2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette air condition

3-4
When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may
sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle's engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air,
so you may sometimes notice water dripping from
under your vehicle's engine compartment when it is
idling or after it has been turned off. This is normal.
Heating
Turn the temperature knob clockwise (toward the
red area) to warm the air.
In the LOWER setting, outside air will be brought in
and sent through the floor outlets. The heater works
best if you keep your windows closed while using it.
The BI
-LEVEL setting is designed for use on sunny
days when the air is only moderately warm or cool.
On days like these, the sun may adequately warm your
upper body, but your lower body may not be warm
enough. For the best results, turn the temperature knob
to the middle position, and then adjust it for comfort.Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle
designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside
temperature is 35
F (2
C) or colder. You may notice
that the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed
until the engine is warmed up. This is a normal
condition designed to provide heat to the passenger's
compartment and defrost the windows more quickly.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use
it during cold weather, 0
F (
-18
C) or lower, your
heating system will provide heat more quickly because
the engine coolant is already warmed. See ªEngine
Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, turn the temperature
knob all the way clockwise (to the red area) and turn
the mode knob to DEFROST. Adjust the fan to the
highest speed.
To keep the windshield clear and bring in heated air through
the heater ducts, turn the mode knob to DEFOG.
When the temperature outside is above freezing, the air
conditioner compressor will run in these settings to help
remove moisture from the air.

3-5
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents located on the top of the instrument panel.
For additional side window defogging, turn the mode
knob to the BI
-LEVEL setting and adjust the fan to
the highest speed. Aim the side vents on the instrument
panel toward the side windows. For increased airflow to
the side vents, close the center vents.
Operating the HVAC system in the RECIRCULATION
mode may cause fogging of the vehicle's windows when
the weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch
the HVAC system to either the DEFOG or DEFROST
mode and increase the fan speed. To avoid re
-fogging
of the windows, operate the HVAC system in the
OUTSIDE AIR mode.
For additional information, refer to ªRECIRCULATIONº
earlier in this section.
Air Conditioning with Dual Temperature
Control (Option)
Fan Knob
The left knob is the fan knob and is used to select and
determine the force of the air flowing in. Turn the knob
clockwise to increase fan speed and counterclockwise to
decrease fan speed. The fan must be turned on for the
air conditioning compressor to operate.

3-7
Mode Buttons
OUTSIDE AIR: Press this button (the light
will glow) to send outside air into your vehicle.
Using this setting while trying to defrost or defog the
windows will help clear the vents of moisture. Press the
RECIRCULATION button (the light on the OUTSIDE
AIR button will go off) to limit outside air entering the
vehicle. When the LOWER, DEFOG or DEFROST
setting is selected, the system will automatically go to
OUTSIDE AIR mode.
RECIRCULATION: Press this button (the light
will glow) to limit the amount of outside air entering
your vehicle by recirculating much of the air inside your
vehicle. You may use this setting to limit odors entering
your vehicle. Press the OUTSIDE AIR button (the light
on the RECIRCULATION button will go off) to let
outside air circulate into the vehicle.
Operating the Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
(HVAC) system in the RECIRCULATION mode
may cause fogging of the vehicle's windows when the
weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch the
HVAC system to either the DEFOG or DEFROST mode
and increase the fan speed. To avoid re
-fogging of the
windows, operate the HVAC system in the OUTSIDE
AIR mode.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more
quickly and economically if you open the windows
long enough to let hot, inside air escape. For all
settings, adjust the temperature knob and fan speed
as desired.
To get maximum cooling or a quick cool
-down on very
hot days, press the A/C and RECIRCULATION buttons
(the lights will glow) and move the temperature lever
down (toward the blue area). Adjust the mode knob to
direct the air to the desired location. This setting should
not be used for long periods of time because the air may
become too cold and dry. Push the A/C button again
(the light will go off) to turn off the air conditioning.
When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may
sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle's engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air, so
you may sometimes notice water dripping from under
your vehicle's engine compartment when it is idling or
after it has been turned off. This is normal.

3-8 Heating
Move the temperature lever up (toward the red area)
to warm the air.
In the LOWER setting, outside air will be brought in
and sent through the floor outlets. The heater works
best if you keep your windows closed while using it.
The BI
-LEVEL setting is designed for use on sunny
days when the air is only moderately warm or cool.
On days like these, the sun may adequately warm your
upper body, but your lower body may not be warm
enough. For the best results, move the temperature knob
to the middle position, and then adjust it for comfort.
Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle
designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside
temperature is 35
F (2
C) or colder. You may notice
that the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed until
the engine is warmed up. This is a normal condition
designed to provide heat to the passenger's compartment
and defrost the windows more quickly.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use
it during cold weather, 0
F (
-18
C) or lower, your
heating system will provide heat more quickly because
the engine coolant is already warmed. See ªEngine
Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, move the temperature
knob all the way up (to the red area) and turn the mode
knob to DEFROST. Adjust the fan to the highest speed.
To keep the windshield clear and bring in heated air through
the heater ducts, turn the mode knob to DEFOG.
When the temperature outside is above freezing, the
air conditioner compressor will run in these settings to
help remove moisture from the air.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents located on the top of the instrument panel.
For additional side window defogging, turn the mode
knob to the BI
-LEVEL setting and adjust the fan to
the highest speed. Aim the side vents on the instrument
panel toward the side windows. For increased airflow to
the side vents, close the center vents.
Operating the HVAC system in the RECIRCULATION
mode may cause fogging of the vehicle's windows when
the weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch
the HVAC system to either the DEFOG or DEFROST
mode and increase the fan speed. To avoid re
-fogging
of the windows, operate the HVAC system in the
OUTSIDE AIR mode.
For additional information, refer to ªRECIRCULATIONº
earlier in this section.

3-9 Rear Window Defogger
Press the REAR button
(the light will glow) to
warm the defogger grid
on the rear window and to
turn on the heated outside
rearview mirrors.
The system will turn off automatically after about
10 minutes of use. If you turn it on again, the defogger
will operate for about five minutes. You can also turn
the defogger off by turning off the ignition or by
pressing the button again.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid on the rear window.NOTICE:
Don't use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
Rear Climate Control (Option)
If you have the optional rear climate control, the rear
seat passengers can control the temperature and the
amount of air directed to the rear of the vehicle.
You can also adjust the amount of air directed to the
rear of the vehicle using the front fan knob.
When it's cold outside, set the main climate control mode
knob to LOWER, DEFOG or DEFROST to send air to
the rear of the vehicle through the lower vents.
Set the main climate control mode knob to UPPER or
BI
-LEVEL to send air to the rear of the vehicle through
the headliner outlets.
To send conditioned air to the rear of the vehicle, press
the A/C button (the light will glow) on the main climate
controls. If you do not select A/C, air directed to the rear
of the vehicle will be cabin temperature.

3-37
Playing a Specific Loaded CD: For every CD loaded,
a number will appear on the radio display. To play a
specific CD, first press the CD AUX button to start
playing a CD. Then press the numbered button that
corresponds to the CD you want to play. A small bar
will appear under the CD number that is playing,
and the track number will appear.
If CHECK CD appears on the radio display, it could be
due to one of the following conditions:

The road is too rough. The disc should play when
the road is smoother.

The disc is dirty, scratched, wet or upside down.

The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour
and try again.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can't be
corrected, please contact your dealer. If your radio
displays an error message, write it down and provide it
to your dealer when reporting the problem.CD: This button will eject a disc or discs, if you
have multiple discs loaded. To eject a disc or discs from
the disc player perform one of the following steps:

Press and release the eject button to eject the disc
that is currently playing, or

to eject all of the discs, press this button for two
seconds, you will hear a beep, and the light will flash
to let you know when a disc is being ejected.
When the eject button is pressed, the receiver will eject
the disc and REMOVE CD will be displayed. You can
now remove the disc. If the disc is not removed, after
25 seconds, the disc will be automatically pulled back
into the receiver. If you try to push the disc back
into the receiver, before the 25 second time period is
complete, the receiver will sense an error and will try to
eject the disc several times before stopping. You cannot
repeatedly press the eject button to eject the disc
after you have tried to push the CD in manually.
The receivers 25
-second eject timer will reset at each
press of eject, which will cause the receiver to not eject
the disc until the 25
-second time period has elapsed.

5-9
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº and ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº in
the Index.
Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage on
your vehicle's instrument panel cluster. See ªEngine
Coolant Temperature Gageº in the Index. You also have
an engine coolant temperature warning message on your
instrument panel. See ªEngine Coolant Temperature
Warning Messageº in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle
to be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a significant loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage will indicate an
overheat condition exists. Towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss and change the oil.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

5-11
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 ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº in the Index.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get an engine 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. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
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, idle the engine for
three minutes while you're parked. If you still have the
warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out of
the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº listed previously in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.