Lighting System Description. Oldsmobile Silhouette 1999

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Oldsmobile 🢒 1999 🢒 Silhouette 🢒 Body and Accessories 🢒 Lighting Systems 🢒 Lighting System Description

Halogen Bulbs

Caution: Halogen bulbs contain gas under pressure. Handling a bulb improperly could cause it to shatter into flying glass fragments. To help avoid personal injury:

•	Turn off the lamp switch and allow the bulb to cool before changing the bulb.

•	Leave the lamp switch OFF until the bulb change is complete.

•	Always wear eye protection when changing a halogen bulb.

•	Handle the bulb only by its base. Avoid touching the glass.

•	Keep dirt and moisture off the bulb.

•	Properly dispose of the used bulb.

•	Keep halogen bulbs out of the reach of children.

The turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch lever on the steering column controls the high-beam headlamp operation. In order to change the headlamp operation from low beam to high beam (or high beam to low beam), pull the turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch lever to the full back position (until the detent is felt) and release. The high-beam indicator (blue) in the instrument cluster will light during the high-beam headlamp operation.

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The turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch lever can be used to flash-to-pass. In order to flash-to-pass, pull the turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch lever back until both the low-beam and the high-beam headlamps are lit. Do not pull the lever past the detent. The low-beam headlamp operation will resume when you release the turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch lever to the original position.

Fog Lamps

•	The fog lamps are mounted in the front bumper fascia on the Pontiac and the Oldsmobile vehicles.

•	The fog lamps will light whenever the following conditions are met:

-	The fog lamp switch is in the ON position.

-	The headlamp or the parking lamp is ON.

Front Park/Turn Signal/Sidemarker Lamps

•	The front park/turn signal/sidemarker lamps are located in a separate capsule next to the headlamp. Turn the parking lamp or the headlamp switch at any time in order to operate the front park/turn signal/sidemarker lamps.

•	When a turn is signaled, the appropriate turn signal lamp flashes in order to signal a turn. The turn signals operate only with the ignition switch in RUN. The turn signals will not operate during hazard flasher operation.

Tail Lamps

•	The rear tail lamp includes the following components:

-	Tail lamps

-	Stop lamps

-	Rear turn signal lamps

•	The tail lamps are lit when the parking lamps or the headlamps are in operation.

•	Indicate a turn with the turn signal/headlamp dimmer switch in order to flash the rear turn signal lamps with the front turn signal lamps.

•	Depress the brake pedal and close the stop lamp switch in order to light the stop lamps. The stop lamps also light when the hazard lights are in operation.

Backup Lamps

•	The backup lamps are part of the tail lamp.

•	Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position or move the transaxle to reverse in order to light the backup lamps.

High-Mounted Stop Lamp (HMSL)

•	The high-mounted stop lamps (HMSL) is in the top of the liftgate.

•	Depress the brake pedal and close the stop lamp switch in order to light the HMSL lights.

License Lamps

•	The license lamps are located under the liftgate molding handle for the liftgate latch.

•	Turn the park lamp or the headlamp switch to the ON position in order to light the license lamps.

Interior Lighting

Interior Lamp Override Switch

•	The interior lamp override switch is located in the overhead console switchbank. Press the symbol on the bottom of the rocker switch in order to override the control of the interior lamps. The power will shut off from the following lamps:

-	Reading lamp

-	Instrument panel courtesy lamp

-	Instrument panel compartment lamp

-	Cargo lamp

-	Underhood lamp

•	Press the top of the interior lamp override switch in order to turn the power to these lamps back on. This will allow the lamps to stay on when any door is opened.

The instrument panel courtesy lamps light whenever a door is opened and the interior lamp override switch is closed.

The instrument panel compartment lamp lights whenever the instrument panel compartment door is opened.

Dome Lamp

•	Open one of the doors or close the interior lighting switch in order to light the center mounted dome lamp.

•	Place the interior lamp override switch in the OFF position in order to cancel the dome lamp operation.

Lighted Visor Mirror

•	The lighted visor mirror, if equipped, is located next to the vanity visor mirror.

•	Raise the lighted visor mirror cover in order to light the mirror.

Overhead Console Reading Lamps

•	The front overhead console includes the following components:

-	2 reading lamps

-	Storage compartment

-	Switchbank

•	Press the reading lamp lens in order to turn the reading lamp on or off.

There are 2 side rail reading lamps in the third row headliner, above the outboard seating positions. If your vehicle does not have dual sliding doors, there is also a reading lamp in the second row on the left side.

Cargo Lamp

•	The cargo lamp is located in the rear of the vehicle, above the liftgate opening.

•	The cargo lamp does not have a switch. Open the doors and the liftgate in order to light the cargo lamp. You may also enable the interior lamp override switch.

Exterior and Interior Lighting

Most lighting problems are caused by the following items:

•	Loose connectors

•	Open or shorted wiring

•	Burned-out bulbs

•	Bad switches

•	Inadequate grounds

•	Open fuses

Many of these problems are repaired by replacing a part that requires a special procedure, such as a lens and housing sealed together. For these repairs, follow the instructions normally included in the replacement parts package.

When removing a component that requires special sealing items, such as sealing washers, be sure to reinstall those items when replacing the component. If any body sealing items, such as grommets, are disturbed, be sure to repair them so that the passenger compartment remains properly sealed.

Use the following general guidelines in order to diagnose a lighting system problem:

•	Verify the owner's complaint.

•	Attempt to operate the other systems that are powered through the same fuse.

If the other systems powered through the same fuse are inoperative, replace the fuse. Refer to Electrical Diagnosis for fuse applications.

•	Check for aftermarket (non-OEM) equipment.

If add-on accessories are discovered, disconnect the system in order to make certain that the add-on is not the cause of the problem.

•	Check all connectors and related wiring to the suspect electrical component:

-	Poor mating of connector halves

-	Terminals not fully seated in the connector body (backed out)

-	Dirt or corrosion on the connector terminals.

-	The terminals must be clean and free of any foreign material which could interfere with proper terminal contact.

•	Check related ground eyelets for a clean and tight connection.

If the above general guidelines fail to achieve a satisfactory conclusion, refer to Electrical Diagnosis for further electrical wiring and diagnostic information.