1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE light

Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
retailer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you
go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. The extender
will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle
that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and
use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach
it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle
has a
built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure the
harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip, child head
restraint and anchorages are working properly.
Look for
any other loose or damaged safety belt and built-in child
restraint system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt or built-in child restraint system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like torn or frayed safety belts can. They may not
protect a child in a crash. If
a harness strap is torn or
frayed, get
a new harness right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired
or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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2-37 Keys
Door Locks
Remote Lock Control (Option)
Switchbanks
Sliding Door
Power Sliding Door (Option)
Liftgate
Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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2-86 2-99 Parking Over Things
That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Locks and Lighting Choices
Windows
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Sun Visors
Accessory Inflator System (Option)
Accessory Power Outlet
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)
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You can lock all doors and the liftgate from the inside by
pressing the rear of the power lock switch on either front
door. If your vehicle is equipped with the Content
Theft-Deterrent system, the power door lock switch may
cause the system to arm.
See “Content Theft-Deterrent”
in the Index for more details.
To unlock any door or the liftgate from the outside with
your key, turn the key to the unlock position and release.
This will only unlock that door or the liftgate. You can
unlock all the doors and the liftgate by holding the key
cylinder in the unlock position for one second.
With power door locks, you can lock all the doors from
the outside by inserting the key and turning the key
cylinder to the lock position.
With power locks, when the doors are locked, the inside
as
well as the outside door handle cannot open the doors.
This safety feature prevents a door from being accidentally
opened from the inside by moving the handle.
To override this safety feature, move the locking lever to
the unlock position on the door you want to open.
When the liftgate has been unlocked with the power door locks, you won’t
need the key to open it. Simply squeeze
the handle above the license plate.
This is also true if you
use the optional remote lock control transmitter. See
“Remote Lock Control” later in
this section.
Automatic Door Locks
All of the doors will lock automatically when you move
your shift lever out of
PARK (P). All doors will unlock
automatically when the ignition is turned off while the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
You can program the Automatic Door Locks to operate
with the remote lock control system and to lock and
unlock automatically to suit your needs. See “Locks and
Lighting Choices” in the Index.
With the Automatic Door Locks feature, you can still
lock or unlock the doors at any time, either manually or
with the power door lock switches.
Last Door Closed Locking
The Last Door Closed Locking feature makes it easier to
use your power door locks to lock all the doors and the
liftgate when leaving your vehicle.
When any door or the liftgate is open, the first time you
attempt to lock the doors using the power lock switch or
the remote lock control transmitter (if equipped), will
result in three chimes to signal that Last Door Closed
Locking is being used. All doors and
the liftgate can be
opened for five seconds from
the time the last door
is closed.
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Five seconds after the last door is closed, all the doors
will lock. You can lock the doors immediately by using
the power door lock switch or the remote lock
control transmitter.
If the ignition is in RUN or ACCESSORY, this feature
will not lock the doors.
To turn the Last Door Closed Locking feature off or on,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
Sliding Door Delayed Locking
If the sliding door is open when you use your power
door locks to lock the vehicle, the sliding door is not
locked. Normally the Last Door Closed Locking feature
will be used to lock the sliding door after it has
been closed.
When the ignition is on
or if the Last Door Closed
Locking feature has been overridden or programmed to
be off, the Sliding Door Delayed Locking feature will
lock your sliding door for you. Three seconds after the
sliding door is closed, all the doors will lock. If you
have the dual sliding doors, all doors will lock three
seconds after both sliding doors are closed.
Lockout Deterrent
The Lockout Deterrent feature makes it difficult for you
to lock your keys in your vehicle. If the driver’s door is
open while the keys are
in the ignition, you will not be
able to use your power door lock to lock the vehicle.
If you don’t leave the keys in the ignition or if you use
the manual door lock, you could still lock your keys in
your vehicle. Always remember to take your keys
with you.
To turn this feature
off or on, see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from the inside. Then get out and
close the door.
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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, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
If you’re still having trouble, see your retailer or a
qualified technician for service.
Operation
Remote Driver’s Door and All Door Unlock
When you press UNLOCK on the remote lock control
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
remote lock control 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 remote lock
control 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).
Remote Lock Confirmation
When you use the remote lock control transmitter to
lock your vehicle, your parking lamps will flash briefly
to let you know the command has been received.
If you
press the LOCK button again, within five seconds, the
horn will sound briefly and the parking lamps will flash
to let you know the vehicle is already locked.
If you would like to change the way the parking lamps
and horn operate with Remote Lock Confirmation, see
“Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
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Remote Unlock Confirmation
When you use your remote lock control transmitter to
unlock your vehicle or to operate the power sliding door
(if equipped), your parking lamps will flash briefly to let
you know the command was received.
If you would like to change the way the parking lamps
operate with Remote Unlock Confirmation, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices”
in the Index.
Remote Alarm
When you press the horn button on the remote lock
control transmitter, your vehicle’s parking lamps will
flash and the horn will sound. This will allow you to
attract attention, if needed.
Remote Power Sliding Door Operation (Option)
If you have the optional
power sliding door (see “Power Sliding Door” later
in this section), your remote
transmitter will have a
button that has a van
symbol on it. Press it
to open or close the
sliding door.
If the sliding door
is locked, first unlock all doors (see
“Remote Driver’s Door and All Door Unlock” earlier in
this section), then press the van symbol to open the
sliding door. Press the van symbol again to close the
sliding door.
You can operate the power sliding door with the remote
transmitter only when the power sliding door override switch on the overhead console is disabled.
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Switchbanks
There are two sets of switchbanks located in the front of the
vehicle. The switches will vary with the options that are
on
your vehicle. It is useful to become familiar with them since
they are used frequently while operating the vehicle.
Overhead Console Switchbank
This switchbank is located in the overhead console. The
switches that you may find in this switchbank are the
Interior Lights Override, Power Sliding Door Override,
Power Sliding Door and the Power Rear Quarter
Windows. If your vehicle does not have some of the
options controlled by these switches, there will be a
blank button in
its place.
For more information, please see each of these features
in the Index.
Instrument Panel Switchbank
This switchbank is located in the instrument panel below
the comfort controls. The switches and controls that
you
may find in this switchbank are the Rear Fan Knob,
Rear Window Wipermasher, Fog Lamps and Traction
Control. If your vehicle does not have some of the
options controlled by these switches, there will be a
blank button in its place.
For more information, please see each of these features
in the Index.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the optional rear
climate control system, there will be a storage space in
this switchbank. The rubber mat can be removed for
cleaning. Snap the mat into place after cleaning.
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Sliding Door
To open the sliding door from outside the vehicle, pull
the handle out and then pull the door toward the rear. If
you slide the door all the way back, the door will rest in
a detent position.
The door must overcome this detent
when closing.
To move the door forward, you must first pull the door
past the open detent position.
If your vehicle is facing downward on a steep
grade
(15 percent or more), the door may not
stay open and could slam shut, possibly injuring
someone.
To make sure the door does not slam
shut, be sure to hold it open until everyone is
clear of the door, and only then allow
it to
slowly close.
Does your vehicle have a sliding door on the driver’s side?
If it does, this door is designed to open only a little if the
fuel door is open.
If this ever happens, don’t try to force
the sliding door. Just close the driver’s side sliding door.\
Then when the
fuel filler door is closed, the driver’s side
sliding door can be opened normally.
Sliding Door Lock
Lock the sliding door from inside the vehicle by moving
the manual locking lever down. Unlock it by moving the
lever up.
With power door locks, the sliding door lock has a delay
feature. See “Power Door Locks” or “Locks and
Lighting Choices” in the Index.
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