2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE service

Message Center
The message center is located in the instrument
panel cluster.
It gives you important safety and
maintenance facts.
Service Traction System Warning
Message
SERVICE
TRACTION
SYSTEM
United States
I I
Canada When
this message is displayed, the traction control
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
The message may appear for the following reasons:
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning message will
come on.
e If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning message will
come on until your brakes cool down.
engine-related problem, the system will turn off
and the warning message will come on.
If the traction control system warning message comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
If the traction control system is affected by an
If your vehicle has the traction control system and this
message is displayed when you’re driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system. Your vehicle
may need service.
3-52

L,n’t keep driving i, .he oil pressure i, ,ow.
If you do, your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Low Engine Oil Level Message
I I I
LOW
ENG OIL
LEVEL
I I I
United States Canada
If this message comes on, it means your engine is
low on oil.
You need to check the oil level right away. Have your
vehicle serviced immediately.
3-55

Rear Hatch Ajar Warning Message
77
REAR
HATCH
AJAR
I I
United States
I
Canada
This message will come on when the ignition is turned
to
RUN or START and the rear hatch is open.
PASS-Key@ 111 Security Message
SECURITY
Ga
I I I I
United States Canada
If you are ever driving and this message comes on
and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine
if
you turn it off.
Your PASS-Key@ Ill system, however, is not working
properly and must be serviced
by your dealer. Your
vehicle
is not protected by the PASS-Key@ Ill system
at this time. See
PASS-Key@ 111 on page 2-29 for more
information.
3-58

Radio Messages
CAL ERR (Calibration Error): This message is
displayed when the radio has not been calibrated
properly for the vehicle. You must return to the
dealership for service.
LOCKED: This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK@ system has locked up. You must
return to the dealership for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be
corrected, contact your dealer.
Playing a Compact Disc
Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up.
The player will pull it in and the disc should begin
playing. The display will show the CD symbol. If you
want to insert a compact disc with the ignition
off, first
press DlSP or EJT.
If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc
Messages” later in this section.
1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the
previous track
if the current track has been playing for
less than eight seconds.
If pressed when the current
track has been playing for more than eight seconds,
it will go to the beginning of the current track. TRACK
ana the track number wiii appear on the aispiay.
If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once,
the player will continue moving back through the disc.
2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track.
TRACK and the track number will appear on the
display.
If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than
once, the player will continue moving forward through
the disc.
3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold this
pushbutton for less than two seconds to reverse at
six times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for
more than two seconds to reverse at
17 times the
normal playing speed. Release it to play the track.
The display will show ET and the elapsed time.
4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to
advance quickly within a track. Press and hold this
pushbutton for less than two seconds to advance at six
times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for
more than two seconds to advance at
17 times the
normal playing speed. Release it to play the track.
The
display will show ET and the elapsed time
6 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the
tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM
ON
will appear on the display. RDM T and the track
number will appear on the display when each track
starts to play. Press RDM again to turn
off random play.
RDM OFF will appear on the display.
3-69

Radio Messages
CAL ERR (Calibration Error): This message is
displayed when the radio has not been calibrated
properly for the vehicle. You must return to the
dealership for service.
LOCKED: This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK@ system has locked up. You must
return to the dealership for service.
Playing a Cassette Tape
Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that
are up to
30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes
longer than that are
so thin they may not work well
in this player. The longer side with the tape visible
should face to the right. If the ignition is on, but the radio
is
off, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing.
A tape symbol is shown on the display whenever a tape
is inserted.
If you hear nothing but a garbled sound,
the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJT to remove
the tape and start over.
While the tape is playing, use the VOL, AUDIO and
SEEK controls just as you do for the radio. The display
will show TAPE and an arrow showing which side of
the tape is playing.
If you want to insert a tape while the ignition is off,
first press EJT or DISP.
If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape
Messages” later in this section.
3-76
1 PREV (Previous): Your tape must have at least three
seconds of silence between each selection for previous
to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the previous
selection on the tape
if the current selection has been
playing for less than three seconds.
If pressed when the
current selection has been playing from
3 to 13 seconds,
it will go to the beginning of the previous selection or
the beginning of the current selection, depending upon
the position on the tape.
If pressed when the current
selection has been playing for more than
13 seconds,
it will
go to the beginning of the current selection.
SEEK and a negative number will appear on the display
while the cassette player is in the previous mode.
Pressing this pushbutton multiple times or holding it
will increase the number of selections to be searched
back, up to
-9.
2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of
silence between each selection for next to work. Press
this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape.
If you press the pushbutton more than once, the player
will continue moving forward through the tape. SEEK and
a positive number will appear on the display.
3 REV (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the
tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed.
The radio will play while the tape reverses. The station
frequency and REV will appear on the display. You may
select stations during reverse operation using TUNE,
SEEK or PSCAN.

The broken tape detection feature of your cassette
tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as
a damaged tape, in error. To prevent the cleaning
cassette from being ejected, use the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE CD button for five
seconds. READY will appear on the display and
a cassette symbol will flash for five seconds.
4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer’s
recommended cleaning time.
After the cleaning cassette is ejected, the broken tape
detection feature will be active again.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to
clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will
not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner
may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type
cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type
cleaning cassette is not recommended. After you
clean the player, press and hold the EJT
button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN indicator.
The radio will display CLEANED to show the indicator
was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your CDs and DVDs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen
a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution
and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the side without writing when
handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer
edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
Care of Your CD and DVD Player
The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to
the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics
with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.
3-1 04

Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful
in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only
if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION ACTIVE message will come on when
the traction control system is limiting wheel spin.
See
Traction Active Message on page 3-53. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. See “Cruise Control’’ under
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever on page 3-7.
SERVICE
TRACTION
SYSTEM
United States
Canada
If this message comes on and stays on or comes on
while you are driving, there’s
a problem with your
traction control system.
See
Service Traction System Warning Message on
page
3-52. When this warning message is on, the TRAC
OFF light will come on to remind you that the system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should always
leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control
system
off if you ever need to. You should turn the
system
off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking
Your Vehicle” under
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow on page
4-30.
4-1 0

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance.
If you miss your exit,
do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up.
Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
- such as after a day’s
work
- don’t plan to make too many miles that first
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help
if you need it.
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Here are some things you can check before a trip:
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Windshield Washer Nuid: Is the reservior full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checkea
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-23