Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE 2001 Owner Manual

Every

2001

Silhouette under

warranty is backed

with the following

services:

1-800-442-OLDS

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

(

For vehicles purchased in Canada,

1-800-268-6800

call

that provides in an emergency:

1-800-268-6800

)

Courtesy

Transportation

Trip Routing

Free Free Free Free

lockout assistance dead-battery assistance out-of-fuel assistance

flat-tire change

Emergency

towing

2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Owner's Manual

Litho in U.S.A. Part Number 10423827 A First Edition

Section

Table of Contents

Seats and Restraint Systems

Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts

Features and Controls

Windows Keys and Door Locks Remote Keyless Entry (Option) Automatic Transaxle Parking Brake Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Windshield Wipers Cruise Control Exterior and Interior Lamps

Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children

Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net (Option) Accessory Power Outlets OnStar® System (If Equipped) HomeLink® Transmitter (Option) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option) Rear Parking Assist (Option)

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering

Problems on the Road

Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle

Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)

Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer

Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck

iii

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Service and Appearance Care

Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants GM Oil Life System™ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Passenger Compartment Air Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement

Maintenance Schedule

Scheduled Maintenance Owners Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Customer Assistance Information

Section

Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices

Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation

Warranty Information Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Service Publications

Index

In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.

You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.

Please refer to the last page of this manual for your

Service Station Guide

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem and the name SILHOUETTE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Oldsmobile Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

We support voluntary technician certification.

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

vii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we 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.

viii

Vehicle Symbols

These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

For example, these symbols are used on an original battery:

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

INJURY

PROTECT

EYES BY

SHIELDING

CAUSTIC

BATTERY

ACID COULD

CAUSE BURNS

AVOID

SPARKS OR

FLAMES

SPARK OR

FLAME

COULD

EXPLODE

BATTERY

These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven:

CHILD RESTRAINT TOP STRAP

ANCHOR

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols have to do with your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD

WARNING

FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

These symbols are on some of your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

VENTILATING

FAN

These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

Here are some other symbols you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

FUEL

Service Station Guide

For

a More

Detailed Look at

What's Under the Hood

See Section 6

Engine Oil Dipstick

See Section 6

Oil Viscosity

Engine Oil

See Section 6

Battery

See Section 6

Secondary

Hood Release

See Section 6

Windshield Washer

Fluid

See Section 6

Cooling System

See Section 5

Hood Release

See Section 6

Tire Pressure

See Section 6

Spare Tire Pressure

See Section 5

Fuel

Use unleaded only.

See Section 6

for octane ratings.

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-7 Rear Seats

-23 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

1 1

-28 Here Are Questions Many People Ask

About Safety Belts

-29 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

-29 Driver Position

-37 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

1 1

-38 Right Front Passenger Position

-39 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)

1 1

-46 Safety Belt Pretensioners

-- and the Answers

-47 Rear Seat Passengers

1 1

-50 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for

Children and Small Adults

1-53 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)

-54 Children

1 1

-58 Restraint Systems for Children

-76 Older Children

-79 Safety Belt Extender

1 1

-80 Checking Your Restraint Systems

-80 Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash

1-1

Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, take them out, put them back in, fold and unfold them.

Driver’s 4-Way Manual Seat

Use the lever located on the front left side of the seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward. Pull up the lever to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever.

T o make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move the seat back and forth with your body.

T o raise the seat, pull up on the lever located on the front right side of the seat. T o lower the seat, push the lever down. Adjust the seat and release the lever.

CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

1-2

Manual Front Passenger Seats

8-Way Power Seat (Option)

T o move the seat, pull up the lever located on the front of the seat to unlock it.

Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. T o make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move the seat back and forth with your body.

The eight-way power seat controls are located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seats.

Move the front of the control in the direction of the arrows to adjust the front portion of the cushion up or down.

Move the rear of the control in the direction of the arrows to adjust the rear portion of the cushion up or down.

Lift up or push down on both outer arrows at the same time to move the entire seat up or down.

T o move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide the control in the direction of the center arrows.

T o raise and recline the seatback, push or pull the top of the control in the direction of the arrows.

1-3

Memory Seat (Option)

If your vehicle has this feature, the controls are located to the left of the steering column and are used to program and recall the driver’s seat settings.

Adjust the driver’s seat to the position you would like for driving. Then press and hold memory button “1” for more than three seconds. A double beep will sound when the memory is set.

T o set the seat for a second driver, follow the previous steps, but press button “2” instead.

T o recall your memory positions, your vehicle must be in PARK (P). Push and release the memory button (1 or 2) corresponding to the desired driving position. The seat will move to the position previously stored for the identified driver. You will hear one beep.

You can also store an exit position for each driver. The exit position is programmed by moving the seat to the desired exit position and then holding the EXIT button for more than three seconds. The exit position set will be for the most recently selected driving position (1 or 2). A double beep will sound when the memory is set. T o use EXIT, your vehicle must be in PARK (P). Push and release the EXIT button and the seat will move to the exit position stored for the most recently selected driver. You will hear one beep.

T o stop recall movement of the seat at any time, press one of the three memory buttons or one of the power seat controls located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat.

1-4

Heated Front Seats (Option)

The heated seat switch is located in the instrument panel switchbank. This feature will quickly 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 glow. 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 resume operation when the ignition is turned to RUN, unless the switch is manually turned off.

Reclining Front Seatbacks

All front seats recline.

T o adjust the seatback, pull up on the lever located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seat. It is easier to recline the seat if you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

1-5

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

1-6

Head Restraints

Head restraints are fixed on some models and adjustable on others. Slide an adjustable head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

Rear Seats

Seat Controls

The rear seats in your vehicle have levers and straps used to adjust, remove and reinstall the seats. By using the levers and straps, in the correct order, you can easily remove the seats from your vehicle.

Floor Seat Pin Diagram

1-7

When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location. Follow the previous diagram when the text in this manual tells you what sets of floor cups to use for each seat.

Flip and Fold Feature

The rear seats in your vehicle, except the captain’s chairs, can be folded forward. Use this feature for exiting and entering third row seats.

1. If the seats have the adjustable head restraints, push them fully down.

2. Fold the seatback flat on the seat by either pulling on the nylon strap on the rear of the seat or lifting up on the lever located on the front of the seatback. If the seat adjusts forward, slide it all the way back.

3. Release the rear set of hooks from the floor pins by pulling the nylon strap located at the base of the seat; hang on to the straps as the seat folds forward.

T o return the seat(s) to the normal position, do the following:

1. Push the seat back and firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

2. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.

3. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat and raise the seatback until it locks upright.

4. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked.

1-8

Split Bench Seats

If you have the third row split bench seat, the seatbacks can be folded down individually and the sections can be removed individually.

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

The seatbacks on each section of the split bench seat can be either folded down or reclined. The following explains how to use either the nylon strap or the lever to fold or recline the seatbacks.

T o fold down the seatback, pull this nylon strap on the rear of the seat, while pulling the seatback down until it locks into place.

T o raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the seatback until it locks upright.

T o fold down the seatback, lift up on this lever located on the front of the seatback.

Use the lever to raise or lower the seatback to the desired position.

When raising a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

1-9

Adjusting the Split Bench Seats

There are two adjustment levers on each section of the split bench seats to adjust the seat forward or rearward.

One is located below the center, in the front of each section of the split bench.

There other lever is located on the rear of the seat.

Lift up either lever and slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.

1-10

Removing the Split Bench Seat

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position.

1. For the second row split bench, with the seatback in the upright position, unhook the side attachment for the safety belt. This mini right side of the seat.

3. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat to fold the seatback forward.

-buckle is located on the

2. Push the red center of the buckle up with a small pointed object

-- like a key or

-- to remove the

a pen seat belt, if needed.

4. Slide the seat all the way back by lifting one of the adjustment levers and sliding the seat fully rearward.

5. 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 floor pins.

Do not let go of the strap until the seat is folded all the way forward.

1-11

6. T o unlatch the front latches, squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.

7. 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.

Replacing the Split Bench Sections

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position and the safety belts are on the correct section of the seat.

Don’t put the sections of the bench seat in so they face rearward because they won’t latch that way. If you want more storage room behind the seat, adjust each section by sliding it forward.

The split benches have seat position labels, located on the back of each seat, showing where the seat must go. Follow that diagram.

The left section of the 50/50 split bench uses the G and H sets of floor cups.

The right section of the 50/50 split bench uses the I and J sets of floor cups.

See “Rear Seats” in the beginning of this section for more details. The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

1-12

Make sure the seat is in the full rear position before beginning this procedure.

1. Squeeze the angled bar toward the solid crossbar while placing the front hooks of the bench seat onto the front two floor pins.

2. Make sure the bench seat is angled so that the front hooks clear the floor pins.

If the front legs are not attached correctly, the rear legs will not attach to the rear set of floor pins.

1-13

If the front latches are not attaching correctly, check that the seat is in the full rear position.

3. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

4. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.

CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

5. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat and raise the seatback until it locks upright.

6. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked.

1-14

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

Captain’s Chairs

The captain’s chairs seatbacks can be folded forward or reclined and the seats can be removed.

T o recline the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seat. Use the recliner lever to move the seatback to the desired position.

1-15

It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward, taking the weight off the seatback.

The armrests can be lowered or raised for entering or exiting the vehicle.

The seatbacks on the second row captain’s chairs also fold forward to put items behind the left and right seats.

Lift up on the recliner lever and fold the seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place when you push it back to the upright position.

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs (Second Row)

The second row captain’s chairs can be adjusted forward or rearward.

There are two adjustment levers on each seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward. One is located below the center, in front of the seat. The other is located across the rear of the seat.

Lift up either lever to slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever . Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.

1-16

Removing the Captain’s Chairs

1. Pull the nylon strap behind the chair to release the rear hooks from the floor pins.

2. The seat can then be lifted off the front floor pins and removed from the vehicle.

1-17

Replacing the Captain’s Chairs

The left chair second row goes in the A and C sets of floor pins.

The right chair second row goes in the D and F sets of floor pins.

The left chair third row goes in the G and H sets of floor pins.

The right chair third row goes in the I and J sets of floor pins.

See “Rear Seats” in the beginning of this section for more details. The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

1. Hook the front latches over the front floor pins.

1-18

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