How to Repair Automatic Doors on a Silhouette

A Silhouette is a model of minivan manufactured and distributed by Oldsmobile from 1989 to 2004. One of the unique features of this model is the sliding automatic passenger doors. After the doors are tugged on to be closed manually, they close automatically with little effort. They can also be opened and closed by remote control. Vehicles with power elements can break down and need repair. By performing a thorough diagnostic check, owners can determine what the problem is and possibly repair the automatic doors.

Instructions

1

Enter the passenger side of the vehicle and look under the dashboard, beneath the glove box and near the floor mat. With the aid of a flashlight, locate a large panel, which is held in place by screws. Unscrew the panel manually or use a screwdriver if the screws are too tight.

2

Locate the fuse panel. The panel houses long rows of fuses mounted to the panel. Consult the vehicle's owner manual to determine which of the fuses controls the automatic doors.

3

Remove the fuse that controls the automatic doors with a pair of fuse pliers, or carefully with a pair of regular pliers. Examine the fuse by shining the flashlight close against it. If the metal bar inside the fuse is broken, the fuse has been blown.

4

Replace the blown fuse with a fuse of equal amperage. Push the new fuse in place, confirming it is a snug fit.

5

Test the automatic doors before screwing the fuse panel cover back in place. If the doors close automatically after you manually give them a tug, the problem was the blown fuse. Replace the fuse panel cover under the glove box.

6

Test the automatic doors with your remote control. If they do not open or close, the problem is with the remote. Pop the rear cover off of the remote with a screwdriver and replace the battery.