2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette brakes

2-102 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
The anti-lock brake
system warning light
should come on for a
few seconds when you
turn the ignition key
to RUN.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you've started your engine,
turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on when you're driving, stop as soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you're driving, the anti
-lock brake system
needs service and you don't have anti
-lock brakes.
The brake pedal may be harder to push, or it may
go to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should
come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System Warning
Light (Option)
United States Canada
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
button located in the center console switchbank the
warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. See ªTraction Control Systemº
in the Index for more information.

2-103

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn off and the warning light
will come on until your brakes cool down.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off
and the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red area,
your engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-109
When this message is displayed, the traction control
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The message may appear for the following reasons:

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning message will come on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning message will
come on until your brakes cool down.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off
and the warning message will come on.
If the traction control system warning message comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Traction Active Message (Option)
United States Canada
If your vehicle has the traction control system, the
TRACTION ACTIVE message will appear when the
traction control system is limiting wheel spin. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this message
appears, so adjust your driving accordingly.
The message will stay on for a few seconds after
the traction control system stops limiting wheel spin.

2-119
When shifting into REVERSE (R) and an object is
detected, one of the following will occur:
A chime will sound the first time an object is detected,
if the object is between 20 inches (0.5 cm) and
5 feet (1.5 m) away.
Rear parking assist can detect objects 3 inches (7.6 cm)
and wider, and at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) tall, but it
cannot detect objects that are above liftgate level.
In order for the rear sensors to recognize an object,
it must be within operating range.If the rear parking assist system is not functioning
properly, the display will flash red, indicating that there
is a problem unless, the disable switch is on. The light
will also flash red when shifting into REVERSE (R)
if a trailer was attached to your vehicle, or if a bicycle
or an object was on the back of, or hanging out of
your liftgate during your last drive cycle. The light will
continue to flash, whenever in REVERSE (R), until the
vehicle is driven forward at least at 15 mph (25 km/h)
without any obstructions behind the vehicle.
It may also flash red if the ultrasonic sensors are not
kept clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free
of mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush or the system may
not work properly. If after cleaning the rear bumper and
driving forward at least 15 mph (25 km/h), the display
continues to flash red, see your dealer.
It will also flash red if your vehicle is moving in
REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Other conditions that may affect system performance
include things like the vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
As always, drivers should use care when backing up
a vehicle. Always look behind you, being sure to
check for other vehicles, obstructions and blind spots.
For cleaning instructions, see ªCleaning Your Vehicleº
in the Index.

4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second.
But that's only an average. It might be less with one
driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to
drive away, your anti
-lock brake system will check
itself. You may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise while this test is going on, and you may even
notice that your brake pedal moves or pulses a little.
This is normal.
If there's a problem with
the anti
-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay
on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº
in the Index.

4-8
Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet.
You're driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here's what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each wheel.The anti
-lock system can change the brake
pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (Option)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION ACTIVE message will come on
when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin.
See ªTRACTION ACTIVE Messageº in the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº in
the Index.