2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE steering wheel

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

rowing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer
to come in contact with
the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders;
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
4-41

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of
Your Vehicle .............................................. 5-4
Fuel
.............................................................. -5-5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5-5
Gasoline Specifications
................................... 5-5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
....................... .... ......... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
........... ..... 5-7
Filling Your Tank
............................ ..... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-9
Checking Things Under the
Hood .................. -5-1 0
Hood Release .............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview ....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-14
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-19
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................... 5-26
Engine Overheating
.................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................. , ....... 5-29
Power Steering Fluid .................. , ....... 5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid
................. , ....... 5-38
Brakes
.......................... .... ........ 5-39
r.--.:.-- ---I-.- b CI lyll IC uuvlal I1 4-LU c r)r) .............................................
Battery ........................................................ 5.43
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-44
All-Wheel Drive
.............................................. 5-50
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-52
Halogen Bulbs
.............................. ......... 5-52
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Headlamps
...................................... ..... 5-52
Parking Lamps
.............................. ..... 5-54
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-57
Back-up Lamps
......................................... 5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-58
Tires
.............................................................. 5-60
Inflation
- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-62
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-63
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.......................... 5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-66
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-66
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-67
Accessory Inflator
......................................... 5-68
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-69
Changing a Flat Tire ..................................... 5-70
Compact Spare Tire ...................................... 5-86
5- 1

Your air inflator will automatically shut off after about
10 minutes. The light in the switch will blink. After about
one minute you can use the system again. Press the
inflator switch and the indicator light will come on.
Notice: Don’t run your air inflator for longer than
30 minutes at one time. If you do, you may damage
the system.
After running the air inflator for
30 minutes, wait at least
10 minutes before restarting the air inflator.
To turn off the inflator, do the following:
1. Press the switch and detach the hose, first from the
2. Put the protective cap back on.
3. Place the inflator kit tools in the pouch, and store in
inflated
object, then from the outlet.
the glove box.
To put the cover back on, line up the tabs at the back
of the cover and put it in place. Push down the tab
to secure the cover.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout”, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop
- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
5-69

Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The instrument panel fuse
block is located to the right
of the glove box on the
end
of the instrument
panel. Pull the
door open
to access the instrument panel
fuse block.
PCWCRANK FRTMPWSHR MALL CLUSTER RR WPWSHR BCM PRGRM
Low RH HEAD LP
PASSKEY HAZARD STOPLAMP LHHEADLPLOW
I Fuse I Usage I
Steering Wheel Radio Control
I :!ZKLIGHT Switches (Illumination)
PCM/PASS Indicators
KEYKLUSTER Instrument Cluster to PRNDL
I PWR MIRROR I Power Remote
Control Mirror Switch I
I CRUISE I
Cruise Control Module, Switch and
Release Switch
5-97

Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule ...................................... 6.2
Introduction
................................................... 6.2
Your Vehicle and the Environment
.................... 6-2
Maintenance Requirements
.............................. 6.2
How This Section is Organized
......................... 6.3
Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services ........... 6.4
Scheduled Maintenance
................................... 6-5
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services ................ 6-10
At Each Fuel Fill .......................................... 6-10
At Least Once a Month ................................. 6-10
At Least Twice a Year ................................... 6-10
At Least Once a Year ................................... 6-11
Using Your Maintenance
Schedule
.................... 6.4
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
......... 6-14 Steering.
Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
............................ 6.14
Exhaust System Inspection
............................ 6.14
Fuel System Inspection
.................................. 6.14
Engine Cooling System Inspection
................... 6.14
Throttle System Inspection
............................. 6.15
Transfer Case (Power Transfer Unit) and
Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module) All-Wheel Drive
Inspection
................................................ 6.15
Brake System Inspection
................................ 6.15
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
................................................ 6.16
Part
E: Maintenance Record ........................... 6.18
6-
1

Accessory Inflator ........................................... 5-68
Accessory Power Outlets
................................. 3-24
Adding Washer Fluid
....................................... 5-38
Additional Program Information
........................... 7-8
Additives, Fuel
..................... ,... . ......... 5-6
Add-on Electrical Equipment
................. ... 5-96
Adjusting the Captain's Chairs
(Second Row)
............................................. 1-13
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
............................ 3-66, 3-73, 3-82
Air Bag Readiness Light
.......................................... 3-43
Air Bag Systems
............................................. 1-69
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
......... 1-76
What Will You See After an
How Does
ari Air Bag Restrain? .................... 1-74
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
.................... 1-74
Air Bag Inflates?
...................................... 1-74
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
................... 1-73
Where Are the Air Bags?
.............................. 1-71
~II 'clttmIw/t-lller, Eflyirle ................................. 5- IS
All Overseas Locations ....... ........................ 7-4
A: . nr- ~ . . I~.ER
All-Wheel Drive ............................................... 5-86
All-Wheel Drive
............................................... 5-50
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message .......... 3-59
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System
......................... 4-1 1
Aluminum Wheels ........................................... 5-92 AM
............................................................. 3-103
Antenna, Fixed Mast
...................................... 3-105
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
............................ 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light
.............. 3-45
Appearance Care
............................................ 5-87
Care
of Safety Belts .................................... 5-90
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
................ 5-87
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
.............. 5-90
Finish Damage
............................................ 5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting
............................... 5-93
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
.......... 5-93
Sheet Metal Damage
................................... 5-92
Underbody Maintenance
............................... 5-93
Weatherstrips
.............................................. 5-90
Theft-Deterrent System
............. ......... 2-70
Arming and Disarming the Content
Arming Confirmation
.................... ............ 2-28
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
... ......... 2-27
Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter
................................................. 2-28
Arming with Your Key
...................................... 2-28
Audio Speakers
.............................................. 3-93
hdl0 System(s) ............................................. 3-63
Audio Systems
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
.................... 3-102
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
............... 3-103
Care of Your CD and DVD Player
................ 3-104
Care
of Your CDs and DVDs ....................... 3-104
Fixed Mast Antenna
................. ... 3-105

How to Use This Manual ................... .... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............... 1-27
Hydroplaning
.................................................. 4-20
I
If No Steam Is Coming From
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine ............... 5-27
If the Light Is Flashing ..................................... 3-49
If the Light Is On Steady ................................. 3-49
If You Are Stuck in Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
....... 4-30
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer ..................... 4-37
Your
Engine
................................................ 5-28
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard ........................... 4-28
Ignition Positions
............................................. 2-32
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.......................... 6-13
Infants and Young Children, Restraints
............... 1-48
Inflation
- Tire Pressure ................................... 5-61
Inspection Brake System
............................................. 6-15
Engine Cooling System
................................ 6-14
Exhaust System
.......................................... 6-14
Fuel System
............................................... 6-14
Part C - Periodic Maintenance ....................... 6-14
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal
..................................... 6-14 Inspection
(cont.)
Throttle System
........................................... 6-15
Transfer Care (Power Transfer Unit) and
Carrier Assembly-Differential
(Rear Drive Module) All-Wheel Drive
........... 6-15
Instrument Panel Cluster
..........................................
Overview ......................................
Switchbank ....................................
Instrument Panel Brightness ................
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ...............
Interior Lamps ...................................
Interior Lamps Control ........................
Interior Lamps Override ......................
Interior Plastic Components .................
....
.......... 3-40
........... 3-4
.......... 3-21
.......... 3-17
.......... 5-97
.......... 3-17
.......... 3-17
.......... 3-17
.......... 5-89
Jump Starting
......................... . 5-44
Key Lock Cylinders Service
................. .... .......... 6-11
Keyless Entry System
....................................... 2-5
Keys
............................................................... 2-3