The 1997 Oldsrnobile Silhouette Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Oldsmobile.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a probletn while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Oldsmobile running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle manitenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Oldsmobile for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-8.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
OLDSMOBTLE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem
and the name
SILHOUETTE are registered trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information
at the time
it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in
the product after that time without further notice.
Please keep this manual
in your Oldsmobile, so it will
be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If
you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the
new owner
can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 2265981 1 A First Edition
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
Natlonal Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this,
it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together
to explain
things quickly.
0 Copyright General Motors Corporation I996
All Rights Reserved
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How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the
instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would
not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. Air
bags should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or
the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come
into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot
to
touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from
vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t
prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does
it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history
of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon
as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
0 Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag
system.
If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect
you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
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Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the sensors are
activated and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your retailer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or break the air
bag covers.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Oldsmobile
Air bags affect how your Oldsmobile should be
serviced. There are parts of the air bag system in several
places around your vehicle. You don’t want the system
to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your Oldsmobile retailer and the Silhouette Service
Manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the air bag system. To purchase
a service manual,
see “Service and Owner Publications” in the Index.
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured
if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure
to
follow proper service procedures, and make sure
the person performing work for you is qualified
to
do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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4. Before placing the child in the child restraint, add
slack to the shoulder harness. Pull the black shoulder
harness release strap firmly. At the same time pull
both shoulder harness straps through the slots in the
seatback as shown.
5. Place the child on the child restraint cushion.
6. Select only one side of the harness. Place the harness
over the child’s shoulder.
7. Push the latch plate (B) into the buckle until it clicks.
Be sure the buckle
is free of any foreign objects that
may prevent you from securing the latch plates.
If
you can’t secure a latch plate, see your Oldsmobile
retailer for service before using the child restraint.
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This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
and Science Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) this device may not
cause interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation of the device.
The range of this system is about 30 feet
(9 m). At times
you may notice a decrease
in range. This is normal for
any remote lock control system.
If the transmitter does
not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle
for
the transmitter to work, try this:
0
0
0
0
Check to determine if battery replacement or
synchronization
is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.
Check the distance.
You may be too far from your
vehicle.
You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check
the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left
or right.
If you’re still having trouble, see your Oldsmobile
retailer or a qualified technician for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Operation
Remote Driver’s Door and All Door Unlock
When you press UNLOCK on the key chain transmitter,
only
the driver’s door will unlock. If you press
UNLOCK again within five seconds, all the doors and
the liftgate will unlock.
If you would like all the doors to
unlock the first time you press UNLOCK, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Content Theft
Deterrent system, The UNLOCK button on the key
chain transmitter will disarm the system (see “Content
Theft Deterrent”
in the Index for more details).
Remote All Door Lock
To lock all doors, press LOCK on the key chain
transmitter (see “Power Door Locks”
in the Index for
more details on the power door lock features).
If your
vehicle is equipped with the Content Theft Deterrent
system, the LOCK button may arm the system (see
“Content Theft Deterrent”
in the Index for more details).
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Resetting the Power Sliding Door
The power sliding door may operate incorrectly or not
all because of the following conditions:
0 A low voltage or dead battery,
Disconnecting the battery or
If the IGN 1, B/U LAMP, RADIO or PWR
SEAT/PSD fuse is removed or blown.
See “Fuse Panel”
in the Index for more information
about your fuse panel.
If any
of these conditions occur, the power sliding door
will need to be reset.
To do this, follow the directions
listed here.
It will be easier if you read through them
once before beginning this procedure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Check to be sure the power sliding door is unlocked
and securely closed.
Turn the ignition switch to
the OFF position.
Enable the power sliding door override feature.
Remove the RADIO fuse from the underhood fuse
and relay center. Leave
it out for 30 seconds.
Reinstall the fuse and wait
10 seconds.
Disable
the power sliding door override feature.
7. Push either of the power door buttons to open the
power sliding door.
8. Wait five seconds and close the door by pushing
either power door button.
9. Wait five seconds and repeat Steps 7 and 8.
If the door does not rest in the fully open position
after repeating Step
7, repeat Steps 7 and 8 again. If
the door still does not operate correctly, see your
retailer for service.
Sliding Door Security Lock
Your Oldsmobile is equipped with a sliding door
security lock that helps prevent young children or other
passengers from opening the sliding door from the
inside. This lock is on both doors if your vehicle has the
dual sliding doors.
If you have the optional power sliding door, you can
override the security lock by pressing either power
door switch when the power sliding door override
feature is disabled. See “Power Sliding Door” earlier
in the section.
The security lock lever
is located on the inside of the
sliding door, on the front edge of the door.
To access the
lever, open the sliding door. Use the security lock label
on the edge of the door
as a guide.
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If you are still having trouble with nuisance alarms, you
can turn off the Content Theft Deterrent system by
programming your Content Theft Deterrent to Mode
3.
See “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index. See
your Retailer
or qualified technician for service.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Oldsmobile has a number of
theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on
it can make it impossible to steal. However, there are
ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Oldsmobile and open the driver’s
door, you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove
your
key from the ignition and take it with you.
Always
do this. Your steering wheel will be locked,
and
so will your ignition and transaxle. And remember
to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them
in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
1.f you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle,
it’s best to lock it up and take your key.
But what
if you have to leave your key? What if you
have
to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
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