Oldsmobile 2000 Silhouette User manual

Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
1-800-442-OLDS
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800)
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-442-OLDS
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800)
Bumper-to-Bumper
3-years/36,000 miles (60 000 km)
Limited Warranty
Courtesy
Transportation
Trip
Routing
Every
2000
Silhouette under
warranty is backed
with the following
services:

2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number 10423673 A First Edition
© Copyright General Motors Corporation 1999
All Rights Reserved i

Table of Contents
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Lock Control (Option)
Automatic Transaxle
Parking Brake
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control
Interior and Exterior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net (Option)
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Driver Information Center (Option)
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts
Air Bag Systems
Child Restraints
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player
Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
iii
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5
Your Driving and the Road
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owners Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
iv

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
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.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide
v

vi
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 in the
product 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:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

vii
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.”

viii
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.

ix
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:
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
SPEAKER
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded gas only,
87 Octane or higher.
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Secondary
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Battery
See Section 6
Hood Release
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6

1- 1-1
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.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-6 Rear Seats
1-24 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-28 Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-29 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-30 Driver Position
1-38 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-39 Right Front Passenger Position
1-40 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)
1-47 Safety Belt Pretensioners
1-47 Rear Seat Passengers
1-51 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-54 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat)
1-55 Center Passenger Position (Bucket Seat)
1-57 Children
1-60 Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
1-71 Child Restraints
1-88 Larger Children
1-91 Safety Belt Extender
1-91 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-92 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

1-2
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 on
the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where
you want it.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, release the
lever and try to move the seat with your body.
To raise the seat, pull up on the lever located on the
front right side of the seat. To lower the seat, push the
lever down.

1-3
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.
Manual Front Passenger Seats
To 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. To make sure the
seat is locked into place, release the lever and try to
move the seat with your body.
6-Way Power Seat (Option)
To adjust the six-way power seat located on the
outboard sides of the driver’s and passenger’s seats:
Front Control (A): Raise the front of the seat by
holding the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower
the front of the seat.
Center Control (B): Move the seat forward or rearward
by holding the control to the front or rear. Raise or lower
the seat by holding the control up or down.
Rear Control (C): Raise the rear of the seat by holding
the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower the rear of
the 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 and the right switch is
for the front passenger’s seat. Press the top of the switch
to turn the heater on. The indicator light on the switch
will glow. Press the bottom 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.
To adjust the seatback, turn
this knob located on the
inboard sides of both the
driver’s and 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
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 diagram above when the text in this
manual tells you what sets of floor cups to use for
each seat.

1-7
Second Row Safety Belt Stowage
If your vehicle has seats in the third row, there is a
sleeve on the second row outside safety belt to store the
safety belt while entering and exiting the third row of
the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a split bench seat in the second row,
follow this procedure:
1. Pull the belt out and slide the sleeve along the belt
until it reaches the patch of Velcro
R
on the headliner.
2. Press the sleeve against the Velcro patch to secure it
in place.
3. Use the clip on the safety belt to secure the belt after
it is disconnected from the mini-buckle. When
removing the split second row bench seat, secure the
loose end of the safety belt in this clip. This will
keep the safety belt from dangling and possibly
striking something.
Do not have the second row outside safety belt stored if
someone is sitting in the second row outside position.
To release the second row outside safety belt, just pull
the sleeve away from the Velcro patch and use the safety
belt as usual. The sleeve should slide freely when not
in use.
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, 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.
4. Return the seat(s) to the normal position.

1-8
Split Bench Seats
If you have the split bench seat (50/50 or 40/60), the
seatbacks can be folded down individually and the
sections can be removed individually. The sections can
also be adjusted forward or rearward individually.
The second row (40/60) split bench may be equipped
with a built-in child restraint. See “Built-In Child
Restraint” in the Index.
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.
To fold down the seatback,
pull this nylon strap on the
rear of the seat, while
pulling the seatback down
until it locks into place.
To raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the
seatback until it locks upright.
To 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 or reclining a seatback to an upright
position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is
locked upright.