1997 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE service

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE ENGINE
SOON
Your Oldsmobile is
equipped with a computer
which
rr mitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and
emission control systems.
This system is called
OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light
comes on and
a chime will sound to indicate that there is
a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often
will be indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist
your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any
malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during
a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
a
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected
on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
2-100
ProCarManuals.com

If the Light Is Flashing If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon
as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady’’ following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn
the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive
the vehicle to your
retailer or qualified service center for service. You may be
able
to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through
a deep puddle of water?
IF so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light
off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently
as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
2-101
ProCarManuals.com

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently
as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine
is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause
the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank
of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check
the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with an oil pressure warning
light. Your oil pressure
indicator lets
you know
when you may have a
problem with your engine
oil pressure.
When
the engine is running, this light may come
on to indicate that
the engine’s oil level may be
dangerously low, or there may be another problem
causing low
oil pressure.
2-102
ProCarManuals.com

Driving your vehicle with low oil pressure can
cause extensive engine damage. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
A CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by
your warranty.
Low Oil Level Light
If this light comes on, it
means your engine is low
on oil.
LEVEL
You need to check the oil level right away. Driving your
vehicle without enough oil can cause extensive engine
damage. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
2-103
ProCarManuals.com

Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition is on. When the gage first
indicates EMPTY
(E), you
still have a little fuel left,
but you should get more
soon.
After filling the fuel tank, the gage will not read
FULL (F) until the ignition is turned on.
Here
are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads FULL
(F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill
the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner,
0 The gage doesn’t go back to EMPTY (E) when you
brake or speed up.
turn
off the ignition.
Low Fuel Warning Light
EN
When there is between
3 gallons (1 1 L) and
1 .O gallon (3.8 L) of
fuel left in the tank, the
warning light next to
the
fuel symbol will go on.
This light will also come
on when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is not running,
to show you it is
working. If it doesn’t come on as you start your vehicle,
have
it fixed right away.
2-105
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub
the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. It
is normal for
the cassette to eject while cleaning because
your unit is equipped with a cut tape feature. To
temporarily override this feature for vehicles with
Automatic Tone Control (for one insertion), turn on the
ignition and turn the radio off. Press and hold TAPE
AUX until the tape symbol flashes
on the display, and
insert the cassette again. For vehicles without Automatic
Tone Control, press both
SEEK arrows within five
seconds of inserting the cassette with the ignition and
radio off. Insert the cassette at least three times to ensure
thorough cleaning.
A scrubbing action cleaning cassette
is available through your Oldsmobile retail facility.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type
of cleaning cassette will not
eject. It may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing
type cleaner. The cassette
tape player
is able to detect a broken tape.
Some cleaning cassettes may appear as a broken tape. If
the cleaning cassette is ejected immediately from the
tape player, follow these steps:
1. Turn the radio off.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press and hold the TAPE-AUX button until the tape
symbol flashes.
4. Insert the cleaning cassette and the radio will turn on
in cassette mode.
5. Eject the tape after the tape player has been cleaned.
When
the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the broken
tape detection feature is active again.
After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for
five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will
display
--- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is
in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
3-29
ProCarManuals.com

The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend
to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile retail facilities all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
0 Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to
the recommended‘pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should
you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack
of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Don’t let
it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can
leave the road
in less than CI second, and you could
crash and be injured.
4-22
ProCarManuals.com

What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here
are some tips:
0
0
0
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com