2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE window

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it
go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get
and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle
and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour
or
so until help comes.
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don’t want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as “rocking” can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.
If you let your tires spin at high spe ~ ~, ~ rey
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transaxle or other parts
of
the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
4-30

Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue
of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road
if it becomes separated from
the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not
attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough
slack
so you can turn with your rig. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 Ibs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install,
adjust and maintain them properly.
Because your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do,
both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
If you have a rear-most window open and
you pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. See “Engine
Exhaust” in the Index.
To maximize your safety
when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window
in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
the comfort control setting for maximum air because
it only recirculates the air
inside your vehicle. See ‘“Comfort
Controls” in
the Index.
4-40

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Appearance Care ............................................ 5.87
Care of Safety Belts ...................................... 5-90
Weatherstrips
............................................... 5-90
Sheet Metal Damage
..................................... 5.92
Finish Damage
............................................. 5.92
Underbody Maintenance
................................ 5.93
Chemical Paint Spotting
................................. 5.93
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
........... 5.93
Cleaning
the Inside
of Your Vehicle ................. 5-87
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle ................. 5-90 Vehicle
Identification
........................ ...... 5.95
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
... ...... 5.95
Service Parts Identification Label
... ...... 5.95
Electrical System
.......................... .......... 5.96
Add-on Electrical Equipment
...................... 5.96
Headlamp Wiring
.......................................... 5.96
Windshield Wiper Fuses
................................ 5.96
Power Windows and Other Power Options
....... 5.96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
............................ 5.96
Capacities and Specifications
........................ 5.103
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......... 5.105
5-2

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
THIRD
(3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you’re parked. If you still have the
warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of
the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously in
this section.
You may decide not to
lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-28

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are toxic. Others can burst into flames
if you
strike a match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some are dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a
closed space. When you use anything from
a container to
clean your vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s
warnings and instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover Don’t use
any of these unless this manual says you
can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and
loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted
surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.
FabridCarpet
Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric
and carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains
very well.
You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your
dealer. See
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
on page 5-93.
They can all be hazardous - some more than
others
- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
5-87

Vinyl Top of the Instrument Panel
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
e Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt.
You may have to do this more than once.
Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if
you don't get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth
and vinyl/leather cleaner. See your dealer for
this product.
Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap and wipe
dry with a soft cloth. Then, let
the leather dry naturally.
Do not use heat to dry.
For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner. See your
dealer for this product.
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish
on leather. Use
only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones
or waxes may cause annoying reflections in the
windshield and even make it difficult
to see through
the windshield under certain conditions.
Interior Plastic Components
Use only a mild soap and water solution on a soft cloth
or sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect the
surface finish.
Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner or
a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal
tobacco smoke and dust films on interior glass.
See
GM Vehicle CardAppearance Materials on
page 5-93.
Notice: Don't use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cawe s~~ratches. bvnIc! p!scing
decals on the inside rear window, since they
may have to be scraped
off later. If abrasive
cleaners are used on the inside
of the rear window,
an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached
across
the defogger grid.
5-89

Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
Notice: Don’t add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 1-76.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker in the instrument panel fuse panel. An electrical
overload will cause the lamps to go on and
off, or in
some cases to remain
off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem, be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other
Power Options
Circuit breakers in the instrument panel fuse panel
protect the power windows and other power accessories.
When the current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker
opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the
problem is fixed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical
size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage or use one of the spare fuses in the
underhood fuse block. Just pick some feature of your
vehicle that you can get along without
- like the radio
or cigarette lighter
- and use its fuse, if it is the
right amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle, the instrument
panel fuse block and the underhood fuse block.
5-96

I Fuse I Usage I
Blank I Not Used
I PCM/CRANK I Powertrain Control Module (PCM),
Ignition Crank
I PASS KEY I PASS-Key@ Ill System I
I PWR LOCK I Power Door Locks I
I HTD MIRROR I Heated Mirrors I
I
RH T/LP I Driver’s Side Taillamp (Export Only) I
I
RR FOG LP I Fog Lamps (Export Only) I
CIGAR/DIC/
Auxiliary Power Outlets, Data Link
APO FRT Cigarette
Lighter, DIC, Front
I T/SIG I Turn Signal Switch I
PWR QTR
VENT Interior Lamp
and Multifunction
Switch (Power Vent Switch),
Auto Level
Windshield WiperNVasher Motor
and Switch
I HAZARD I Hazard Switch I
I RR PWR SCKT I Rear Electric Accessory Plug
Housing
I DRL Daytime Running
Lamp Control
Module Fuse
I Usage
LH T/LP
I
Passenger’s Side Taillamp
(Export Only)
RR DEFOG/ Rear Window Defogger Relay,
HTD MIRROR Heated Mirrors
ON STAR onstar@
SIR Inflatable Restraint Control Module HVAC
I Heater-A/C Control
BLOWER
MALL
CLUSTER Instrument Cluster, Body Control
Module, Electronic Level Control
(ELC) Sensor and Relay, Theft,
Door Ajar
STOP LAMP
I Stoplamp Switch
CLUSTER BATT Module/Electronic Brake Control
Module/Electronic Brake Traction
Control Module (EBCM/EBTCM)
Evaporative Emissions (EVAP)
Canister Vent Solenoid Valve,
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
ENHANCED
Blank Not Used
ELC Air Compressor and ELC
Heiaht Sensor. Trailer Harness
5-98