1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE heater

In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged
in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
I
t
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store
the cord as
it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts.
If you don’t, it could be damaged.
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How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Oldsmobile retailer in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The retailer can give you the best
advice for that particular area. Ensure
the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your Oldsmobile has
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI). You must fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK
(P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
As you step on the brake pedal, while in PARK (P), you
may hear a click from the solenoid of the
BTSI. This
Automatic Transaxle Operation
ensures that the BTSI is operating properly.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
PARK (P) as
you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
“Shifting Out of PARK (P)” in this section.
There are several
different positions for your shift lever. the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It’s
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section you’ll find out how to operate the comfort
control and audio systems offered with your Oldsmobile.
Be sure
to read about the particular systems supplied with
your vehicle.
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to make your air system
work for you. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your Oldsmobile. Your vehicle also
has a flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
rii
BI - LEV I
Your vehicle’s heater and air conditioner will work best
if you keep your windows closed.
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Slide the lever to the right to increase fan speed. To
decrease fan speed, slide this lever to the left.
I 1 *_I.
Slide this lever to the right for warmer, heated air. For
cooled air, slide this lever to the left.
Mode B.
OFF: Press this button to turn the system off. Press any
climate control setting to turn the system
on.
A/C: This setting cools the air entering your vehicle
and directs it through the instrument panel outlets.
The air conditioning compressor operates
in all air
conditioner positions.
RECIRC: Press this button to limit the amount of fresh
air entering your vehicle by recirculating much
of the air
inside your vehicle.
You may use this setting to limit
odors entering your vehicle.
UPPER: This setting directs outside air through the
instrument panel outlets. Adjust the temperature of the
air with the temperature control lever.
BI-LEV: The BI-LEV setting directs outside air into
your vehicle
in two ways. Cooler air is directed toward
your upper body through the front instrument panel
outlets, while warmed air is directed through the heater
ducts at your feet. At times, this temperature difference
may be more apparent than others.
LOWER: This setting brings in most of the air through
the floor ducts and some through the defroster vents.
DEFOG: This mode is particularly useful during cola
or inclement weather, because of your Oldsmobile
Silhouette’s larger windshield area. Press this button to
direct air to the windshield and through the floor ducts.
DEF: Press this button to direct most of the air to the
windshield and side window vents.
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On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more
quickly and economically if you open the windows long
enough to let
hot, inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature control lever and fan speed
as desired.
Press the RECIRC button
to get maximum cooling or
quick cool-down on very hot days. It should not be used
for long periods of time because the air may become too
cold and dry.
When the temperature outside is above freezing,
the air
conditioner compressor will automatically condition the
air when you press RECIRC (the A/C indicator light
will glow),
DEFOG or DEF (the A/C indicator light will
not glow).
Press A/C (the
A/C indicator light will glow) to condition
the air when you press UPPER, BI-LEV or LOWER. To
turn
off the air conditioner compressor in these settings,
press A/C again (the indicator light will go
off>.
Each time you turn on the ignition, the air conditioner
will default to the setting you had selected before last
turning off the ignition.
When the air conditioner compressor is on,
you may
sometimes notice slight changes
in your vehicle’s engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system
is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air,
so
you may sometimes notice water dripping from under
your vehicle when
it is idling or after it has been turned
off. This is normal.
T’
Slide the temperature lever to the right to warm the air.
In the LOWER mode, outside air will be brought
in and
sent through
the floor outlets. The heater works best if
you keep your windows closed while using
it.
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The BI-LEV setting is designed for use on sunny days
when the air is
only moderately warm or cool. On days
like these, the sun may adequately warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
For the best results, slide the temperature control lever
to the middle position, and then adjust it for comfort.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use
it during cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or lower, your
heating system will provide heat more quickly because
the engine coolant is already warmed. See “Engine
Coolant Heater’’
in the Index.
%til-.tion Syst
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air
into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air
conditioning fan is running.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust
the direction and amount
of airflow inside the vehicle.
Push the outlet up or down to direct airflow to your
preference. Increase or reduce the amount
of airflow by
opening and closing the louvers. Opening and closing
the louvers will also direct airflow from side to side.
If your vehicle is equipped with seats in the third row,
you will have a rear air outlet and a rear fan.
To
maximize airflow to the rear of your vehicle, place
the
left bucket seat in the second row in the forward
position (see “Adjusting Rear Seats” in
the Index).
This uncovers the rear air outlet.
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Please keep the area around the base of the center
instrument panel console and the area between and
under the front seats free of objects that could obstruct
airflow
to the rear.
The control for the rear fan is located below the audio
system. Select
LOWER, BI-LEV or DEFOG to direct
airflow to the rear air outlet and to the rear side windows.
Use
the temperature control lever to adjust the temperature
setting. Select the force of air
you want, from LO to HI,
by sliding the rear fan control to the desired setting.
To maintain a comfortable temperature in the rear area
without making the front passengers uncomfortable,
adjust the front fan speed first, then adjust the
temperature setting.
To turn off the rear fan, slide the control to OFF.
Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow
or any other obstruction (such as leaves). This will
allow the heater and defroster to work much better,
reducing the chance of fogging the inside of
.- your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
blower fan to HIGH for a few moments before
driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow
and moisture, and reduces
the chance of fogging the
inside of your windows.
Keep the area around the base of the center
instrument panel console and
the air path under the
front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate
throughout your vehicle.
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2tion,
If you have this option, you will have a master control
for the rear fan
on the center instrument panel console,
and a rear control next to
the second row seat, on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle.
To maintain a comfortable temperature in the rear, use
either rear
fan control to adjust the force of air coming
through the rear outlets. See “Rear Fan
-- Master
Control” and “Rear Fan
-- Rear Control” later in
this section.
Select the desired climate control mode using the
directional controls on the instrument panel (see “Mode
Buttons” earlier in the section). The mode you choose
will regulate both the front and rear climate control
systems.
The temperature of heated or cooled air
directed to the rear of the vehicle cannot be adjusted
with the temperature control lever.
Select RECIRC, UPPER,
BI-LEV or LOWER when
outside temperatures are warm or moderate. In the
RECIRC mode, or if you press A/C when the
system is in the
UPPER or BI-LEV modes, cooled air
will be directed to the rear of the vehicle through the
overhead and third-row air conditioning outlets. If you
select A/C in the LOWER mode, cooled air
will be
directed through the rear floor vent (see “Rear Air
Vents” later
in this section) unless the temperature
control lever is set approximately
30 percent from the
full cold setting. Heated air will result with the
temperature control lever setting above
30 percent from
the
full cold setting. Temperature adjustment of the
heated air is not possible. Cooled air will again return
when the temperature control lever setting is returned to
approximately
25 percent from the full cold setting.
If you do not select A/C in the UPPER or BI-LEV
modes, air directed to the rear of the vehicle will be
cabin temperature.
Select LOWER, DEFOG or
DEF when outside
temperatures are cool. In these modes, heated air will be
directed to the rear of the vehicle through the rear side
window vents and the rear
floor heater vent.
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