2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE ignition

Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice: Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage
the transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key
to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine warms up.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer
than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery
to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If the engine doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down while you turn the key
to START. Do this until
the engine starts.
As soon as it does, let go of
the key.
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 the 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.
2-34

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Maximum engine speed is limited when you’re in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever
PARK (P): This gear position locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. 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 key 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.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever - push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting
Out
of Park (P) on page 2-42.
It is 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 have 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). See “Shifting
Into Park (P)”
in the Index. If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
2-36

Parking Brake
The parking brake is
located on the driver’s
side under the
instrument panel.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 3-44.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot while you push down on
the parking brake pedal with your left foot. (To release
the tension on the parking brake cable, you will need to
apply about the same amount of pressure to the
parking brake pedal as you did when you set the parking
brake.) When you remove your foot from the parking
brake pedal,
it will pop up to the released position.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal If
you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill,
brake pedal with your left foot. what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
down with your right foot
and push down on the parking see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-36, That section shows
2-39

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand. your vehicle is in PARK (PI.
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave \w.iicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
I your vehicle with the engine running.
I
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK
(P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold
the reguiar brake pedai down. Then, see
ii you can
move the shift lever away from PARK
(P) without first
pulling it toward you. If you can,
it means that the
shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
2-41

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

Entering Programming Mode
To program features, your vehicle must be in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1. The content theft-deterrent system must be
disarmed. See
Content Theft-Deterrent on
page
2-27.
2. Remove the BCM PRGRM fuse from the instrument
panel fuse block, located to the right of the glove
box. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-96.
3. Close the driver’s door
4. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY.
5. Count the number of chimes you hear. You will
hear two to four chimes depending on the features
your vehicle is equipped with. Refer to the chart
shown previously.
You can now program your choices.
To exit the programming mode, follow the steps listed
under
Exiting Programming Mode on page 2-71.
Delayed Illumination and
Exit Lighting
This feature allows you to customize the interior lamps
when entering and exiting the vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Both Features Off (The interior lamps will
turn on or
off at the same instant that a door is opened
or closed.)
Mode
2: Delayed Illumination Only (The interior lamps
will stay on for about
25 seconds after all the doors
and liftgate are closed, or until you lock the doors.)
Mode
3: Exit Lighting Only (The interior lamps will
come on whenever you remove the key from the
ignition and stay on for about
25 seconds, or until
you lock the doors.)
Mode
4: Both Features On (This combines
Modes 2 and 3.)
2-63

Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory,
it was programmed in Mode
4. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle
to a different mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for “Entering Programming
Mode” earlier
in this section.
2. Turn the interior lamps on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control all the way up.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear.
The number of chimes indicates the vehicle’s
current programmed mode. (If you do not wish to
change the current mode, you can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.)
4. Turn the interior lamps off to change the
current mode.
5. Turn the interior lamps from on to off until you hear
the number of chimes corresponding to the mode
selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set.
You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
Automatic Door Locks
This feature allows you to customize the automatic
locking and unlocking of the doors when using the
shift lever.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Both Features Off (Automatic door locking
and unlocking is disabled. You will always need to
lock your doors manually before driving to increase
occupant safety.)
Mode
2: Automatic Door Locking Only
The automatic door unlock feature is turned off.
Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
Turn off the ignition with the transaxle in PARK (P);
Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
Mode
3: Automatic Unlocking with the Ignition
Off
all doors will unlock automatically.
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
Mode
4: Automatic Unlocking with Transaxle in
PARK (P)
Shift into PARK (P) with the ignition on; all doors
Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
will unlock
automatically.
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
2-64

Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory,
it was programmed in Mode
3. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To determine the mode to which
your vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle
to a different mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for Entering Programming
Mode on page 2-63.
2. Press LOCK on the power door lock switch.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear.
The number of chimes indicates the vehicle’s
current programmed mode. (If you do not wish to
change the current mode, you can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.)
4. Press LOCK to change the current mode.
5. Press LOCK until you hear the number of chimes
corresponding
to the mode selection you want.
The mode you selected is
now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
Last Door Locking and Lockout
Deterrent
This feature allows you to customize the automatic
locking of the doors when exiting the vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Both Features Off (Doors will always lock
immediately when you press LOCK on the power door
lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter.)
Mode
2: Lockout Deterrent Only (If you leave your key
in the ignition with the driver’s door open, you won’t
be able to lock the doors with the power door locks.)
Mode
3: Last Door Closed Locking Only (If the power
door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter
is used to lock the vehicle while any door or the
liftgate is open, you will hear three chimes. The doors
will not lock. Five seconds after the last door is
closed, all doors and the liftgate will lock.)
Mode
4: Both Features On (This combines
Modes
2 and 3.)
2-65