1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Owners Manual

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).
The brake wear warning sound means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident. When
you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
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.
Free movement of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads
for wear, and evenly torque
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to
GM specifications.
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.
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Brake Pedal Travel Battery
See your retailer 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, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of
top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Oldsmobile does when it is new.
When you replace parts of your braking system
-- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones
put in -- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways
if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts. Every
new Oldsmobile has
a Delco Freedom@ battery.
You never have to add water to one of these. When it’s
time for
a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more,
take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. lhs
will help keep your battery from running down.
I
/II CAUTIPV:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your retailer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in the Index.
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b
For jump starting instructions, see “Jump Starting” in
the Index.
Bulb Replacement
For the type of bulb, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst
if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
1 I
Heac
1. Remove the two black knobs.
2. Tilt the bulb housing forward.
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3. Twist the L-shaped bulb assembly counterclockwise
one-sixth
of a turn until the flanges align with the
slots in the retainer ring.
4. Pull out the bulb assembly.
5. Disconnect the bulb wiring harness from the bulb assembly by lifting the plastic locking tab.
6. Snap a new bulb assembly into the wiring harness.
7. Replace the bulb assembly by reversing Step 3.
8. Replace the bulb housing and the two black knobs.
Front Parking/lbrn Signal Lamps
1. Remove the headlamp assembly as described in
“Headlamps.”
2. Remove the lamp socket furthest inboard by
pinching the lever
and turning counterclockwise.
3. After replacing the bulb, line up the flanges on the
socket with
the slots in the headlamp capsule.
4. Push and turn the socket one-sixth of a
turn clockwise.
Front Sidemarker
1. From behind the front bumper, remove the lamp
socket
from the lamp assembly by twisting
counterclockwise.
2. With the bulb replaced, insert the lamp socket into
the lamp assembly and turn clockwise.
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License Plate Lamp
1. Remove the two screws from the lamp lens.
2. Remove the lamp lens from the liftgate.
3. Twist the lamp socket counterclockwise to remove it
4. Replace with the new bulb and twist the lamp socket
5. Replace the lamp lens in the liftgate and tighten
from
the lamp
lens.
clockwise in the lamp lens.
with screws.
Back-up Lamp
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Remove the license plate.
Unscrew the two bolts and pull the housing away
from the tailgate.
Remove the bulb from the lamp socket.
Replace with the new bulb and twist the lamp socket
clockwise in the lamp assembly.
Reinstall the entire back-up lamp housing and secure
with the screws.
Replace the license plate.
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Cen r mgn-lvlo tted Stoplar----
1. Remove the two screws from the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the assembly out and away from the liftgate.
3. Remove the bulbs from the lamp socket.
4. Reinstall the lamp assembly into the liftgate and
secure with the screws.
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For the type of bulb, see “Replacement Bulbs” in
the Index.
1. Open the rear side windows and liftgate.
2. Remove the two screws from the taillamp housing.
3. Undo the spring clips under the weatherstrip at the
rear of the side window.
4. Pull off the entire taillamp housing.
5. Pinch the lever and twist the bulb assembly one-sixth
of a turn counterclockwise to remove.
6. Remove the bulb by pressing in and turning
one-eighth
of a turn counterclockwise.
7. Line up the small retainer bumps on the replacement
bulb
so that the lower bump slides into the deepest
slot
in the housing. Press in and twist the bulb
one-eighth
of a turn clockwise. Reposition the bulb
assembly
in the taillamp housing. Turn the assembly
one-sixth of
a turn clockwise to lock in place.
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8. Replace the entire taillamp housing and screws. Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
9. Attach the spring clips to the taillamp housing and
secure them.
10. Close the rear side windows and liftgate.
11. Test the bulbs by using your turn signals and taillamps.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in
this section,
contact your Oldsmobile retailer service department. Replacement blades for
your vehicle are
24 inches
(61 cm) in length. They come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here’s how to remove the
type with a release clip:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from
the windshield.
2. Lift the release clip with a screwdriver and pull the
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm.
blade assembly off the wiper arm.
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