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1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 204

1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Manual

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Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving yourvehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safetrailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this section. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engineis required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: 0 There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state orprovincial police. Consider using a sway control if your trailer will weigh 2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer will weigh more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle orother parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over50 mph (80 km/h) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. 0 0 0 0 You should use THIRD (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in THIRD (D) when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend the life of your transaxle. 4-30

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Seat Controls	9
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	20
Why Safety Belts Work	21
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	24
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	25
Adults	25
Driver Position	25
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	33
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	38
Right Front Passenger Position	39
Rear Seat Passengers	39
Center Passenger Position	43
Children	45
Smaller Children and Babies	45
Built-in Child Restraint	47
Child Restraints	56
Larger Children	61
Safety Belt Extender	64
Checking Your Restraint Systems	64
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	64
Features and Controls	65
Keys	65
Front Doors	67
Door Locks	68
Remote Lock Control	72
Illuminated Entry System	75
Sliding Door	76
Power Sliding Door	77
Liftgate	83
Theft	85
New Vehicle “Break-In”	86
Ignition Positions	87
Starting Your Engine	88
Engine Coolant Heater	90
Automatic Transaxle Operation	91
Parking Brake	95
Shifting Into PARK (P)	96
Shifting Out of PARK (P)	99
Parking Over Things That Burn	99
Engine Exhaust	100
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked	100
Windows	101
Horn	102
Tilt Steering Wheel	103
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	103
Windshield Wipers	105
Windshield Washer	106
Cruise Control	108
Lamps	112
Interior Lamps	113
Mirrors	116
Storage Compartments	117
Cupholders/Ashtray/Lighter	122
Locking Storage Bin	123
Convenience Net	125
Luggage Carrier	126
Sun Visors	129
Accessory Power Outlet	130
Air Inflator System	130
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System	132
Instrument Panel Cluster	134
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	136
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	149
Comfort Controls	149
Air Conditioning	151
Heating	151
Ventilation System	152
Rear Climate Control	154
Defogging and Defrosting	156
Rear Window Defogger	157
Audio Systems	157
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo	157
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	157
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player	157
AM-FM Stereo	158
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	159
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	162
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player	164
Theft-Deterrent Feature	167
Steering Wheel Controls	170
Understanding Radio Reception	171
Tips About Your Audio System	171
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	172
Care of Your Compact Discs	172
Integrated Roof Antenna	173
Your Driving and the Road	175
Defensive Driving	175
Drunken Driving	176
Control of a Vehicle	179
Braking	179
Steering	182
Off-Road Recovery	184
Passing	185
Loss of Control	186
Driving at Night	187
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	189
City Driving	192
Freeway Driving	193
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	194
Highway Hypnosis	195
Hill and Mountain Roads	195
Winter Driving	197
Loading Your Vehicle	201
Towing a Trailer	203
Problems on the Road	213
Hazard Warning Flashers	213
Other Warning Devices	214
Jump Starting	214
Towing Your Vehicle	219
Engine Overheating	224
If a Tire Goes Flat	234
Changing a Flat Tire	234
Compact Spare Tire	244
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	245
Service and Appearance Care	247
Service	247
Fuel	248
Fuels in Foreign Countries	249
Filling Your Tank	250
Checking Things Under the Hood	252
Engine Oil	255
Air Cleaner	260
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	261
Engine Coolant	264
Radiator Pressure Cap	268
Thermostat	268
Power Steering Fluid	268
Windshield Washer Fluid	269
Brakes	271
Battery	274
Bulb Replacement	275
Tires	281
Appearance Care	288
Cleaning the Inside of Your Oldsmobile	289
Cleaning the Built-In Child Restraint Pad	291
Care of Safety Belts and Built-in Child Restraint Harness	291
Glass	292
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield, Backglass and Wiper Blades	292
Weatherstrips	292
Cleaning the Outside of Your Oldsmobile	292
Aluminum Wheels	294
Cleaning Tires	294
Finish Damage	294
Underbody Maintenance	295
Collision Repair	295
Chemical Paint Spotting	295
Appearance Care Materials Chart	296
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	297
Service Parts Identification Label	297
Electrical System	298
Replacement Bulbs	304
Capacities and Specifications	305
Maintenance Schedule	307
Introduction	307
Your Vehicle and the Environment	307
How This Section is Organized	308
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	309
Short Trip/City Definition	310
Short Trip/City Intervals	310
Long Trip/Highway Definition	311
Long Trip/Highway Intervals	311
Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule	312
LongTrip/Highway Maintenance Schedule	331
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	340
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	344
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	345
Part E: Maintenance Record	347
Customer Assistance Information	349
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	349
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	351
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance Program Features and Benefits	352
Courtesy Transportation	353
GM Participation in BBB AUTO LINE - Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	354
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	355
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	356
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	356
Service and Owner Publications	357

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the

vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you

should read the information in “Weight

of the Trailer”

that appears later in this section. But trailering is

different than just driving

your vehicle by itself.

Trailering means changes

handling, durability and

fuel economy. Successful,

safe

trailering takes correct

equipment, and it has

be used properly.

That’s the reason for this section.

it are many

time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.

Many

these are important for your safety and that of

your passengers.

please read this section carefully

before you pull a trailer.

Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,

wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder

against the drag

the added weight. The

engine is

required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under

greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the

trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing

the pulling requirements.

You

Decide

Pull

Trailer

you do,

here

are some important points:

There

are many different laws, including speed limit

restrictions, having to

do with trailering. Make sure

your rig

will

be legal, not only where you live but

also where you’ll be driving.

good source for this

information can be state

or provincial police.

Consider using a sway control

your trailer will

weigh

2,000

lbs.

(900

kg) or less. You should always

use

sway control if your trailer will weigh more

than

2,000

lbs.

(900

kg).

You

can ask a hitch dealer

about sway controls.

Don’t tow

trailer at

all during

the

first

500

miles

(800

km)

your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,

axle

or other parts could be damaged.

Then, during the first

500

miles

(800

km) that you

tow a trailer, don’t

drive

over

mph

(80

km/h)

and

don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your

engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the

heavier loads.

You

should use

THIRD

(D)

(or, as you

need to, a

lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your

vehicle

THIRD

(D)

when towing a trailer will

minimize heat buildup and extend the life of

your transaxle.

4-30