1997 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE heater

I A CAUTION:
I
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can’t see it
or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base
of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open a window just
a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s away from the wind. This
will help
keep
CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But
do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
4-28
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. See “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” in the Index.
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign
of steam,
try this for
a minute or so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window
as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If
the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn ofthe engine and get everyone out of
the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously
in
this section.
You may decide not to
lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-14
ProCarManuals.com

When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Fan
C. Coolant Recovery Tank If
the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above the
FULL HOT
mark.
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
An electric fan under the hood can start up even
when the engine
is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan.
5-15
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mix. 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.
When
the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above
the FULL HOT mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can
try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
5-17
ProCarManuals.com

L
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use
DEX-COOL TM (silicate-free) coolant.
If
silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half DEX-COOL
TM (silicate-free)
antifreeze which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use
this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM (silicate-free) antifreeze.
6-21
ProCarManuals.com

I NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your retailer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant reservoir is located on the urlver s
side of the vehicle, above the air cleaner.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at
FULL COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to FULL HOT, or a
little higher.
6-22
ProCarManuals.com

/ -.
FUSE USAGE CHART
BREAKERS
ELEC PRNDL RR DEFOG ELC
HEADlAMP
20
10 CRUISE 10 TlSlG 15 SIR 10 IGN 1 10 PSD
10 25
‘a 25
25 PWR OTR VENT RR HVAC FR$~~~~~~w’ SUNROOF HVAC/DRL
10
20 10
PIM WDQ/RR 2 10 M 20 FRT WPR WSHR SWC ACCY MALURADIO/DC RR WPR WSHR BCM PRGRM -- I PWGiAT, I HAZARD 15 STOP LAMP 15
L 20 PWR LOCK RR PWR SCKT ABS MOL BATT 20 10
FRT HVAC HI 20 2 K ABS SOL SWC BACK LIGHT
For More Information, See Owner’s Manual . Printed in 10250877 /
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FRT HVAC
HI BLWR ......... Blower Motor Resistor
HEADLAMP
...... DRL Control Module,
Headlamp Dimmer Switch and
Headlamp Switch
PWR SEATFSD
... 6-way Power Seat(s) and Rear
Side Door Actuator Motor
PWR WDO/RR VENT
............ Front Power Windows
FUSES
ABS MDL BATT ... Electronic Brake Traction
ABS
SOL ......... LH and RH Front Brake
ABS/TCS
IGN ..... Electronic Brake Control Relay
BCM
PRGRM ..... Body Control Module (BCM)
CIGARDLC
...... Cigarette Lighter and Data
CRUISE
.......... Cruise Control Module, Switch
CTSY LAMP
...... BCM
DRL
............. DRL Control Module
ELC
............. Electronic Level Control (ELC)
Air Compressor and ELC Relay
ELEC PRNDL
..... Instrument Cluster to PRNDL
Indicators Control Module
(EBTCM)
Solenoid Valve
and EBTCM
Link Connector (DLC)
and Release Switch
FRT HVAC
LOW/MED BLWR
. Heater-A/C Control
FRT PWR SCKT
... Front Electric Accessory Plug
Housing
Motor and Switch
FRT
WPR/WSHR
. . Windshield Wiper/Washer
HAZARD
......... Turn Signal Switch
6-58
ProCarManuals.com

FUSES
HVAC/DRL ....... Air Recirculation Motor, DRL
IGN
1 ...........
MALL/RADIO/DIC Control Module, Heater-A/C
Control,
Temperature Door
Actuator (Front) and Rear
Window Defogger Relay
ELC Sensor, BCM, Electronic
Brake Control Indicator Lamp
Driver Module, Instrument
Panel Cluster, Rear Side Door
Actuator Motor, Rear Window
Wiperwasher and
Multifunction Switch (Foglamp
Switch/TCS Enable Switch)
and Stoplamp/Torque Converter
Clutch (TCC) Switch
BCM, Driver Information
Display, Radio and Radio Rear
Speaker Amplifier
PCM
............. IGN MAIN Relay and PCM
PSD
............. Rear Side Door Actuator Motor
PWR LOCK
....... BCM
PWR MIRROR
.... Power Remote Control
Mirror Switch
FUSES
PWR QTR VENT . . Interior Lamps and
Multifunction Switch
(Power
Vent Switch)
RR HVAC ........ Rear Blower Motor,
Rear Heater-A/C Control,
and Temperature Door
Actuator (Rear)
RR
DEFOG ....... Rear Window Defogger Relay
RR PWR SCKT .... Rear Electric Accessory Plug
Housing
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
and Multifunction Switch
(Rear Window Wiper/Washer
Switch)
Control Module
RR WPR/WSHR
... Rear Window Wiper Motor,
SIR
.............. Inflatable Restraint
STOP LAMP ...... Stoplamp Switch to Stoplamps
SUNROOF
........ Sunroof Control Module
SWC ACCY
....... Steering Wheel Radio
SWC BACKLIGHT
. Steering Wheel Radio Control
T/SIG ............ Turn Signal Switch
Control
Switches
Switches (Illumination)
6-59
ProCarManuals.com