engine OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1994 Service Manual

Here you’ll find what to do about some
problems that can occur on the road
.
Part 5
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
............... 140
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
.................................. 140
Towing Your Bravada ........................................................................\
..................... 144
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
......................... 145
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
........................... 151
Changing a Flat Tire ........................................................................\
........................ 151
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ......................................................... 158
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5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missing insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here
are some basic things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to
negative
(-) or a metal engine part.
Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll get
a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts, too. 6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
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7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.
Connect it to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-)
cable to the good battery’s negative
(-) terminal. Don’t let the other end
touch anything until the next step.
The other end of the negative cable
doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goes
to a heavy unpainted metal part on
the engine
of the vehicle with the
dead battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance of sparks
getting back to the battery is much
less.
IO. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and run the engine for a
while.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
dead battery. If it won’t start after a
few tries, it probably needs service.
I U I
12. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don’t touch each
other
or any other metal.
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When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition key off. 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
P (Park) and the parking brake
released.
Don’t have your Bravada towed with
the wheels in contact with the ground.
If your vehicle is being towed with
sling-type or wheel-lift equipment,
either the front or rear wheels must be
supported on a dolly.
If towing your Bravada with a car
carrier, block supports may be required
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
;age and the warning light about
a hot
mgine on your Oldsmobile’s instrument
)anel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
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Problems on the Road
146
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral). If
you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes.
If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed.
Bring the engine speed back to normal
idle speed after two or three minutes.
Now see
if the warning stops. But then,
if you still have the warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down.
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I
The coolant level should be at or above
the
FULL HOT mark. If it isn’t, you
may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t
covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the
engine again. See if the fan speed
increases when idle speed is doubled by
pushing the accelerator pedal down. If
it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above the
FULL HOT mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of
clean water (preferably distilled) and
a proper antifreeze at the coolant
recovery tank. (See
Engine Coolant in
the
Index for more information about
the proper coolant mix.)
I NOTICE: I
In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts. Use the
recommended coolant.
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Problems on the Road
150
- I
5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap off. 6. Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fan.
7. By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper
mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base
of the
filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At an!
time during this procedure
if coolant
begins to
flow out of the filler neck,
reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure tht
arrows
on the pressure cap line up
like this.
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Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan. When the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster to provide more air
to cool the engine. In most everyday
driving conditions the clutch is not
engaged. This improves fuel economy
and reduces fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or
high outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases when the clutch engages.
So
you may hear an increase in fan noise.
This is normal and should not be
mistaken as the transmission slipping or
making extra shifts. It is merely the
cooling system functioning properly.
The fan will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the clutch
disengages. You may also hear this fan
noise when you start the engine. It will
go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
I Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If a tire goes
flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
I Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn
on your hazard
warning flashers.
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Part 6
Sewice &Appearance Care
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 162
Fuel
........................................................................\
.................................................. 163
Hood Release
........................................................................\
................................... 165
Engine Oil
........................................................................\
........................................ 168
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
...................................... 171
Transmission Fluid ........................................................................\
.......................... 172
Axles/Transfer Case
........................................................................\
........................ 174
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
................................ 174
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
....................... 176
Windshield Washer Fluid ........................................................................\
................
177
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............................................. 178
Battery ........................................................................\
............................................. 180
Bulb Replacement
........................................................................\
........................... 181
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ................................................................... 182
..
Loading Your Vehicle ........................................................................\
..................... 183
Tires ........................................................................\
................................................. 185
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
............................. 190
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.................................................................... 195
Add-on Electrical Equipment
........................................................................\
........ 196
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 196
Capacities
& Specifications ........................................................................\
............ 199
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................................................... 200
Fluids & Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 201
Replacement Bulbs
........................................................................\
.......................... 202
.
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Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. Use premium
unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher for high power performance,
when towing a trailer or with a high
payload requirement. But when
operating with a light load as
a normal
condition, you may use middle grade or
regular unleaded gasolines.
The gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the U.S.
and CGSB
3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything
to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED” right
on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 91
for premium, 89 for middle grade and
87 for regular.
If the octane is less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If it’s bad enough, it
can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 91 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane
fuel to get rid of it. It’s the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a
problem.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates), such as MTBE or
alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.”
Fuel that
is no more than 15% MTBE is
fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol.
Properly-blended fuel that is no more than
10% ethanol is
fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5%
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
GasoUnes for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit
control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming in your engine
and fuel system. That helps keep your
engine in tune and your emission
control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be
doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with
oxygenates. General Motors
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