2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Owners Manual

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the air bag. The inflator, the air bag and related hardware
are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering
wheel, the instrument panel, and the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
But the frontal air bags would not help you in many
types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and
many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s
motion is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags
would not help you
in many types of collisions,
including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and
rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be
regarded as anything more than a supplement to
safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s frontal air bags, and only in moderate
to severe side collisions for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal
air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side
of the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right
front passenger’s door will be hot. The parts of the bag
that come into contact with you may be warm, but
not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag
inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
1 -74

When an air baa jnflates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do
so. If you have breathing problems but
can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash.
A new system will include air bag
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
modules and possibly other parts. The service
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module,
which records information about the frontal air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag inflation and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module
also records
speed, engine
RPM, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s and right front
passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module
in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
1 -75

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service
manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the air bag systems.
To purchase a service manual,
see
Service Publications Ordering Information on
page
7-10.
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can
still inflate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an air bag
when
it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They
are probably part of the air bag system. Be sure
to follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you
is
qualified to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
1-76

Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you
in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
Afte’
a Crash
A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may
not properly protect the person using
it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in a
crash.
To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
1-77

If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But
if the belts were stretched, as they would be if
worn during a more severecrash, then you need
new parts.
If the LATCH system was being used during a more
severe crash, you may need LATCH system parts.
If belts are cut or damaged replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH
system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even
if the belt
or LATCH system wasn’t being used at the time
of
the collision.
If the frontal air bags inflate, you’ll also need to replace
the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belt
buckle assembly. Be sure to do
so. Then the new buckle
assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system
earlier in this section.
1-78

Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ..................................................
Remote Keyless Entry System ............
Remote Keyless Entry System Operatior
Doors and Locks
................................
Door Locks .......................................
1
............ 2.3
............ 2.5
........... 2.6
............ 2.9
............ 2.9
Power Door Locks
........................................ 2-10
Last Door Closed Locking
.............................. 2-1 1
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
.............. 2.12
Lockout Protection
........................................ 2.13
Leaving Your Vehicle
.................................... 2.13
Dual Sliding Doors
.
Power Sliding Door
Liftgate
.................
Windows .................
Power Windows .....
Power Rear Quarter
...................................... 2.13
PSD)
.............................. 2.16
...................................... 2.22
...................................... 2.24
...................................... 2.25
Windows
........................ 2.26
Sun Visors
................................................... 2-26
Content Theft-Deterrent
. . .................... 2.27
PASS-Key@
Ill ................... ............ 2.29
PASS-Key@
Ill Operation .... 2.30
Theft-Deterrent Systems
.................................. 2.27 Starting
and Operating
Your Vehicle ................ 2.32
Ignition Positions
.............. .......... 2-32
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2.32
Starting Your Engine
..................................... 2-34
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2-35
Automatic Transaxle Operation
....................... 2-36
Parking Brake
.............................................. 2-39
Shifting Into Park (P)
..................................... 2-40
Shifting Out of Park (P)
................................. 2-42
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-43
Engine Exhaust
............................................ 2-43
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
....... 2-44
Mirrors
........................................................... 2-45
Manual Rearview Mirror
................ .......... 2-45
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-45
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-46
Outside Heated Mirrors
.................................. 2-46
Onstar@ System
............................................. 2-47
HomeLink@ Transmitter
................................... 2-49
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter
........... 2-50
2-1

Section 2 Features and Controls
Storage Areas ................................................ 2.54
Glove
Box ................................................... 2.54
Cupholder(s)
................................................ 2.54
Compact Overhead Console
........................ 2.54
Overhead Console
................. ................ 2.55
Front Seat Storage Net
...... ................... 2.55
Luggage Carrier
........................................... 2.56
Rear Storage Area
........................................ 2.58
Convenience Net
.......................................... 2.59
Convenience Center
...................................... 2.60 Vehicle Personalization
.................................
Entering
Programming Mode ........................
Delayed Illumination and
Exit Lighting
...........................................
Automatic Door Locks .................................
Last Door Locking and Lockout Deterrent .......
Remote Driver Unlock Control ......................
Remote Lock and Unlock Confirmation ...........
Content Theft-Deterrent System ....................
Arming and Disarming the Content
Theft-Deterrent System
.............................
Memory Seat .............................................
Exiting Programming Mode ...........................
. 2.62
. 2.63
. 2.63
. 2.64
. 2.65
. 2.66
. 2.67
. 2.69
. 2.70
. 2.71
. 2.72
2-2

Keys
2-3