1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE light

If this light comes on, it
means you’re low on
engine coolant.
LOW
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you
will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill
it.
I
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
6-21
ProCarManuals.com

When your brake fluid falls
to
a low level, your brake
warning light
will come on.
See “Brake System Warning
I BRAKE I
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing
it.
r
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work
at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
a
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just
a few
drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
6-26
ProCarManuals.com

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.
6-27
ProCarManuals.com

Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only
to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls
of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires. While
the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must
also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
(TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on
a specified government test course. For
example,
a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor
traction performance.
6-39
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning the Inside of
Your Oldsmobile
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Oldsmobile retailer has two
GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. Do not
use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
0
0
0
0
0
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can
-- before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used if stains
are stubborn.
Use solvent-type cleaners
In a well-ventilated area
only. If you use them, don’t saturate the stained area.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
area immediately or it will set.
Using Foam-vpe Cleaner on Fabric
I. Vacuum and brush the area to remove any
loose dirt.
2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask
surrounding trim along stitch
or welt lines.
3. Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following
the directions on the container label.
4. Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge.
5. Don’t saturate the material.
6. Don’t rub it roughly.
7. As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge
to remove the suds.
8. Rinse the section with a clean, wet sponge.
9. Wipe off what’s left with a slightly damp paper
towel or cloth.
10. Then dry it immediately with a blow dryer.
11. Wipe with a clean cloth.
6-43
ProCarManuals.com

Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all.
Some spots and stains will clean off better with just
water and mild soap.
If you need to use
a solvent:
0 Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with
a clean, dull knife or scraper. Use very little cleaner,
light pressure and clean cloths (preferably
cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the outside of
the stain, “feathering” toward
the center. Keep
changing to
a clean section of the cloth.
dry the area with
a blow dryer to help prevent a
cleaning ring.
0 When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed
as follows:
I. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Follow the solvent-type instructions described earlier.
3. hoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left on a vehicle’s seat fabric. They should be removed
as soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner
will dissolve them and may cause them to spread.
Non-Greasy Stains
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice, milk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
be removed
as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
2. If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with
a watedbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
described earlier.
4. If
needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed
as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
cool water
and allow to dry.
6-44
ProCarManuals.com

Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of damages caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem on
the road and don’t have a
spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that
you can get along without
-- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as
soon as you can.
There are four fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block,
the Anti-Lock Brake
System
(ABS) junction block fuse, the circuit
breakerhelay panel and the injector fuse.
I
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
1
L 9
Pull the door open to gain access to the instrument panel
fuse block.
6-53
ProCarManuals.com

Fuse
CTSY
ELC
Usage
Automatic Door Lock Module,
Dome Lamps, Courtesy Lamps,
Power Door Lock Switches, Glove
Box Lamp, Power Mirrors, Remote
Lock Control Receiver
Electronic Level Control,
Air Inflator, Underhood Lamp
Fuse
HORN
STOP HAZ
F PUMP
RDO
1 /AUX
TAIL ECM
TURN B/U
Usage
Horns, Horn Relay, Safety Belt
Buzzer, Lamps On Reminder,
Key in the Ignition Warning
Hazards, Rear Stoplamps, Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS), Center
High-Mounted Stoplamp
Fuel Pump, Rear Engine Fan Relay
Radio, Cigarette Lighter, Accessory
Power Outlet, Trailer Harness,
Heater-A/C Control
Headlamp and Instrument Panel
Dimmer Switch (to LPS
fuse),
Power Sliding Door Controller
Powertrain Control Module
Automatic Door Locks Module,
Back-up Lamps, Power Sliding
Door Alarm Module,
Fog Lamp
Relay, Power Sliding Door
Controller, Remote Lock Control
Receiver, Brake-Transaxle Shift
Interlock (BTSI), Front/Rear
Turn Lamps
6-54
ProCarManuals.com