2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE ABS

Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets you can plug in electrical equipment such as
a cellular telephone or CB radio.
The front accessory power outlet is located below
the cupholder drawer.
Pull the cover down to use the accessory power outlet.
When not in use, keep the cover on.
The rear accessory power outlet is located in the rear
compartment on the driver’s side next to the air
inflator system.
To remove the cover, pull the tab on the cover and
pull it
off. To put the cover back on, line up the tabs at
the back of the cover and put the cover
in place.
Push down the tab to secure the cover. When not in
use, always cover the rear accessory power outlet with
the protective cap.
Notice: When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed
20 amps.
Always turn
off any electrical equipment when
not
in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery. Certain electrical
accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience
a
problem see your dealer for additional information
on accessory power outlets.
Notice: Adding some electrical equipment to your
vehicle can damage
it or keep other things from
working as they should. This wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty. Check with your dealer before
adding electrical equipment, and never use anything
that exceeds the amperage rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.
Notice: Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only.
Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use
of the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.
3-24

Manual Compass Calibration
If the compass appears erratic and the calibration
symbol does not appear, you must manually put the
compass into the calibration mode.
Turn the ignition on and cycle the DIC to the
compass/temperature mode. Press both the
E/M and
MODE buttons simultaneously for at least
10 seconds
until the calibration symbol appears. Release both
buttons and complete three
360" turns in an area free
from large metal objects. The calibration symbol will
turn
off and the compass reading will be displayed.
Error Displays
0 An error of the vehicle's speed sensor or fuel
0 In the absence of vehicle communications, a dash
sender
will cause
-E- to be displayed.
"- -" is displayed.
If one of these error messages appear, see your dealer.
Trip Computer
There are five trip computer displays available by
pushing the MODE button. The information will appear
in the following order:
AVG ECON (Average Fuel Economy): This shows the
average fuel economy since the last reset.
INST ECON (Instant Fuel Economy): This shows fuel
economy for the most recent second of driving.
RANGE (Trip Range): This shows the estimated
distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel.
The fuel economy used to calculate range is based
on the last few hours of driving.
FUEL USED (Trip Fuel Used): This shows the
accumulated fuel used since the last reset.
AVG SPEED (Average Speed): This shows the
average speed since the last reset.
Resetting the Trip Computer
Press and hold the MODE and E/M buttons for at least
two seconds. The reset is acknowledged with the
display showing all segments briefly. A reset can only
be done in AVG ECON, FUEL USED and AVG SPEED
displays. AVG ECON, FUEL USED and AVG SPEED
can only be reset independently. Only the mode
that is displayed will be reset.
3-62

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 Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, this warning light
on the instrument panel will
come on briefly when
you start your vehicle.
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.
4-7

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.
Let’s say the road is wet and 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. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
4-8

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have
extra wiring.
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about
to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have
to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 Ibs. (450 kg), you may prefer to drive in THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) (or, as you
need
to, a lower gear). This will minimize heat build-up
and extend the life of your transaxle.
Parking on Hills
I
You really should not park your vehicle, u....~ a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2, Have someone place chocks under the trailer
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
PARK
(P) yet.
wheels. regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-42

Engine Air CleanedFilter
The engine air cleaner/filter is located at the front of the
engine compartment,
on the driver’s side of the vehicle,
under the engine coolant reservoir. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 5- 72 for more
information on location.
Checking or Replacing the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
3. Unlatch the two hooks on top of the engine air
4. Remove and replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
5. Align the tabs located on the bottom of the
panel with the slots at the bottom of the housing.
6. Latch the hooks to secure the panel in place. If the
panel moves easily, check that the tabs are seated
correctly in the slots.
cleaner/filter housing.
7. Put the
duct back on and reinstall the clamps.
1. Remove the two clamps on the duct.
2. Remove the duct. 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.
I
Notice: If the air cleanedfilter 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 cleanedfilter in
place when you’re driving.
5-1 9

Notice: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
3.
4.
Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or in the accessory power outlet. Turn
off
the radio and all lamps that aren’t needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save your radio!
Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
(+) and negative (-) terminal locations on
each vehicle.
You will not need to access your battery for jump
starting. Your vehicle has a remote positive
(+)
jump starting terminal for that purpose. The terminal is located
under a tethered cap at
the front of the underhood
fuse block. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page
5- 12 for more
information on location.
Squeeze the tabs and pull up
on the cap to access
the remote positive
(+) terminal. You should always
use the remote positive
(+) terminal instead of the
positive (+) terminal on your battery.
An electric fan can start up ever !hen the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
5-45

5.
6.
7. Install the new bulb through the black retainer ring
retainer ring in place. Push the bulb firmly enough
so that the blue tabs hook over the tab on the bulb.
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8. Carefully put the bulb assembly back into the lamp
housing.
Be careful not to damage the bulb on the
headlamp aiming bar.
5-53