2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE engine

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see
Shifting lnto Park (P)
on page 2-40.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle,
so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully
apply your regular
brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P), when
the ignition is in RUN.
As you step on the brake pedal, while in PARK (P),
you may hear a click from the solenoid of the system.
This ensures that the system is operating properly.
See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-36.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then try
to move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you
ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
2-42

Parking Over Things That Burn Engine E> aust
.. . .
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things.
that can burn.
I
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming
in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris. or different.
0 Repairs weren’t done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust
is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately. blow out any
CO; and
2-43

Running Your Engine While You
Are
Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, hpre are some things
to know.
Idling the engine with the climate co~,.,ol
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust.”
Also, idling
in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even
if the fan
is at the highest settin:,. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust - with
CO - can come in easily. NEVEt3 park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See “Winter Driving” in the Index.
It can De dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you’ve left
the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-40.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on
page 4-36.
2-44

Programming the HomeLink
Transmitter
Do not use the HomeLink@ Transmitter with any garage
door opener that does not have the “stop and reverse”
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April
1, 1982.
Keep the original transmitter for use in other vehicles as
well as for future HomeLink@ programming. It is also
recommended that upon the sale of the vehicle,
the programmed HomeLink@ buttons should be erased
for security purposes. Refer to “Erasing HomeLink@
Buttons” or, for assistance, contact HomeLink@ on
the internet at: www.homelink.com or by calling
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door or gate operator you are programming. When
programming a garage door, it is advised to park outside
of the garage.
It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio frequency.
1-800-355-351
5. Your
vehicle’s engine should be turned
off while
programming the transmitter. Follow these steps to
program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons,
releasing only when the indicator light begins to
flash, after 20 seconds.
Do not hold down the
buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat this step to program a second and/or third
transmitter to the remaining
two HomeLink@ buttons.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter about
1 to 3 inches (3 to
8 cm) away from the HomeLink@
buttons while keeping the indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the desired
button on HomeLink@ and the hand-held transmitter
button.
Do not release the buttons until Step 4
has been completed.
Some entry gates and garage door openers may
require you to substitute Step 3 with the procedure
noted in “Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this section.
4. The indicator light will flash slowly at first and then
rapidly after HomeLink@ successfully receives the
frequency signal from the hand-held transmitter.
Release both buttons.
2-50

Arming and Disarming the Content
Theft-Deterrent System
To arm or disarm the content theft-deterrent system,
the system must be turned on by using Modes
1, 2 or 4
listed previously.
This feature allows you to customize the arming and
disarming of the content-theft deterrent system.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Power Door Lock Switch Arming Off
The system will arm when you lock the doors
with your key or remote keyless entry transmitter.
The key must be removed from the ignition
when you lock the doors or the content
theft-deterrent system will not arm.
The system will disarm when you unlock the doors
with your key or remote keyless entry transmitter.
Mode
2: Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter
Arm/Disarm Only
0 The system will arm when you lock the doors with
your remote keyless entry transmitter. The key
must be removed from the ignition when you lock
the doors or the content theft-deterrent system
will not arm.
0 The system will disarm when you unlock the doors
with your remote keyless entry transmitter. While
this mode provides increased security, it can be
a problem
if your remote keyless entry transmitter
is damaged, lost
or if it fails to operate for any reason
while the content theft-deterrent system is armed.
The content theft-deterrent system must be disarmed
for the engine to run while in Mode
2; your key can
no longer disarm the system.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Onstar@ system,
Onstar@ will not be able to remotely unlock your vehicle
if it has been programmed to Mode 2.
Mode 3: Standard Arming and Disarming
0
0
0
The system will arm when you lock the doors using
either power door lock switch while any door or the
liftgate is open and the key is removed from the
ignition.
The system will arm when you lock the doors with
your key or remote keyless entry transmitter and
the key is removed from the ignition.
The system will disarm when you unlock the doors
with your key or remote keyless entry transmitter.
2-70

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview ........................... 3.4
Hazard Warning Flashers
............................ 3.6
Other Warning Devices
............................... 3.6
Horn
............................................................. 3.7
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3-7
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
......................... 3.7
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3.14
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3.17
Switchbanks
................................................. 3.21
Instrument Panel Switchbank
.......................... 3-21
Overhead Console Switchbank
....................... 3.21
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
............ 3.22
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3.24
Climate Controls
............................................ 3.25
Climate Control System
................................. 3.25
Dual Climate Control System
.......................... 3.28
Rear Climate Control System
Rear Climate Control System (With Entertainment System)
...................... -3-34
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
................... 3.37
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............. 3.39
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3.40
Outlet Adjustment
......................................... 3.31
ilAlM-.nr I+ lZmtnwtq;n-mnt Ctrctnm \VUiLllWUL LIIL~ILUIIiIII~.. . Vy~L~..., .... ....... " "L 4-49
Speedometer and Odometer ........................... 3.41 Safety
Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.42
Air Bag Readiness Light
................................ 3-43
Brake System Warning Light
.......................... 3-44
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
............. 3-45
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
...... 3-46
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
.................. 3-47
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............................. 3-47
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3-51
Message Center
............................................. 3-52
Service Traction System Warning Message
...... 3-52
Traction Active Message
................................ 3-53
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Message
.................................................. 3-53
Charging System Indicator Message
................ 3-54
Low Oil Pressure Message
............................ 3-54
Low Engine Oil Level Message
....................... 3-55
Change Engine Oil Message
.......................... 3-56
Power Sliding Door Warning Message
............. 3-56
Rear Hatch Ajar Warning Message
.................. 3-58
PASS-Key@
I II Security Message ................... -3-58
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message
....... 3-59
Low Fuel Warning Message
........................... 3-59
Driver Information Center (DIC)
....................... 3-60
Eee: P, jar '!!s:n?!g !!esss;e .......................... ... Iz-c;7 v .
3- 1

a (Outside Air): Press this button to turn the
outside air mode on or
off. When this mode is on,
outside air will circulate throughout your vehicle.
When this mode is on, an indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that
it is activated.
The outside air mode can be used with all modes, but
it
cannot be used with the recirculation mode.
a (Recirculation): This mode keeps outside air
from coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or help
heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Press this button to turn the recirculation mode on or
off.
When the button is pressed, an indicator light will
come on. The air-conditioning compressor also comes
on. The recirculation mode can be used with vent
and bi-level modes, but it cannot be used with floor,
defog, defrost or outside air modes.
Temperature Control: Turn the center knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the air
temperature inside your vehicle.
e A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn
the air-conditioning system on or
off. When A/C is
pressed, an indicator light in the button will come on
to let you know that air conditioning
is activated. You may
notice a slight change in engine performance
when the air-conditioning compressor shuts
off and
turns on again. This is normal. The system is designed
to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while
still maintaining the selected temperature.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days,
do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the recirculation mode.
3. Select A/C.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become
too dry. To prevent this from happening, after the
air inside of your vehicle has cooled, turn the
recirculation mode
off.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air,
so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.
3-26

Defogging and Defrosting
There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows
of fog or moisture and warm
the defrost mode to remove
windshield more quickly.
Turn the right knob to select the passengers.
Use
fog or frost from the
the defog or defrost mode.
+3 (Defog): This mode directs air to the windshield
and the floor outlets. When you select this mode,
the system turns
off recirculation and runs the
air-conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. The recirculation
mode cannot be selected while in the defog mode.
(Defrost): Pressing this button directs most of the
air to the windshield and the side window outlets, with
some air directed to the floor outlets. In this mode,
the system will automatically turn
off recirculation and
run the air-conditioning compressor, unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezina. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in the defrost mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
@ REAR: Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or
off. An indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn
off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately
five minutes before turning
off. The defogger can also
be turned
off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
Notice: Don’t use anything 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. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
3-27