
. 
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  

Vehicle Damage Warnings 
Also, in this book  you will find these  notices: 
Notice: These  mean there is something  that could 
damage  your vehicle. 
A  notice  will tell you  about  something  that can damage 
your  vehicle.  Many times, this  damage  would  not be 
covered  by your warranty, and  it  could be costly. 
But  the  notice will tell  you  what to do to  help  avoid 
the  damage. 
When  you read other manuals,  you might  see  CAUTION 
and  NOTICE  warnings  in different colors  or in different 
words. 
You’ll  also see warning labels  on your vehicle.  They  use 
the  same  words,  CAUTION  or NOTICE. 
Vehicle Symbols 
Your  vehicle  has  components  and  labels that  use 
symbols  instead 
of text.  Symbols,  used  on  your  vehicle, 
are  shown  along with  the  text describing  the operation 
or  information relating  to a specific  component,  control, 
message,  gage  or  indicator. 
If  you  need  help figuring  out  a  specific  name  of a 
component,  gage  or indicator  reference  the  following 
topics: 
Seats  and  Restraint  Systems in Section 1 
Features and Controls  in Section 2 
Instrument Panel  Overview in Section 3 
Climate Controls in  Section 3 
Warning Lights, Gages  and  Indicators in  Section 3 
Audio System(s) in  Section 3 
Engine  Compartment  Overview  in Section 5 
iv  

B (LOCK): This is the  only  position from which you 
can  remove  the  key.  This  position locks your  ignition, 
steering  wheel  and  transaxle. 
Notice: If  your  key  seems stuck in LOCK and  you 
can’t  turn 
it, be  sure  you  are  using  the  correct  key; 
if 
so, is it all  the  way in?  If it is, then  turn  the 
steering  wheel  left  and  right  while  you  turn  the  key  hard.  Turn  the  key  only  with  your  hand.  Using  a 
tool  to  force 
it could  break  the  key  or  the  ignition 
switch.  If  none 
of these  works,  then  your  vehicle 
needs  service. 
C (OFF): This  position  unlocks  the  ignition, steering 
wheel  and  transaxle  but,  does  not  send power to 
any  accessories.  Use  this  position 
if your vehicle 
must  be pushed  or  towed,  but  never try 
to push-start 
your  vehicle. 
D (RUN): This  is the position to  which the switch returns 
after you  start your engine and release the ignition key. 
This  is the position for driving. Even  when the engine  is 
not  running,  you can  use RUN to  operate  your  electrical 
accessories and 
to display  some instrument panel 
warning lights. 
E (START): This position starts  the  engine. When the 
engine  starts, release the  ignition  key.  The switch 
will  return to  RUN for  normal  driving. 
If  the engine  is not  running,  ACCESSORY  and  RUN 
are  positions that allow you  to operate  your electrical 
accessories, such as the  radio. 
Retained  Accessory  Power  (RAP) 
With RAP,  the power  windows,  power  rear  quarter 
windows,  audio system and the automatic level control 
will continue to work  up to 
10 minutes after  the 
ignition key  is turned  to 
OFF and none  of the doors 
are opened. 
2-33  

Mirrors 
Manual  Rearview  Mirror 
To  reduce glare from lights behind you,  pull the  lever 
toward  you  (to the  night  position).  To return  the mirror  to 
the  day  position,  push  the  lever away  from you. 
Outside  Power  Mirrors 
The control located  on the 
driver’s  door operates both 
outside rearview mirrors.  Turn 
the control counterclockwise  to select  the driver’s 
side rearview mirror,  or clockwise to select  the 
passenger’s side rearview mirror. 
Then  use  the control  to adjust  each mirror 
so that you 
can  see  a  little 
of the side of your vehicle and  the 
area  beside and  behind your vehicle  when you are 
sitting  in a comfortable driving  position. 
If  you  are not adjusting either  mirror, leave the control 
in  the  center 
off position.  This prevents  moving the 
mirrors accidentally  once you have  them  adjusted. 
Both outside mirrors  can  be folded forward or  rearward. 
In  the  rearward position, they will fold almost flush 
with the  vehicle. This  feature 
is particularly useful  in 
automatic car  washes. 
2-45  

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 
ilAlM-.nr I+ lZmtnwtq;n-mnt Ctrctnm \VUiLllWUL LIIL~ILUIIiIII~.. . Vy~L~..., .... ....... " "L 4-49 
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 
Eee: P, jar '!!s:n?!g !!esss;e .......................... ... Iz-c;7 v . 
3- 1  

Exterior Lamps 
The control to  the left of the steering  column operates 
the  exterior lamps. 
0 (Off/Auto): Turning  the control  to this  setting  will 
activate  the automatic  headlamp control when it is 
dark  enough  outside and turn 
off all of the  lamps  and 
lights during the day,  except the Daytime  Running 
Lamps  (DRL). 
?% (Parking Lamps): Turning  the control to  this 
setting turns  on the  parking  lamps  together  with  the 
following: 
Sidemarker  Lamps 
Taillamps 
Instrument Panel  Lights 
sD (Headlamps): Turning  the control to this  setting 
turns  on the  headlamps,  together with  the  previously 
listed  lamps  and  lights. 
Lamps on Reminder 
If the driver’s  door is opened  and  you  turn the ignition 
to 
OFF or  LOCK  while  leaving the lamps  on,  you 
will hear  a warning  chime. 
3-1 4  

Interior Lamps 
Instrument  Panel  Brightness 
This  feature controls the brightness of the  instrument 
panel  lights. 
The  thumbwheel  for  this  feature is located below the 
exterior  lamps control. 
Turn  the  thumbwheel  to  the  right to brighten  the lights 
or  to  the left to  dim  them. 
Interior  Lamps  Control 
Turn  the  thumbwheel  all  the way  to  the  right to turn on 
the  interior  lamps, if the interior lamps override switch 
is 
off. Turn  the thumbwheel  to the left to turn the 
lamps 
off. 
Interior  Lamps Override 
This switch is located in 
the overhead console 
switchbank. 
Pressing the  don’t symbol keeps the interior lamps 
off 
when  any door  is opened. Pressing  the top of the switch 
allows the interior lamps  to come on  when any door 
is  opened. 
Dome  Lamp 
The dome lamp is located in the headliner and has two 
buttons  to manually turn  on and 
off the  lamp.  The dome 
lamp will come on each time you  open  a  door, unless you 
turn 
on the interior lamps override  feature.  See “Interior 
Lamps Override” earlier 
in this  section. 
3-1 7  

Ultrasonic Rear Parking  Assist 
(URPA) 
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking  Assist  (URPA)  system 
is  designed to help you park,  while the vehicle  is in 
REVERSE  (R).  It operates  only at very  low  speeds,  less 
than 
3 mph (5 km/h).  URPA  can  help  make parking 
easier and  to help you avoid colliding  with objects such as 
parked  vehicles.  The URPA  system  can detect objects 
up to 
5 feet (1.5 m)  behind the vehicle, and tell you how 
close these objects are from  your  rear bumper. 
Your  vehicle’s  URPA operates  when the shift  lever is 
moved into  REVERSE  (R)  and the vehicle speed is less 
than 
3 mph (5 km/h).  Four ultrasonic sensors located 
at the  rear bumper are used  to  detect the distance to the 
object. The  URPA display  is located inside the vehicle, 
near the  rear  window.  It  has three color-coded lights 
used  to provide distance and  system information to 
the driver. 
~~ children  licj -.%s, or pets  arc __ your 
vehicle, 
RPA won’t  tell you  they  are  there. 
You  could  strike them  and  they  could  be 
injured  or killed.  Whether  or  not  you  are  using 
URPA, check  carefully  behind  your  vehicle  and 
then  watch  closely  whenever  you  back 
up. 
URPA  can  be  turned off by 
pressing  the  rear  park  aid 
disable  switch  located 
in  the  instrument  panel 
switchbank.  When  the 
system  is disabled 
an  indicator  light  will  be  lit 
on the  switch.  You will 
not  see  any  lights  on  the 
rear  display 
if the  switch 
is  in the 
off position. 
3-22