2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette lock

Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why you will need the right hitch. Here
are some rules to follow:
·The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the
bumper.
·If you will be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use
a properly mounted, weight-carrying hitch and sway
control of the proper size. This equipment is very
important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you are driving.
·Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you do, remember to seal the holes when you
remove the hitch. If you do not seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle. See
Engine Exhaust on page 2-42.
Dirt and water can, too.
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 lbs. (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 will not work well, or at all.
4-42

While refueling, let the fuel cap hang by the tether
as shown.
{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray out
on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly. This
spray can happen if your tank is nearly full, and
is more likely in hot weather. Open the fuel cap
slowly and wait for any ªhissº noise to stop.
Then unscrew the cap all the way.
Don't top off or over®ll your tank, and wait a few
seconds after you've ®nished pumping before you
remove the nozzle. Be careful not to spill fuel. Clean
fuel from painted surfaces as soon as possible.
See
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-95.
When you put the fuel cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make
sure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-49.
5-8

A. Underhood Fuse Block.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-101.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
See
Jump Starting on page 5-42.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-37.
D. Radiator Pressure Cap.
See
Radiator Pressure Cap on page 5-25.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir.
See
Power Steering Fluid on page 5-36.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap.
See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick.
See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
H. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick.
See
Automatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-19.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir.
See
Brakes on page 5-38.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.
See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18.
K. Coolant Recovery Tank.
See
Cooling System on page 5-28.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-13

1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it ®rst stops. Do not press down while turning the
pressure cap.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-32

The terminal is located
under a tethered cap at
the front of the underhood
fuse block. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12
for more
information on location.
Squeeze the tabs and pull up on the cap to access
the remote positive (+) terminal. You should
always use the remote positive (+) terminal instead
of the positive (+) terminal on your battery.
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
¯ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the ACDelco
žbattery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ®ller caps, be sure the right amount of
¯uid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that ®rst. If you do not, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery ¯uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ¯ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
5-44

4. Unscrew the bulb socket from the lamp assembly
by pressing the tab while turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Replace the bulb by pulling the old one out and
gently pushing the new one into the lamp socket.
6. Line up the tabs on the socket with the gaps in the
socket holes and screw the bulb socket back into
the lamp housing until a click is heard (the tab
popping back out). Front Turn Signal/Parking Lamp
Front Sidemarker Lamp
5-53

{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake ®rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't
move, you should put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire, on the
other side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-77

The tools you will be using include the jack (A),
extension (B) and folding wrench (C).
The compact spare tire is located under the rear of the
vehicle. See ªCompact Spare Tireº later in this section
for more information about the compact spare.
To remove the compact spare tire, do the following:A. Hoist Shaft
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Retainer
D. Compact
Spare TireE. Extension
(Chisel End)
F. Folding Wrench
1. Attach the folding wrench to the extension and
insert the chisel end on an angle through the
hole in the rear bumper and into the hoist shaft.
2. Turn the folding wrench counterclockwise to lower
the compact spare tire to the ground. Continue to
turn the wrench so the compact spare tire can
be pulled out from under the vehicle.
5-79