1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE service

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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Oil Pressure Gage (3800 V6 Engine)
120 '/
40-
If the gage reads in the red warning zone, your 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.
Your oil pressure gage shows the oil pressure in psi
(pounds per square inch) when the engine is running.
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity. In fact, while the engine is
warming up, the oil pressure will be higher than at the
normal operating temperature. Readings above the red
warning zone indicate the normal operating range.
I
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
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Fuel Gage
1
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left (when the ignition
is on). When the gage first
indicates
EMPTY (E), you still have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon. Here
are four things that some owners ask about.
None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
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At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads
FULL (F).
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.
The gage moves a little when you turn a comer,
brake
or speed up.
The gage doesn’t go back to
EMPTY (E) when you
turn off the ignition.
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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes,
or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly or cause failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned after every 50 hours
of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a
known, good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player
is at fault.
If this other cassette has no improvement in
sound quality, clean the tape player.
Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive, cleaning cassette. This system uses a
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as
the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. It
is normal for the
cartridge to eject while cleaning. Insert the cassette at
least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. A
scrubbing action, cleaning cassette
is available through
your Oldsmobile retail facility. You
may also choose
a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject. It may not clean as thoroughly
as the scrubbing
type cleaner.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure that
the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and keep them away from
direct sunlight and dust. If the surface
of a disc is soiled,
dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent
solution and clean it (wiping from the center to the
edge).
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the
edge
of the hole and the outer edge.
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Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retail facilities all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing
to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
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Windshield WLzslzer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine OiL, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lcmys: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are
the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should
you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system‘?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps‘?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis?’
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack
of awareness, or whatever.
There
is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush
of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen
to you! If
it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less
than u second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0
0
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to
the sides. Check your mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull
off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take
a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
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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
PARK
(P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer whe
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load. els.
Parking on Hills
You really should
not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on
a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is cl
ear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and 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 quickly. 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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3800 V6 Engine
10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as
good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much
less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for
a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
GOOD BATTERY
DEAD BATTERY
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
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