2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE overheating

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

All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning
Message
AWD
DISABLE
I I I I
United States Canada
Your vehicle may have this message. If
it does, it will
come on when there is a spare tire on the vehicle, or
when the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
or when the rear differential fluid is overheating. This
message will go out when the differential fluid cools.
The all-wheel-drive system will be disabled until the
compact spare tire is replaced by a full-size tire.
If the warning message is still on after putting on the
tull-slze tire, you need to reset the warning message.
To reset the warning message, turn the ignition
off
and then back on again. If the message stays on,
see your dealer right away. See
All-Wheel Drive
(A WD)
System on page 4-1 I for more information.
Low Fuel Warning Message
I
United States Canada
If your fuel is low, the warning message will come on
and stay on until you add fuel.
If the warning message is still on after adding fuel,
you need to reset the warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition off and then back on.
If the message stays on, see your dealer.
3-59

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5.3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of
Your Vehicle .............................................. 5-4
Fuel
.............................................................. -5-5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5-5
Gasoline Specifications
................................... 5-5
California Fuel
............................................... 5-6
Additives
....................... .... ......... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
........... ..... 5-7
Filling Your Tank
............................ ..... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-9
Checking Things Under the
Hood .................. -5-1 0
Hood Release .............................................. 5-10
Engine Compartment Overview ....................... 5-12
Engine Oil
................................................... 5-14
Engine Air CleanedFilter
................................ 5-19
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................... 5-26
Engine Overheating
.................................... 5-26
Cooling System
............................. , ....... 5-29
Power Steering Fluid .................. , ....... 5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid
................. , ....... 5-38
Brakes
.......................... .... ........ 5-39
r.--.:.-- ---I-.- b CI lyll IC uuvlal I1 4-LU c r)r) .............................................
Battery ........................................................ 5.43
Jump Starting
............................................... 5-44
All-Wheel Drive
.............................................. 5-50
Bulb Replacement .......................................... 5-52
Halogen Bulbs
.............................. ......... 5-52
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Headlamps
...................................... ..... 5-52
Parking Lamps
.............................. ..... 5-54
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-57
Back-up Lamps
......................................... 5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-58
Tires
.............................................................. 5-60
Inflation
- Tire Pressure ................................ 5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................... 5-62
When It
Is Time for New Tires ....................... 5-63
Buying New Tires
......................................... 5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.......................... 5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 5-66
Wheel Replacement
...................................... 5-66
Tire Chains
.................................................. 5-67
Accessory Inflator
......................................... 5-68
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................ 5-69
Changing a Flat Tire ..................................... 5-70
Compact Spare Tire ...................................... 5-86
5- 1

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL@ engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low.
If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-26.
A 5060 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F
(129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning messages and gages work as they
should.
Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at 30,000 miles
(50,000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first.
Damage caused by the use
of coolant other
than DEX-COOL@
is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
5-23

Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice: Your radiator cap is a pressure-type cap
and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss
and possible engine damage from overheating.
Be sure the arrows on the cap line
up with the
overflow tube on the radiator filler neck.
The radiator pressure cap is located at the front of the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 5-72 for more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage on
your vehicle’s instrument panel cluster. See
Engine
Coolant Temperature Gage
on page 3-47. You also
have an engine coolant temperature warning message
on your instrument panel. See
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Message
on page 3-53.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage.
In this mode,
you will notice a significant
loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage will indicate
an overheat condition exists. Driving extended miles
(km) and/or towing a trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Notice: After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause
of coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the
oil life system. See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
5-26

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLD
mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak at the pressure cap
or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system. Heater
and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you do, you can
be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see
if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
5-30

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your Oldsmobile Warranty booklet for details.
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued]
0 Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden impact
- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your tread is badly worn, or if your
tires have been damaged, replace them.
5-60

Engine (cont.)
Coolant Temperature Warning Message
.......... 3-53
Cooling System Inspection
............................ 6-1 4
Engine Compartment Overview
.... ........... 5-12
Exhaust
..................................................... 2-43
Low Oil Level Message
................................ 3-55
Oil
............................................................. 5-14
Overheating
................................................ 5-26
Starting
...................................................... 2-34
Engine Coolant Level Check
............................. 6-10
Engine Oil Additives
......................... ....... 5-17
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled Maintenance
................................. 6-5
Engine Oil Level Check
................................... 6-10
Engine Specifications
..................................... 5-1 04
Entering Programming Mode
............................ 2-63
Entertainment System
...................................... 3-91
Cleaning the Video Screen
.......................... 3-105
Cleaning Your DVD Player
.......................... 3-105
DVD Distortion
.......................................... 3-103
Entry Lighting
................................................. 3-18
Erasing HomeLink@ Buttons
.............................. 2-52
Exit Lighting
................................................... 3-19
Exiting Programming Mode
............................... 2-71
Express-Down Window
.................................... 2-25
Extender, Safety Belt
....................................... 1-44
Exterior Lamps
............................................... 3-1 4
F
FabricKarpet ................................................. 5-87
Engine Air Cleaner
...................................... 5-19
Filter
Finding
a PTY Station
..................... 3.67. 3.74. 3-83
Finding a Station
............................ 3-65, 3-72, 3-81
Finish Care
.................................................... 5-91
Finish Damage
............................................... 5-92
Fixed Mast Antenna
....................................... 3-105
Flash-to-Pass
................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire
........................................................ 5-69
Flat Tire, Changing
......................................... 5-70
Flip and Fold Rear Seats
.................................. 1-7
Fluid Automatic Transaxle
..................................... 5-20
Power Steering
........................................... 5-37
Windshield Washer
...................................... 5-38
FM
.............................................................. 3-103
Fog Lamps
.................................................... 3-16
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
............. 1-8, 1-14
Folding the Seatback
....................................... 1-18
Following Distance
.......................................... 4-41
Footnotes
........................................................ 6-5
Front Reading Lamps
...... ........................ 3-19
Front Seat Storage Net
................................ 2-55
Fuel
............................................................... 5-5
Additives
................. .......................... 5-6
California Fuel
....................................... 5-6