1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Owners Manual

Trip Odometer
[O 12 O 531
I UNLEADED FUEL ONLY I
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set it to zero.
To set it to zero,
push the reset button located above the fuel gage.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part 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 come 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 start the
engine 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 this 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.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt
is
already buckled. The safety belt light will also come on
and stay on until the driver’s belt is buckled.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel,
which shows the words AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the air bag sensors and module, the wiring and the
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system
is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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Voltmeter
18
” /
When the engine is not running, but the ignition is on (in
the RUN position), the display measures the voltage
output
of your battery.
Brake System Warning Light
[BRAKE]
Your charging system gage will show the rate of charge
when the engine is running.
The reading will change as the rate
of charge changes
(with the engine speed, etc.), but readings between the
red warning zones indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in either red zone indicate
a possible problem
with your charging system. Have your Oldsmobile
serviced immediately. 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 briefly 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,
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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 closer to the floor.
It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come 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 could be
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.)
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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 and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or 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 ahti-lock brakes.
Traction Control System Warning Light
(Option)
TCS
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If it
stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on,
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will
turn off and the warning light will come on
until your brakes cool down. If the traction control
system warning light comes on and stays on for an
extended period
of time, your vehicle needs service.
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Low Traction Light (Option)
If your vehicle has the
traction control system,
there will be a
LOW
TRACTION light on
the instrument panel.
LOW
TRACTION
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. If the light
doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to
tell you when the system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
In
260
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
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HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
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
worlung.
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 take your vehicle in for service
soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
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Oil Pressure Indicator (3.1L V6 Engine)
H /
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
area 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.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by your
warranty.
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