2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE engine

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.
(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: Use the driver’s and
passenger’s temperature levers to increase or decrease
the air temperature inside your vehicle.
a 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
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.
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3-29

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 passengers. Use
the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly.
Turn the right knob to select the defog or defrost mode.
@ (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 freezing. 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.
3-30

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention
to your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine
just to let you know they’re working.
If you are familiar
with this section, you should not be alarmed when
this happens. Gages
can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a message center that works
along with the warning lights and gages. See
Message
Center on page
3-52.
3-39

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed.
If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then that will
be done.
If it can’t, then it’s set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Dual Trip Odometers
In addition to the standard odometer, the cluster can
also display two separate trip odometers (designated
by the letter
A or B in the display window) as well as
your vehicle’s Engine Oil Life (designated by the
word
OIL in the display window). The display can be
toggled between the odometer, the trip odometers
and engine oil life by quickly pressing and releasing
the tripheset button located to the right of the
temperature gage. The display toggles once each
time the tripheset button is pressed for less than
1.5 seconds. The display toggles in the following
si?qwn~e: Q!km&r - Trip Qdnm~t~r .A. - Trip n&m@er
B - Engine Oil Life. If the engine oil life is left on the
display, it will automatically toggle back to the odometer
after approximately
15 seconds. Each of the two trip
odometers can be used to keep track of different
trip distances (for example, the mileage of
a long trip
and the mileage diiileii oi-i the cui-i-ei-it tank of fuel).
3-4 1

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.
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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

Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
TRAC
OFF
United States Canada
Your vehicle may have a traction control system
warning light. The traction control system warning light
may come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
button located in the instrument panel switchbank
the warning light will come on and stay on.
To
turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go
off. See Traction
Control System
(TCS) on page 4-10 for more
information.
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn
off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
3-46

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States
\[-I/
u
Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
drivinq conditions, vou should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States or Check Engine Light
in Canada
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-
Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that
emissions are at accepiabie ieveis ior ine iiie
of ihe
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.
3-47

The SERVICE ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often
will be indicated
by the system before any problem is apparent. This
may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
be as good and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement
of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come
on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. This light should
come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing
- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center
diagnosis and service may be required.
Light On Steady
- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
3-48