ECU OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1996 Owner's Manual
Page 165 of 340
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your Oldsmobile in good shape for winter.
0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle. Include an ice
scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple of reflective warning triangles.
And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include
a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or
a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or “grip”.and will need to be
very careful.
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Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask
your retailer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
NOTICE:
I
I
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that
fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle
-- like suitcases,
tools, packages
or anything else -- they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or
turn quickly, or
if there is a crash, they’ll keep going. Things
you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, Try to spread the weight evenly.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever
you can.
Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
There’s also important loading information
for off-road
driving in this manual. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
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Page 176 of 340
Driving with a Trailer
A CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.)
To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
a
a
a
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through
a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
MAX A/C because.it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.)
L
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yaurself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle
you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
’
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets-you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the ,lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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Trailer Wiring Harness
The light duty trailer wiring is a six-wire harness
assembly. The optional heavy duty trailer wiring is an
eight-wire harness assembly. The harnesses are stored
under the vehicle, on the driver’s side corner frame
crossmember. The heavy duty trailer wiring
has a
30-amp feed wire with an inline fuse located by the
junction block. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the
Index. Both harnesses have no connector and should be
wired by a qualified electrical technician. The technician
can use the following color code chart when connecting
the wiring harness to your trailer.
0 DARK BLUE: Use for electric trailer brakes or
auxiliary wiring.
0 RED: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
starter solenoid (eight-wire harness only).
0 LIGHT GREEN: Back-up lamps (eight-wire
harness only).
BROWN: Taillamps and parking lamps.
YELLOW: Left stoplamp and turn signal.
DARK GREEN: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
WHITE (Heavy Gage): Ground wire.
WHITE (Light Gage): Auxiliary stoplamp.
Securely attach the harness to the trailer, then tape or
strap
it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you leave it
loose enough
so the wiring doesn’t bend or break, but
not
so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness
in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and tie
it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
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1 A CAUTION:
I
~ To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully
Never get under your vehicle after it has
Always use separate safety chains on each
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being
towed.
secured.
been lifted by the tow truck. side when towing a vehicle. I
A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it
is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They
will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped
in a straight-ahead position with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transmission
should be
in NEUTRAL (N). The parking brake should
be released.
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Page 208 of 340
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools Follow this diagram to store the spare or flat tire.
I A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In
a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
B-I
A. Retainer
B. Valve Stem
(Pointed Down)
C. Spare Tire
D. Spring
E. Wheel Wrench
E Lower
G. Raise
H. Hoist Arm
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle,
with the valve stem pointed down and to the rear.
2. Pull the retainer through the wheel.
3. Put the chisel end of the wheel wrench, on an angle,
through the hole
in the rear bumper and into the hoist
shaft. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise until
the tire
is raised against the underside
of the vehicle.
You will hear two “clicks” when the tire is secure,
but pull
on the tire to make sure.
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Page 209 of 340
Return the jack, wheel wrench and wheel blocks to the
proper location
in your vehicle’s rear area. Secure the
items and replace the
jack cover.
L
A. Retainer E Wheel Blocks
B. Rubber Band G. Hub Cap
(Some Models) Removal
Tool
C.
Work Gloves H. Wheel Wrench
D. Mat I. Jack
E. Jack Storage Cover J. Jacking Instructions
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
r vehicle is stuck is What you don’t want to do wne
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts
of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above 35 mph
(55 kmh) as shown
on the speedometer.
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Page 225 of 340
4ir Cleaner
To remove the air cleaner,
open both clamps and push
the rear of the air cleaner
toward the rear
of the
engine compartment.
Insert
a new filter. Then replace the air cleaner
assembly, making certain the
PVC air tube is properly
seated
in the left hand valve cover and the clamps are
securely fastened.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
I
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off
can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive with it off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner off.
I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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Brakes Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-25
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-29
Trailer
...................................... 4-47
Wear
....................................... 6-28
Brake System Warning Light
...................... 2-53
Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock Check
........... 7-4 1
Braking ........................................ 4-5
In Emergencies ................................ 4-8
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-32
BTSICheck
................................... 7-41
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-30
Lapacities and Specifications
............... 6.57. 6.58
Carbon Monoxide
................ 2-7.2.21.4.40. 4.48
Cargocover
................................... 2-39
Cargo Tie Downs
............................... 2-39
Cassette Tape Player
............................. 3-6
Care
.................................. 3-14, 7-39
Center Seat Positions
............................ 1-36
Certification/Tire Label
.......................... 4-4 I
Chains
Safety
...................................... 4-47
Tire
........................................ 6-43
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-20
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-S 1
Check Gages Light .............................. 2-59
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-42
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-50
Child Restraints
................................ 1-32
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-34
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position ........... 1-36
TopStrap
................................... 1-33
Where to
Put ................................ 1-32
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-41
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-53
Cleaner.
Air ................................... 6-13
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels ............................ 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-45
Glass ....................................... 6-47
Inside of Your Vehicle
......................... 6-44
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-46
Leather
..................................... 6-46
Outside of Your Vehicle
........................ 6-48
Stains
...................................... 6-45
Tires
....................................... 6-49
Vinyl ....................................... 6-46
Weatherstrips
................................ 6-47
Wheels
..................................... 6-49
Windshield. Backglass and Wiper Blades
.......... 6-47
Climate Control System
........................... 3-1
Clock
. Setting ................................... 3-6
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
9-2
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Page 334 of 340
.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ............ 2-54. 4.6
Brake System Warning
.......................... 2-53
Charging System
............................... 2-51
Check Gages
........ : ..... ................. 2-59
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator
................ 2-59
Safety Belt Reminder
....................... 1.5. 2.50
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-55
Loading Your Vehicle
............................ 4-4
Locking Rear Axle
............................... 2-17
LockoutSwitch
................................ 2-23
Locks
.......................................... 2-3
Door
.......................................... 2-3
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-40
Power Door
................................... 2-4
Rear Door Security
................................ 2-4
Steering Column Lock Check
.................... 7-42
Loss
of Control ....... ! ......................... 4-12
Lubricants and Fluids
.. i’ ...................... 6-58, 7-45
Lubrication Service, Body ........................ 7-40
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-40
Lumbar Controls
................................. 1-2
Maintenance Record
........................... 7-47
Maintenance Schedule
............................. 7- 1
.Long Tripmighway
............................. 7-5
Owner Checks and Services
...................... 7-39
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-43
..
1 I
Recommended-Fluids and Lubricants ............. 7-45
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-3
Short TripKity
...... 1 ........................... 7-4
Maintenance, Underbody
.................... 6-50, 7-42
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-51
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-55
Manual Passenger’s Seat
........ ’ . J ................ 1-1
Methanol
....................................... 6-3
Mirrors
........................................ 2-33
Outside
..................................... 2-34
Visor Vanity
.... ............... , ............ 2-42
Mode Button
................................... 2-35
Model Reference
................................. vi
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-35
Multifunction Lever
.......... ....... : .......... 2-24
Inside Daymight
Rearview
..................... 2-33
Net. Convenience
............................... 2-58
Neutral
....................................... 2-15
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-10
Nightvision
................................... 4-28
Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts ............. 6-57
odometer
............................... ’. .... 2-49
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 4-10
Off-Road Driving
.............................. 4-14
Oil, Engine.
... , ................................... 6-9
9-6
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