....................................... 84 
Door  Locks 
............................. 45.  46. 52 
Door.  Power  Sliding ................... 52.  107 
Door.  Sliding 
...................................... 51 
Driver  Position 
................................... 22 
Driving  At  Night 
......................................... 142 
City 
................................................. 145 
Controlling  a Skid 
......................... 141 
Defensively 
.................................... 132 
Drunlten 
......................................... 132 
Freeway 
.......................................... 145 
Hill  and  Mountain 
......................... 147 
In a Foreign  Country ..................... 184 
In  Rain 
........................................... 143 
Long  Distance 
................................ 146 
Loss 
of Control .............................. 141 
On  Curves 
...................................... 138 
Passing ........................................... 140 
Through  Deep  Standing Water 
....... 60 
Winter  Driving 
............................... 148 
With  a Trailer 
................................. 151 
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