
. 
The 2003 Oldsmobile  Silhouette  Owner Manual 
Seats  and  Restraint  Systems ........................... 1-1 
Front  Seats 
............................................... 1-2 
Rear  Seats 
............................................... 1-7 
Safety  Belts 
............................................. 1-22 
Child  Restraints 
....................................... 1-45 
Air  Bag  Systems 
...................................... 1-69 
Restraint  System  Check 
............................ 1-77 
Features  and  Controls 
..................................... 2-1 
Keys 
........................................................ 2-3 
Doors  and  Locks 
....................................... 2-9 
Windows 
................................................. 2-24 
Theft-Deterrent  Systems 
............................ 2-27 
Starting  and  Operating  Your  Vehicle 
........... 2-32 
Mirrors 
.................................................... 2-45 
Onstar@  System 
...................................... 2-47 
HomeLink@  Transmitter 
......................... 2-49 
Storage  Areas 
......................................... 2-54 
Vehicle  Personalization 
............................. 2-62 
Instrument  Panel  Overview 
.......................... 3-4 
Climate  Controls 
...................................... 3-25 
Warning  Lights,  Gages  and Indicators 
......... 3-39 
Driver  Information  Center  (DIC) 
.................. 3-60 
Instrument  Panel 
............................................. 3-1 
Messaye Center 5-3L n r~ ....................................... 
Audio 
System(s) ....................................... 3-63 
Your  Driving,  the Road, and  Your Vehicle 
..... 4-2 
Towing 
................................................... 4-32 
Service 
..................................................... 5-3 
Fuel 
......................................................... 5-5 
Checking Things  Under the Hood 
............... 5-10 
All-Wheel  Drive 
........................................ 5-50 
Bulb  Replacement 
.................................... 5-52 
Windshield  Wiper Blade Replacement 
......... 5-58 
Tires 
...................................................... 5-60 
Appearance  Care 
..................................... 5-87 
Vehicle  Identification 
................................. 5-95 
Electrical System 
...................................... 5-96 
Capacities and  Specifications 
................... 5-1  03 
Normal Maintenance  Replacement Parts 
...... 5-1  05 
Maintenance Schedule 
................................ 6-2 
Customer Assistance  Information 
.................... 7-1 
Customer Assistance  Information 
.................. 7-2 
Reporting Safety  Defects 
............................ 7-9 
Driving  Your  Vehicle 
....................................... 4-1 
Service  and Appearance  Care 
.......................... 5-1 
Maintenance  Schedule 
..................................... 6-1 
Index 
................................................................ 1  

Remote  Alarm 
When  you  press the button with the  horn symbol  on the 
remote  keyless  entry  transmitter,  the parking lamps 
will  flash  and  the  horn 
will sound. This  will allow you  to 
attract  attention, 
if needed. 
Press  the panic  button  again to stop  the alarm from 
sounding. 
Remote  Power  Sliding  Door  Operation 
If your  vehicle  has the power  sliding  door, your remote 
keyless  entry  transmitter  will have a button that has a van 
symbol  on it.  Press  it  to  open or close the sliding  door. 
See 
Power  Sliding  Door (PSD)  on page 2- 16. 
If your  vehicle  has  the  dual  power sliding doors,  your 
remote  keyless  entry  transmitter  will  have two buttons 
that  have  a van  symbol  on them. The van symbol  on the 
left  is for  the  driver’s  side  sliding door and the van 
symbol  on  the  right  is for  the  passenger’s  side sliding 
door.  See 
Power  Sliding  Door (PSD) on page 2-16. 
If the  power  sliding  door(s)  is locked, first  unlock all 
doors,  then  press  the van  symbol  to open the power 
sliding  door(s). The parking lamps  will flash  when 
the  right  button  with  the  van  symbol is pressed and they 
will  not  flash  when  the  left  button with the van symbol 
is  pressed.  Press  the  van  symbol again to close the 
sliding  door(s).  See 
Power  Sliding  Door (PSD) on 
page 2- 16 for  more  information.  You 
can operate the power sliding door(s) with the 
remote keyless entry transmitter  only when the  power 
sliding door override  switch(es) on the overhead 
console  is turned 
off. See Power  Sliding  Door  (PSD) 
on  page 
2- 16. 
If your vehicle’s fuel filler  door is opened,  the driver’s  side 
power sliding door  will  not open completely. 
Do not try to 
force the  door. Once the fuel filler  door is closed, the 
driver’s side sliding  door can be opened normally. 
Matching Transmitter(s)  to  Your Vehicle 
Each remote keyless  entry transmitter  is coded to 
prevent another transmitter from  unlocking your vehicle. 
If a transmitter  is lost  or stolen, a  replacement can 
be purchased through  your  dealer. Remember to bring 
any  remaining transmitters  with  you when you  go to 
your dealer.  When the dealer matches the  replacement 
transmitter  to  your vehicle,  any remaining transmitters 
must also  be matched. Once your dealer  has  coded the 
new transmitter, the  lost transmitter will  not unlock 
your vehicle.  Each vehicle can  have a  maximum  of 
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See  your dealer to match transmitters  to another vehicle. 
2-7  

Lockout  Protection 
The  lockout protection feature  makes it difficult for  you 
to  lock  your  keys in your  vehicle. 
If the driver’s  door 
is  open  while  the  keys are in the  ignition,  a  chime will 
sound  and  you  will  not be able to  use  your  power 
door  lock  switch  to lock the vehicle. 
If you  don’t  leave  the  keys in the ignition or if you  use  the 
manual  door  lock,  you  could still lock your  keys in your 
vehicle.  Always  remember  to take  your  keys with you. 
To  turn this  feature  off  or  on, see 
Vehicle 
Personalization 
on page 2-62. 
Leaving  Your  Vehicle 
If  you  are  leaving the vehicle, take  your keys,  open your 
door  and  set  the  locks from the inside.  Then  get  out 
and  close  the door. 
Dual Sliding Doors 
To open  either sliding  door from outside  the vehicle,  pull 
the  handle  out and then  pull  the door toward  the  rear. 
If you slide  the door  all the  way  back,  the door  will rest  in 
a  detent position. 
To  move  the door  forward,  you  must  first pull the door 
past  the open  detent position. 
The  driver’s side sliding  door 
is designed to open  only a 
little 
if the  fuel  door  is open.  If  this ever  happens,  don’t  try 
to force the sliding door. Just close the driver’s side  sliding door.  Then  when the fuel  filler  door  is closed, 
the driver’s side sliding  door  can  be opened normally. 
2-1 3  

The driver’s  side sliding  door is designed  to open 
only  a little 
if the fuel  door is  open. If this  ever happens, 
don’t try to force the sliding door. When the fuel filler 
door  is closed, the driver’s side sliding  door can 
be  opened normally. 
You  or others  could  be  injured 
if caught in the 
path 
of the  sliding  door.  Make sure the door 
path  is clear  before closing  the  door. 
If you want  to  open the  power sliding door(s) when the 
If an  object  obstructs  the  power sliding door(s) while  override  switch(es) is turned off, pull the  inside or 
it  is  closing,  the  door  will  automatically reverse to 
the  open  position,  provided it meets sufficient resistance.  outside handle and 
let  go. The door  will  open fully. 
Resistance  must  be  as  strong as the  force  of  the 
To open the power sliding door(s) when the power 
closing  door,  or  stronger.  The force 
of the closing door sliding door override switch(es) is on, pull the  inside  or 
increases  significantly  as  the door  approaches the  outside handle and slide  the door all  the way  back. 
iaichea posiiion. 
2-1 9  

PASS-Key@ 111 Operation 
Your vehicle  is equipped 
with the  PASS-Key@ 
Ill 
(Personalized  Automotive 
Security  System) 
theft-deterrent  system. 
PASS-Key@ 
Ill is  a passive 
theft deterrent system. 
This  means  you don’t  have 
to do anything different 
to arm  or  disarm the 
system. 
It works  when  you 
insert 
or remove  the  key 
from  the ignition. 
When  the PASS-Key@ 
Ill system  senses  that someone 
is  using the  wrong key, it shuts  down the vehicle’s 
starter  and fuel systems.  The starter will  not  work and 
fuel  will stop being delivered  to  the engine.  Anyone 
using  a trial-and-error  method 
to start the vehicle will  be 
discouraged  because of the  high  number  of electrical 
key  codes. 
If the engine  does  not start  and  the security  message 
comes  on, the  key  may  have  a  damaged  transponder. 
Turn  the  ignition 
off and try again. 
If the  engine still  does  not  start,  and  the key  appears to 
be undamaged, try another  ignition key. At this  time, 
you  may  also want 
to check  the  instrument  panel  PASS 
KEY  fuse. 
If the  engine still  does  not  start  with  the 
other key,  your vehicle  needs  service. 
If your  vehicle 
does start,  the first key  may  be  faulty.  See  your  dealer  or 
a locksmith  who can service  the  PASS-Key@ Ill to 
have  a  new  key made.  See Fuses  and Circuit  Breakers 
on page 5-96. 
It is possible  for the  PASS-Key@ Ill decoder to learn 
the  transponder value  of a new  or  replacement  key. 
Up 
to 10 additional  keys  may  be  programmed  for 
the  vehicle. This procedure is  for learning  additional 
keys  only. 
If all the  currently  programmed  keys  are lost 
or do  not operate,  you  must  see  your  dealer  or  a 
locksmith  who  can service PASS-Key@ 
Ill to have  keys 
made  and programmed  to the  system. 
See  your dealer or  a  locksmith  who  can  service 
PASS-Key@ 
Ill to get  a  new  key  blank that is cut 
exactly  as the ignition  key  that operates  the  system. 
2-30  

Engine  Coolant  Heater 
Your  vehicle  may  have  an engine coolant  heater.  In  very 
cold  weather, 
0°F (-1 8°C) or  colder,  the engine  coolant 
heater  can  help.  You’ll  get  easier  starting  and better  fuel 
economy  during  engine  warm-up.  Usually,  the coolant 
prior  to starting  your  vehicle.  At  temperatures above 
32°F (OOC), use of the  coolant  heater is not  required. 
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To Use the Engine  Coolant  Heater 
1. Turn off the  engine. 
2. Open the hood and unwrap the eieciricai cord. 
The  electrical  cord is located  on  the  driver’s  side 
of  the  engine  compartment. 
3. Plug it into a  normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet. 
Plugging  the cord  into  an  ungrounded outlet 
could  cause  an electrical  shock. 
Also, the 
wrong  kind 
of extension  cord could  overheat 
and  cause  a  fire.  You could be seriously 
injured.  Plug the cord  into  a  properly  grounded 
three-prong  110-volt 
AC outlet. If the cord 
won’t  reach,  use a heavy-duty  three-prong 
extension  cord  rated 
for at  least 15  amps. 
4. Before starting  the  engine,  be  sure  to unplug and 
store  the cord as  it  was  before  to keep  it away 
from  moving  engine parts. 
If you  don’t,  it could be 
damaged. 
How  long should  you keep  the  coolant  heater  plugged 
kind  of oil  you  have,  and some  other  things.  Instead 
of trying to  list everything  here,  we  ask that you contact 
your  dealer  in the  area  where  you’ll be parking your 
vehicle.  The dealer  can  give  you  the  best advice for that 
particular  area. 
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2-35  

Warm-up Shift 
Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle 
designed  to warm  up the engine  faster  when the  outside 
temperature  is 
35°F (2°C) or colder.  You  may notice 
that  the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed until 
the engine is warmed  up. This  is a  normal condition 
designed  to provide heat  to the  passenger compartment 
and defrost the  windows more quickly.  See 
Climate 
Control  System  on 
page 3-25 for more information. 
THIRD 
(3): This  position  is also used for  normal driving, 
but  it  offers  more power and lower fuel  economy than 
AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE (D). 
Here are  some times you  might choose THIRD 
(3) 
instead  of AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE (D): 
When driving on hilly, winding  roads. 
When towing a trailer (so there is less shifting 
When going down a steep hill. between gears). 
SECOND 
(2): This  position gives  you more power, 
but lower fuel economy.  You can  use SECOND 
(2) on 
hills. It can help control  your speed as you  go down 
steep mountain roads,  but then you would also want to 
use your  brakes 
off and  on. 
Notice: Don’t  drive  in  SECOND (2) for  more  than 
25 miles (40 km), or at speeds  over 55 mph (90 km/h), 
or  you  can  damage  your  transaxle.  Use  THIRD 
(3) or 
AUTOMATIC  OVERDRIVE (D) as much  as possible. 
Don’t 
shift into  SECOND (2) unless  you  are  going 
slower  than 
65 mph (105 km/h)  or  you  can  damage 
your  engine. 
Notice: If your  vehicle  seems to start up  rather 
slowly,  or  if 
it seems  not  to  shift gears as you  go 
faster,  something  may  be  wrong  with  a  transaxle 
system  sensor.  If  you  drive  very  far  that  way, your 
vehicle  can  be  damaged. 
So, if  this happens,  have 
your  vehicle  serviced 
right away.  Until then,  you can 
use  SECOND 
(2) when  you  are driving  less  than 
35 mph (55 km/h)  and  THIRD (3) for  higher speeds. 
FIRST 
(1): This position  gives  you  even  more  power 
(but  lower  fuel economy)  than 
SECOND (2). You  can  use 
it  on  very  steep  hills, or in deep  snow  or  mud. 
If the  shift 
lever is  put in FIRST 
(I), the transaxle  won’t downshift 
into  first  gear  until the vehicle is going  slow  enough. 
Notice: If  your  front  wheels  won’t  turn, don’t  try  to 
drive.  This  might  happen  if  you  were stuck  in  very 
deep  sand  or  mud  or  were up  against  a  solid  object. 
You could  damage  your  transaxle.  Also, if  you  stop 
when  going 
uphill, don’t  hold  your  vehicle  there  with 
only  the  accelerator  pedal. This  could  overheat  and 
damage  the  transaxle.  Use  your  brakes  to  hold  your 
vehicle  in  position  on  a 
hill. 
2-38  

Section 3 Instrument  Panel 
Instrument  Panel  Overview ........................... 3.4 
Hazard  Warning  Flashers 
............................ 3.6 
Other  Warning  Devices 
............................... 3.6 
Horn 
............................................................. 3.7 
Tilt  Wheel 
..................................................... 3-7 
Turn  SignaVMultifunction  Lever 
......................... 3.7 
Exterior  Lamps 
............................................. 3.14 
Interior  Lamps 
.............................................. 3.17 
Switchbanks 
................................................. 3.21 
Instrument  Panel  Switchbank 
.......................... 3-21 
Overhead  Console  Switchbank 
....................... 3.21 
Ultrasonic  Rear  Parking  Assist  (URPA) 
............ 3.22 
Accessory  Power  Outlets 
............................... 3.24 
Climate  Controls 
............................................ 3.25 
Climate  Control  System 
................................. 3.25 
Dual  Climate  Control  System 
.......................... 3.28 
Rear  Climate  Control  System 
Rear  Climate  Control  System  (With  Entertainment  System) 
...................... -3-34 
Passenger  Compartment  Air  Filter 
................... 3.37 
Warning  Lights,  Gages  and  Indicators 
............. 3.39 
Instrument  Panel  Cluster 
................................ 3.40 
Outlet  Adjustment 
......................................... 3.31 
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Speedometer  and  Odometer ........................... 3.41  Safety 
Belt Reminder  Light 
............................. 3.42 
Air  Bag  Readiness  Light 
................................ 3-43 
Brake System  Warning  Light 
.......................... 3-44 
Anti-Lock  Brake  System  Warning Light 
............. 3-45 
Traction Control System  (TCS)  Warning Light 
...... 3-46 
Engine Coolant Temperature  Gage 
.................. 3-47 
Malfunction Indicator  Lamp 
............................. 3-47 
Fuel  Gage 
................................................... 3-51 
Message  Center 
............................................. 3-52 
Service Traction  System  Warning Message 
...... 3-52 
Traction  Active Message 
................................ 3-53 
Engine  Coolant Temperature  Warning 
Message 
.................................................. 3-53 
Charging System  Indicator  Message 
................ 3-54 
Low  Oil Pressure  Message 
............................ 3-54 
Low  Engine  Oil Level  Message 
....................... 3-55 
Change  Engine Oil Message 
.......................... 3-56 
Power  Sliding  Door  Warning  Message 
............. 3-56 
Rear  Hatch  Ajar Warning  Message 
.................. 3-58 
PASS-Key@ 
I II Security  Message ................... -3-58 
All-Wheel  Drive  Disable  Warning Message 
....... 3-59 
Low  Fuel Warning  Message 
........................... 3-59 
Driver  Information Center  (DIC) 
....................... 3-60 
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3- 1