2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette window

3-6 Heating
Move the temperature control toward the red area to
warm the air.
In the floor mode, 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 control 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
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
control 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 floor 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.

3-7 Rear Window Defogger
Press the REAR button
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 (Vehicles without the
Entertainment System) (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 control 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 floor ducts.
Set the main climate control mode knob to vent 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 on the main climate controls. If you do
not select A/C, air directed to the rear of the vehicle will
be cabin temperature.

3-11 Ventilation System
Your vehicle's flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the fan is running.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust the
direction and amount of airflow inside the vehicle. Push
the outlet up or down to change the direction of the
airflow. Increase or reduce the amount of airflow by
opening and closing the louvers. Opening and closing
the louvers will also direct airflow from side to side.
The air
-flow through the vents can be shut off
completely by turning the thumbwheel next to each
outlet all the way down. You can also stop outside air
from entering the vehicle by turning the fan to OFF and
pressing the recirculation button.
Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow
or any other obstruction (such as leaves). This will
allow the heater and defroster to work much better,
reducing the chance of fogging the inside of
your windows.

When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
fan knob to 5, the highest setting, for a few moments
before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and moisture, and reduces
the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.

Keep the area around the base of the center
instrument panel console and the air path under the
front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate
throughout your vehicle.

In cold weather, operating the system in the
outside air mode will improve the time it takes to
warm the vehicle.

4-23
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?

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?

Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway hypnosisº?
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 a second, and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:

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.

4-29
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.

4-38 Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided
by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for
attaching safety chains and do not attach them to the
bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can
turn with your rig. Never allow safety chains to drag
on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
-- and they must
be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Because you have anti
-lock brakes, do not try to tap
into your vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won't work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can't
see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness
or death. See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
To maximize your safety when towing a trailer:

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.

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.

6-53
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer's warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you're cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:

Gasoline

Benzene

Naphtha

Carbon Tetrachloride

Acetone

Paint Thinner

Turpentine

Lacquer Thinner

Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.Don't use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:

Alcohol

Laundry Soap

Bleach

Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted surfaces
with a clean, damp cloth.
Cleaning of Fabric/Carpet
Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric and
carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. You can get GM
-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. See ªAppearance Care and Materialsº
in the Index.