
Part 7: Maintenance Schedule 
This part  tells  you when  to  perform 
vehicle  maintenance  and  what  fluids 
and  lubricants  to  use. 
Part 6: Service & Appearance  Care  Part 8: Customer Assistance 
Information 
Here  the  manual  tells you  how to  keep  This 
part  includes  important 
your  Oldsmobile  running  properly  and information  about  reporting  safety 
looking  good.  defects  and  gives 
you details  about 
the  “Roadside  Assistance”  program. 
You  will  also  find  customer 
satisfaction  phone  numbers  (including  customer  satisfaction 
numbers  for  the  hearing  and  speech 
impaired) 
as well  as  the  mediation/ 
arbitration  procedure.  We’ve 
also 
included  ordering  information  for 
service  publications  in this  part. 
Part 9: Index 
Here’s  an  alphabetical  listing of 
almost  every  subject  in  this  manual. 
You can  use it to  quickly  find 
something  you want  to  read. 
Service  Station  Information: 
This  is  a  quick  reference of service 
information.  You can find 
it on  the 
last  page  of 
this manual. 
7 
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the steering wheel  hub may  be  hot  for a 
short  time,  but  the  portion  of the  bag 
that  comes  into  contact  with  you  will 
not  be hot  to  the  touch.  There  will be 
small  amounts  of smoke  and  dust 
coming from  vents in the  deflated air 
bag.  The air bag  will 
not impede  the 
driver’s vision  or ability  to steer  the 
vehicle,  nor will  it  hinder  the occupants 
from exiting  the vehicle. 
The air  bag  is designed  to inflate only 
once.  After 
it inflates,  you’ll need 
some  new parts  for your air  bag 
system.  If you  don‘t  get them,  the air 
bag  system  won’t be there  to  help 
protect  you in another  crash.  A new 
system  will include  the  air bag  module 
and  possibly  other  parts.  The  service 
manual  has information  about  the 
i need to replace  other  parts. 
Your vehicle  is equipped  with  a 
diagnostic module, which records  information  about the air bag system 
if the  air bag  deploys  during  a  crash. 
The  module records information 
about  the  readiness  of the  system, 
which  sensors  activated  the 
deployment,  and  whether  the  driver’s 
safety belt was in  use. 
Let only qualified  technicians work on 
your air bag system.  Improper service 
can mean  that your  air bag system 
won’t  work properly. See your dealer 
for service. 
NOTICE: 
If  you  damage  the cover  for the 
driver’s air bag,  it  may not work 
properly.  You  may  have to replace 
the  air bag  on  the  steering wheel. 
Do not  open  or break  the air bag 
cover. 
Is the  smoke  from  an  air  bag  inflation 
harmful? 
The particles emitted  during air bag 
inflation  are  not harmful  to most people. 
Some  people with respiratory ailments 
may  experience  difficulty breathing 
if 
they stay  in the  vehicle  with  the 
windows closed after air  bag inflation. 
So, if your air  bag inflates,  you and  any 
passengers  should exit the vehicle  if and 
when  it  is safe  to  do 
so. If you or your 
passengers  can’t get out  of the  vehicle, 
try  to get  fresh air  by opening  a window, 
turning  on the  fan,  or opening  a  door. 
Servicing Your Oldsmobile  with 
the  Air Bag  System 
The air  bag  affects  how  your Oldsmobile 
should  be  serviced. There  are  parts  of 
the  air  bag system  in  several  places 
around  your vehicle. 
You don’t want the 
system  to inflate  while  someone  is  working 
on your vehicle.  Your Oldsmobile 
dealer  and the 
1994 Silhouette  Service 
Manual have information  about 
servicing your vehicle and  the air bag 
system.  The  air bag system does  not 
need regular  maintenance. 
29 
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Comfort Controls &Audio Systems 
128 
AVOLI (Volume): Press A to 
ncrease volume;  press 
V to decrease 
Jolume. 
4M/FM: Press  to change between  the 
4M and FM radio  bands. 
MUTE  Whether  you are listening  to 
:he  radio,  a  cassette  tape  or  a  compact 
lisc,  this  switch allows 
you to  turn off 
;he  sound  without  turning  off the 
lower. Press again  to restore  the  sound. 
Undersfanding  Radio  Reception 
FM Stereo 
FM  stereo  will  give  you  the best  sound, 
but  FM  signals  will reach  only about 
10 
to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).  Tall buildings 
or  hills  can interfere  with FM signals, 
causing  the  sound  to  come and go. 
AM 
The range for  most AM stations  is 
greater  than for 
FM, especially  at night. 
The  longer range, however,  can cause 
stations  to interfere with  each  other. 
AM  can also  pick up noise from things 
like  storms  and  power lines. 
To lower 
this  noise, try reducing  the  treble level. 
AM Stereo 
Your Delcoo  system may be able  to 
receive  C-Quam@  stereo  broadcasts. 
Many 
AM stations  around  the country 
use C-Quam@  to produce  stereo, 
though  some 
do not. C-Quam@  is  a 
registered  trademark  of Motorola, Inc. 
If  your Delco@ system can  get C- 
Quam@  signals, your  stereo  indicator 
light  will  come 
on when  you  are 
receiving  it. 
Care of Your Cassette  Tape 
Player 
A tape  player  that is not  cleaned 
regularly  is subject  to reduced  sound 
quality, ruining  the  cassette,  or 
damaging  the mechanism. Tape 
cassettes  that  are not properly  stored in 
their  plastic cases  away from 
contaminants,  direct sunlight,  and 
extreme  heat  may not  operate  properly 
and  could cause  premature failure 
of 
the  tape player. 
Your tape player  should  be cleaned 
monthly  or with  every 
15 hours of use, 
as  regular  maintenance.  If  you notice  a 
reduction  in sound  quality, try  a good 
cassette  to see 
if the  tape  or  the  tape 
player  is  at fault. 
If the  second  cassette 
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Your Driving and the Road 
156 
Parking  on Hills 
You really should  not park your vehicle, 
with  a  trailer attached,  on a hill.  If 
something goes wrong, your  rig  could 
start  to  move. People  can be injured, 
and  both  your vehicle  and  the trailer 
can  be damaged. 
But 
if you  ever have  to park  your  rig on 
a hill, here’s how  to  do  it: 
1. Apply your regular  brakes,  but don’t 
shift  into 
P (Park)  yet. 
2. Have someone place choclts  under 
the  trailer wheels. 
3. When  the wheel chocks  are in place, 
release  the regular  brakes until the 
chocks  absorb the load. 
apply your parking  brake,  and  then 
shift  to 
P (Park). 
4. Reapply  the regular brakes. Then 
5. Release  the regular brakes. 
When You Are  Ready to Leave 
Affer  Parking  on  a  Hill 
1. Apply  your regular brakes  and hold 
the  pedal  down  while 
you: 
Start your engine; 
Shift into  a  gear;  and 
Release  the parking brake. 
2. Let  up on  the  brake  pedal. 
3. Drive slowly  until the trailer  is clear 
4. Stop  and  have someone  pick up  and 
of 
the  chocks. 
store  the chocks. 
Maintenance  When  Trailer  Towing 
Your vehicle  will need service more 
often  when  you’re pulling  a trailer.  See 
the  Maintenance  Schedule 
for more on 
this.  Things  that  are  especially  important  in 
trailer operation  are 
automatic  transaxle  fluid (don’t 
overfill), engine oil, belts, cooling 
system,  and brake  adjustment.  Each of 
these  is covered in  this  manual,  and  the 
Index will help  you find  them  quicltly. If 
you’re trailering, it’s  a good  idea to 
review  these sections before  you start 
your  trip. 
Check  periodically  to see  that  all hitch 
nuts  and  bolts are  tight. 
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Here you will  find  information  about 
the  care  of 
your Oldsmobile . This 
part  begins  with  service  and fuel 
information.  and  then  it  shows how 
to check  important  fluid  and 
lubricant  levels 
. There is  also 
technical  information  about 
your 
vehicle.  and  a section devoted to its 
appearance  care 
. 
Part 6 
Service & Appearance  Care 
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 182 
Fuel 
........................................................................\
.................................................. 183 
Hood  Release ........................................................................\
................................... 186 
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
........................................ 190 
Air  Cleaner 
........................................................................\
...................................... 194 
Transaxle  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................................ 195 
Engine Coolant 
........................................................................\
................................ 197 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
........................................................................\
....................... 199 
Windshield Washer  Fluid 
........................................................................\
................ 200 
Brakes 
........................................................................\
.............................................. 201 
Battery 
........................................................................\
............................................. 203 
Bulb Replacement 
........................................................................\
........................... 203 
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 
................................................................... 205 
Loading  Your Vehicle 
........................................................................\
..................... 206 
Tires 
........................................................................\
................................................. 207 
Appearance  Care ........................................................................\
............................. 212 
Vehicle Identification Number  (VIN) 
.................................................................... 218 
Add-on  Electrical Equipment 
........................................................................\
........ 219 
Fuses & Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 219 
Capacities  and Specifications 
........................................................................\
......... 224 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement Parts 
............................................................... 226 
Fluids 
& Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 227 
Replacement 
Bulbs ........................................................................\
.......................... 228 
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Service  &Appearance  Care 
182 
AC' 
'I. 
J' 
I Service 
Your Oldsmobile dealer knows your 
vehicle  best and  wants  you to be  happy 
with  it. We  hope  you'll  go  to your dealer 
for  all your service needs.  You'll  get 
genuine  GM parts  and  GM-trained  and 
supported  service people. 
We  hope  you'll  want to keep your  GM 
vehicle  all  GM.  Genuine GM parts  have 
one  of these  marks. 
Doing Your Own Service Work 
If you want  to  do some  of your  own 
service  work, you'll want to get  the 
proper Oldsmobile  Service Manual.  It 
tells  you  much  more about  how to 
service your Oldsmobile  than  this 
manual  can. 
To order the proper service 
manual,  see 
Service Publications in  the 
Index. 
Your vehicle has an air bag  system. 
Before  attempting  to  do  your own 
service work, see 
Servicing Your Air 
Bag-Equipped  Oldsmobile 
in the Index. 
You should keep  a record with  all parts 
receipts and  list the  mileage  and  the 
date  of any service work  you perform. 
See 
Maintenance  Record in the Index. 
NOTICE: 
If you  try to do  your  own service 
work  without  knowing enough 
about  it,  your vehicle could be 
damaged. 
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Service &Appearance Care 
194 
What to Do with Used Oil 
Did you  know  that used engine  oil 
contains  certain  elements  that may  be 
unhealthy for your skin  and could  even 
cause cancer?  Don’t let used  oil stay  on 
your skin  for  very long. Clean your  skin 
and  nails with  soap  and  water,  or  a 
good hand  cleaner. Wash or properly 
throw  away clothing  or rags containing 
used engine  oil. (See  the manufacturer’s 
warnings  about the 
use and disposal  of 
oil products.) 
Used  oil  can be 
a real  threat  to  the 
environment.  If you  change your  own 
oil, be  sure  to  drain  all  free-flowing  oil 
from  the filter before disposal.  Don’t 
ever dispose 
of oil  by putting it in  the 
trash,  pouring  it on  the  ground,  into 
sewers,  or  into  streams  or  bodies 
of 
water. Instead,  recycle  it  by taking  it to 
a  place  that collects used oil.  If you 
have a  problem  properly disposing 
of 
your used  oil, ask your dealer, a service 
station  or  a local  recycling  center for 
help. 
Air Cleaner 
Refer  to  the  Maintenance  Schedule to 
determine  when to replace  the air filter. 
See 
Scheduled  Maintenance  Services in 
the Index. 
NOTICE: 
If the  air cleaner  is off, a backfire 
can  cause 
a damaging engine fire. 
And,  dirt  can  easily  get into your 
engine, which  will damage  it. 
Always  have the air cleaner  in  place 
when  you’re  driving. 
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3100 V6: Replacing  Air  Cleaner  Filter 
2. Remove the air cleaner filter. 
3. Be sure  to  install the air cleaner filter, 
replace  the cover  and  tighten  the 
wing  nut securely. 
3800 V6 Checking Air Cleaner  Filter 
To Check  or  Replace: . 
1. Loosen  the four wing  nuts. 
3800 V6: Replacing Air Cleaner  Filter 
2. Pull the  top  of the  air cleaner  toward 
the  front  of the  vehicle  and remove 
the  air cleaner filter. 
3. Be sure  to  install the air cleaner filter, 
replace  the cover  and tighten  the 
wing  nuts securely. 
Automatic  Transaxle  Fluid 
When to Check and Change 
A good time to check your  automatic 
transaxle  fluid  level  is  when the engine 
oil  is  changed.  Refer 
to the  Maintenance 
Schedule  to determine  when to change 
your fluid.  See 
Scheduled Maintenance 
Services 
in  the Index. 
How to Check 
Because  this  operation  can be a  little 
difficult,  you may  choose  to have  this 
done  at  an Oldsmobile dealership 
Service  Department. 
If  you  do it yourself, be  sure  to follow 
all  the  instructions  here,  or  you could 
get  a false  reading  on  the dipstick. 
NOTICE: 
Too much or  too  little fluid  can 
damage your  transaxle. 
Too much 
can  mean  that some  of the  fluid 
could come  out  and fall on  hot 
engine  parts  or  exhaust  system, 
starting  a  fire. Be sure  to  get an 
accurate  reading if you  check your 
transaxle  fluid. 
Wait  at least 
30 minutes  before 
checking  the transaxle  fluid  level 
if you 
have  been  driving: 
When  outside  temperatures  are  above 
At high speed for  quite  a while. 
In heavy  traffic-especially  in hot 
While  pulling  a trailer. 
90°F (32°C). 
weather. 
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