Page 1 of 462

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-22
Child Restraints
.......................................1-46
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-70
Restraint System Check
............................1-78
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-23
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-26
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
........................................2-30
Mirrors
....................................................2-44
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-45
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-47
Storage Areas
.........................................2-51
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-60
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-28
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-41
Message Center
.......................................3-53Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-60
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-63
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-56
Tires
......................................................5-58
Appearance Care
.....................................5-92
Vehicle Identi®cation
...............................5-100
Electrical System
....................................5-100
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-108
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner ManualM
Page 4 of 462

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will ®nd 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 speci®c component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help ®guring out a speci®c 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
Page 11 of 462
Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have
this feature. If it does,
the heated seat
switches are located
in the instrument panel
switchbank.This feature will heat the lower cushions and lower
back of the driver's and front passenger's seats
for added comfort.
The left switch is for the driver's seat and the right
switch is for the front passenger's seat. Press the bottom
of the switch to turn the heater on. The indicator light
on the switch will be lit. Press the top of the switch
to turn the heater off. The heated seat switch will turn
off when the ignition is turned to OFF and will resume
operation when the ignition is turned to RUN, unless the
switch is manually turned off.
1-5
Page 16 of 462
Removing the Split Bench Seat
Make sure the seatback is in the upright position.
1. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap
on the back of the seat to fold the seatback forward.
2. From behind the bench seat, pull the nylon strap
at the center of the base of the seat to release the
rear latches from the ¯oor pins.
Do not let go of the strap until the seat is folded
all the way forward.3. To unlatch the front latches, squeeze the angled
bar toward the straight crossbar.
4. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly forward,
then toward the rear of the vehicle and then
pulling it out.
Repeat these steps for the other section of the split
bench seat.
1-10
Page 26 of 462
Removing the Stowable Seat
1. Remove the convenience center, if it is in the
vehicle. SeeConvenience Center on page 2-58for more information.
2. Make sure all items are off of the stowable seat.
3. If the seatback is down, put the seatback in its
upright position before removing the seat. See
ªFolding the Seatbackº previously in this section.4. From behind the bench seat, push up the release
handles at the base of the seat to release the
latches from the ¯oor pins.
5. While holding onto the crossbar at the bottom of the
seat, remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward
the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.
This should be done in one motion.
Notice:If you use the release handles to remove the
seat, the handles could break, and the repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use the crossbar
located at the seat bottom to remove the seat.
1-20
Page 29 of 462

{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to
be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow
people to ride in any area of your vehicle that
is not equipped with seats and safety belts.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat
and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up.
See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-44.In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here's why:
They work.
You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does matter... a lot!
1-23
Page 34 of 462
Driver Position
This part describes the driver's restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here's how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see
how, see ªSeatsº in the Index.3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt isn't long enough, see
Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-45.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-28
Page 45 of 462
Rear Seat Passengers
It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in
the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger PositionsLap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here is how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
1-39