2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette heater

1-5 Heated Front Seats (Option)
If your vehicle has this
option, the heated seat
switches are located in the
instrument panel switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and
lower back of the driver's and front passenger's seats for
added comfort.
The left switch is for the driver's seat and the right
switch is for the front passenger's seat. Press the bottom
of the switch to turn the heater on. The indicator light on
the switch will glow. Press the top of the switch to turn
the heater off. The heated seat switch will turn off when
the ignition is turned to OFF and resume operation when
the ignition is turned to RUN, unless the switch is
manually turned off.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
All front seats recline.
To adjust the manual seatback, pull up on the lever
located on the outboard sides of both the driver's and the
front passenger's seat. It is easier to recline the seat if
you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.
If your vehicle has the eight±way power seats, there is a
power recliner. See ªEight±Way Power Seatsº earlier in
this section.

2-
2-1
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.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (Option)
2
-16 Multifunction Alarm Locks and
Lighting Choices
2
-26 Dual Sliding Doors
2
-28 Power Sliding Door (Option)
2
-35 Liftgate
2
-36 Theft
2
-37 Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-40 PASS-Key
III
2
-42 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-42 Ignition Positions
2
-44 Starting Your Engine
2
-45 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-47 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-51 Parking Brake
2
-52 Shifting Into PARK (P)2
-55 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-55 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-56 Engine Exhaust
2
-56 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-58 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-65 Exterior Lamps
2
-67 Interior Lamps
2
-73 Storage Compartments
2
-84 Accessory Inflator System (Option)
2
-86 Accessory Power Outlets
2
-87 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-91 HomeLink
Transmitter (Option)
2
-94 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-99 Warning Lights, Gages, Messages and
Indicators
2
-108 Message Center
2
-116 Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)
2
-119 Rear Parking Assist (Option)

2-45
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for a maximum of 15 seconds. This clears
the extra gasoline from the engine. If the engine
still won't start or starts briefly but then stops again,
repeat Step 1 or 2, depending on temperature.
When the engine starts, release the key and the
accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm
-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
At temperatures above 32
F (0
C), use of the coolant
heater is not required.

2-46 To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
electrical cord is located on the driver's side of the
engine compartment.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

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.

3-11 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.

4-29
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.

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.