2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE towing

If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
See
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
F e 3-45 and Towing \’ rr Vehicle on page 4-32.
Your brake system may not be working
properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
r
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have
this light. If it does, 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.
-I -I. I- .I I^ .-,.- -..-I __.^___ :--. l:-.LL -L-..l-l -^-_ I I le dl Ill-IWGK UldKt: byblW i I vval I 111 ly llYl11 31 lwuiu bWl I IC
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.
3-45

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as
it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady,
see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the
Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to
your dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. See
Filling Your Tank on page 5-7.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine
may not run as efficiently as designed since small
amounts of air are sucked into the fuel line causing
misfire. The system can detect this. Adding fuel should
correct this condition. Make sure to install the fuel
cap properly. See
Filling Your Tank on page 5-7.
It will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
3-49

Section Driving Your Vehicle
Your
Driving. the Road. and Your Vehicle .......... 4-2
Defensive Driving
........................................... 4.2
Drunken Driving
............................................. 4.3
Braking
......................................................... 4.6
Traction Control System (TCS)
....................... 4.10
Steering
...................................................... 4.12
Off-Road Recovery
....................................... 4.14
Passing
........................................ .... 4.14
Loss of Control
.................................. .... 4.16
Driving at Night
......................................... 4.17
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
.............. 4-18
Control of a Vehicle ........................................ 4-6
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
....................... 4-1 1 City Driving
.................................................. 4.21
Freeway Driving
............................... ..... 4.22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
....................... 4-23
Highway Hypnosis
........................................ 4-24
Winter Driving
.............................................. 4.26
Ice or Snow
.............................................. 4-30
Towing .......................................................... 4-32
Towing Your Vehicle
..................................... 4-32
Recreational Vehicle Towing
........................... 4-32
Loading Your Vehicle
.................................... 4-34
Towing a Trailer
.............................. ..... 4-36
Hill
and Mountain Roads
................................ 4-24
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
4- 1

Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle
back and forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
See “Rocking Your Vehicle
To Get It Out.”
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see
Tire Chains on page 5-67.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn your traction
control system
off. See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-10.
Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transaxle
is in gear. By slowly spinning your
wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you
will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle.
If that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may
need to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out,
see “Towing Your Vehicle” following.
4-31

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service
if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 9-5.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see ”Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle
- such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device know
as a “dolly”). With the proper preparation
and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions
on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared
to be
towed. See
Before Leaving on a Long Trip on
page
4-23.
4-32

Dinghy Towing Dolly Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all of its
wheels on the ground.
If you have a two-wheel-drive
vehicle,
it can be towed with two of its wheels on
the ground. See “Dolly Towing” following.
If you have an
all-wheel-drive vehicle,
it cannot be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. It can be towed with car carrier
equipment.
Notice: Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don’t tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any
of its wheels will be on the ground. If
you have a two-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be towed
with two
of its wheels on the ground. To dolly tow
your vehicle, do the following:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. It can be
towed with car carrier equipment.
Notice: Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground,
or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don’t tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any
of its wheels will be on the ground.
4-33

Towiv a Trailer
=mm
If you don’t use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well
-- or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps
in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result
in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice
in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle. Additional rear axle maintenance
is required for a vehicle used to tow a trailer.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. Your
vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment
and
it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many
of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
4-36

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
e
e
e
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having
to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh
2,000 Ibs. (900 kg) or less. You should
always use a sway control
if your trailer will weigh
more than
2,000 Ibs. (900 kg). You can ask a
hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at
all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
e
e Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h)
and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at
the heavier loads.
You can use THIRD
(3) (or, as you need to, a lower
gear) when towing
a trailer. Operating your vehicle
in THIRD
(3) when towing a trailer will minimize
heat buildup and extend the life
of your transaxle.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
* the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
4-37