2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette ECU

4-25
Winter DrivingHere are some tips for winter driving:

Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.

You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and
reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving
under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a
piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help
provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these
items in your vehicle.

4-30
To find out the actual loads on your front and rear axles,
you need to go to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle.
Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure to spread out
your load equally on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life
of your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else
-- they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly,
or if there is a crash, they'll keep going.
CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.

Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
Try to spread the weight evenly.

Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.

Don't leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.

When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.

Don't leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.

4-36
CAUTION: (Continued)

Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.

Keep the rear
-most windows closed.

If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle. Do not use
RECIRCULATION because it only
recirculates the air inside your vehicle.
(See ªComfort Controlsº in the Index.)
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you
are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You'll need more passing distance up ahead when
you're towing a trailer. And, because you're a good
deal longer, you'll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.

5-8
Removal Procedure
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
CAUTION:
To help avoid serious personal injury to you
or others:

Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
being towed.

Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.

Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.

Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.

Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.

Use only the correct hooks.

5-30
10. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
100 lb
-ft (140 N´m).
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
11. Don't try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare
tire. It won't fit. Store the wheel cover securely in
the rear of the vehicle until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won't fit on your compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.

5-31 Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
1. Lay the tire near the rear of the vehicle with the
valve stem down.
2. Remove the small center cap by tapping the back of
the cap with the extension of the shaft.3. Slide the cable retainer through the center of the
wheel and start to raise the tire.
Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
4. When the tire is almost in the stored position, turn
the tire so the valve is towards the rear of the vehicle.
This will help when you check and maintain tire
pressure in the spare.
5. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle. Continue turning the folding wrench until
the tire is secure and the cable is tight. The spare tire
hoist cannot be overtightened.

5-32
6. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull, and
then try to rotate or turn the tire. If the tire moves,
use the folding wrench to tighten the cable.
Put back all jacking tools as they were stored in the jack
storage compartment and put the compartment cover
back on.
To put the cover back on, line up the tabs on the right
of the cover with the slots in the cover opening. Push the
cover in place and push down the tab so that it rests in
the groove. This secures the cover in place.A. Strap
B. Bag and Tools
C. Jack
Unless you have the plastic ªbolt
-onº wheel covers, be sure
to also store the center cap. When you replace the compact
spare with a full
-size tire, reinstall the bolt-on wheel covers
and the center cap. Tighten them ªhand
-tightº over the
wheel nuts, using the folding wrench.

6-17
Checking or Replacing the Air Cleaner/Filter
1. Unlatch the two hooks on top of the air cleaner housing.
2. Turn back the air inlet panel and rest it on top of the
housing. The air intake tube is designed to flex back;
you do not need to disconnect it.
3. After replacing the air cleaner filter, seat the tabs on
the bottom of the panel into the slots at the bottom.
4. Latch the hooks to secure the panel in place. If the
panel moves easily, check that the tabs are seated
correctly in the slots.
CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires. If it isn't there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don't
drive with it off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner/filter off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire can
cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter in place when
you're driving.
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter Replacement
Passenger compartment air, both outside and
recirculated air, is routed through a passenger
compartment filter, which is part of a two
-piece filter
system. The filter removes certain contaminants from
the air, including pollen and dust particles, as well as
odors such as exhaust or fuel fumes. Reductions in
airflow, which may occur more quickly in dusty areas,
indicate that the filter needs to be replaced early. For
how often to change the passenger compartment air
filter, see ªScheduled Maintenanceº in the Index.