2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette service

{CAUTION:
If a ®re starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the ¯ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the
station attendant. Leave the area immediately.
The malfunction indicator lamp (SERVICE ENGINE
SOON or CHECK ENGINE light) will come on if the fuel
cap is not properly installed.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get the
right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not ®t properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light and
may damage your fuel tank and emissions system.
See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-49.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ®ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury
to you and others:
·Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
·Do not ®ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed
or on any surface other than the ground.
·Bring the ®ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ®ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the ®lling is complete.
·Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
5-9

How to Reset the Change Engine Oil
Message
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change your
engine oil and ®lter based on vehicle use. Anytime your
oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate when
the next oil change is required. If a situation occurs where
you change your oil prior to a CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message being turned on, reset the system.
1. With the ignition key in RUN but the engine off,
repeatedly push the trip/reset button until OIL is
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
2. Once OIL is displayed, push and hold the trip/reset
button for ®ve seconds. The number will disappear
and be replaced by 100 (indicating 100% oil life
remaining).
3. Turn the key to OFF.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes back on
when you start your vehicle, the engine oil life system
has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long.
Clean your skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose
of clothing or rags containing used engine oil.
See the manufacturer's warnings about the use
and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from
the ®lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting
it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it
by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have
a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
5-17

6. Latch the hooks to secure the panel in place. If the
panel moves easily, check that the tabs are seated
correctly in the slots.
7. Put the duct back on and reinstall the clamps.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/®lter
off can cause you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it helps to stop ¯ame if the engine back®res.
If it is not there and the engine back®res,
you could be burned. Do not drive with it off,
and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner/®lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/®lter is off, a back®re can
cause a damaging engine ®re. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/®lter in place when you are driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transaxle Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transaxle ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the ¯uid and ®lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of these conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher
·In hilly or mountainous terrain
·When doing frequent trailer towing
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter at
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information.
5-19

How to Check Automatic Transaxle
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage the
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the ¯uid
could come out and fall on hot engine or exhaust
system parts, starting a ®re. Too little ¯uid could
cause the transaxle to overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if you check the transaxle ¯uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are
above 90ÉF (32ÉC)
·At high speed for quite a while
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather
·While pulling a trailer
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be
at normal operating temperature, which is
180ÉF to 200ÉF (82ÉC to 93ÉC).Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50ÉF (10ÉC). If it is colder than 50ÉF (10ÉC),
you may have to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
·Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
·With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
·With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
·Let the engine run at idle for three to ®ve minutes.
5-20

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 are 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 does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there is 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 vehicleuntil it cools down. Also, see ªOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Modeº listed previously
in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-27

{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine ®re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak ®xed 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 are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº in the Index for information on driving to
a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOLžmay
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-29

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and may have rear
drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal ®rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes will not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation
or changing. When you have the front brake pads
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
5-40

8. Now connect the black
negative (-) cable to
the negative (-)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
negative (-) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (-) cable
does notgo to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal part, or to a remote
negative (-) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.9. Connect the other end
of the negative (-)
cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from
the dead battery, but
not near engine
parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as good there,
and the chance of sparks getting back to the battery
is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and
run the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
5-46