check engine OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1994 Owners Manual

Features & Controh
46
1. Without pushing the accelerator
pedal, turn your ignition key to
Start.
When the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in Start for longer
than
15 seconds at a time will cause
your battery to be drained much
sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your
key in
Start. If it doesn’t start in three
seconds, push the accelerator pedal
about one-quarter of the way down for
12 more seconds, or until it starts,
3. If your engine still won’t start (or
starts but then stops), it could be
flooded with too much gasoline. Try
this: Wait
15 seconds to let the
starter motor cool down. Then push
your accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor. Hold it there. Then,
hold
the key in Start for no more than ten
seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. If
the engine still doesn’t start, wait
another
15 seconds and do it all again.
When the engine starts, let go of the
key and the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly. If you ever have
to have your vehicle towed, see the
part of this manual that tells how to
do it without damaging your
vehicle. See
Towing Your Truck in
the
Index.
Driving llzrough Deep
Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. If you can’t avoid deep
puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
ProCarManuals.com

The oil light could also flash on in three
other situations:
. When the ignition is on (in the Run
position) but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a
test to show you it is working, but the
light will
go out when you turn the
ignition to
Start. If it doesn't come on
with the ignition on, you may have a
problem with the fuse. Have it fixed
right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling
at a stop, the light may flash on and
off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may
come on for a moment. This is normal.
0-
A \
Voltmeter (ELEcmoNIc CLUSTER)
Your charging system gage will show
the rate of charge when the engine is
running. When the engine
is not
running but the ignition is on (in the
Run position), the display measures the
voltage output
of your battery, and will
flash until you turn the ignition to
Start.
The reading will change as the rate of
charge changes (with engine speed,
etc.), but readings between the warning
zones indicate the normal operating
range. Readings in either warning zone
indicate a possible problem with your
charging system. Have your Oldsmobile
serviced immediately. You
also have a warning light.
A box
around the battery symbol will flash
when the charging system needs
service.
If it comes on while you are driving, you
may have a loose belt or other problem
with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your
battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with
the light on, be certain to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
U
87
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With anti-lock, this light will go on
when you start your engine and may
stay on for several seconds. That’s
normal. If the light doesn’t come on,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there is
a problem.
If the light stays
on, or comes on when
you’re
driving, your Oldsmobile needs
service.
If the regular brake system
warning light isn’t
on, you still have
brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is
also on, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem
with your regular brakes. See
Brake
System Warning Light earlier in this part
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should come on
when the ignition
is on, but the engine
is not running, as a check to show you
it is working. If it does not come on at
all, have it fixed right away. If it stays
on, or it comes on while you are driving,
the computer is indicating that you
have a problem. You should take your
vehicle in for service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle
with this light on, after a while the
emission controls won’t work as
well, your fuel economy won’t be
as good and your engine may not
run as smoothly. This could lead
to costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
L 1
89
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
90
CHECK
OAGES
Battery Light (STANDARD CLUSTER)
The battery light will come on briefly
when you turn on the ignition as a
check to show you it is working. It
should go out once the engine
is
running. If it stays on, or comes on
while you are driving, you may have a
loose belt or other problem with the
electrical charging system. Have it
checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with
the light
on, be certain to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
I
CHECK
GAGES
Check Gages Ljght
(STANDARD CLUSTER)
This light will come on briefly when you
are starting the engine. If the light
comes on and stays on while you are
driving, check your various gages to see
if they are in the warning zones.
ProCarManuals.com

This helps clear the intake ducts of
snow and moisture, and reduces the
chance
of fogging the inside of your
windows.
Keep the air path under the front
seats and console clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
Audio Systems
The following pages describe the audio
systems available for your Oldsmobile,
and how to get the best performance
from them. Please read about the
system in your vehicle.
Hearing damage from loud noise is
almost undetectable until it is too late.
Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems
normal can be loud and harmful to your
hearing. Take precautions by adjusting
the volume control on your radio to a
safe sound level before your hearing
adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
1. Adjust the volume control to the
lowest setting.
2. Increase the volume slowly until you
hear comfortably and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound
equipment to your vehicle
- like a
tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
- be
sure
you can add what you want. If
you can, it’s very important to do it
properly. Added sound equipment
may interfere with the operation
of
your vehicle’s engine, Delcom radio
or other systems, and even damage
them. And, your vehicle’s systems
may interfere with the operation of
sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before
adding sound equipment, check
with your dealer and be sure to
check federal rules covering mobile
radio and telephone units.
1 3.5K 10K , I
;CAN SEEK
nn on AUTO REVERSE
’( EJECT SEARCH
Setting the Clock
Setting the clock is easy.
I. With the radio on or off and the
ignition
on, press SET. The SET
indicator will appear on the digital
screen for five seconds.
2. You must begin to set the clock to
the correct hour and minute during
those five seconds. Press
SCAN to
set the correct hour. Press
SEEK to
set the correct minute.
n
95
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
I
114
If you don’t know, you should check
with law enforcement people in the
area. Will you be
on someone’s private
land?
If so, be sure to get the necessary
permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
There are some important things to
remember about how to load your
vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the
load floor and forward of your rear
axle. Put heavier items as far forward
as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly,
so driving on the off-road terrain
doesn’t toss things around.
You’ll find other important information
in this manual. See
Vehicle Loading,
Luggage Carrier
and Tires in the Index.
Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip,
especially when going to a remote area.
Know the terrain and plan your route.
You are much less likely to get bad
surprises. Get accurate maps of trails
and terrain. Try to learn of any blocked
or closed roads.
It’s also a good idea to travel with at
least one other vehicle. If something
happens to one of them, the other can
help quickly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving
It’s a good idea to practice in an area
that’s safe and close to home before you
go into the wilderness. Off-road driving
does require some new and different
driving skills. Here’s what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of
signals. Your eyes, for example, need to
constantly sweep the terrain for
unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.
With your
arms, hands, feet, and body
you’ll need to respond to vibrations and
vehicle bounce.
ProCarManuals.com

Driving In Water
Light rain causes no special off-road
driving problems. But heavy rain can
mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find
out how deep the water is before
you drive through it. If it’s deep enough
to cover your wheel hubs, axles, or
exhaust pipe, don’t
try it - you
probably won’t get through.
Also, water
that deep can damage your axle and
other vehicle parts.
If the water isn’t too deep, then drive
through it slowly. At fast speeds, water
splashes on your ignition system and
your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also
occur
if you get your tailpipe under
water.
And, as long as your tailpipe is
under water, you’ll never be able to
start your engine. When you go through
water, remember that when your brakes
get wet, it may take you longer to stop.
After OtY-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations
can be a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing and
uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels,
tires, and exhaust system for damage.
Also, check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
Your vehicle
will require more frequent
service due to off-road use. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule for additional
information.
L
123
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving und the Road
128
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going slower than you actually are.
I Before Leaving on a Long
Tip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If
you must start when you’re
not fresh
- such as after a day’s work
- don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go.
If it needs service, have it
done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Oldsmobile dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
you checked all levels?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack
of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy
stretch of road with the same scenery, along
with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that
can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen
to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in
less than a
second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road
ahead and to the sides. Check your
mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service, or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise, or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
ProCarManuals.com

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving
in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country,
or
if you’re planning to visit there, here
are some tips that can make your trips
safer and more enjoyable. (See
Off-
Road Driving in the Index for
information about driving off-road.)
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check
all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work
hard on mountain roads.
how how to go down hills. The most
important thing to how is this: let
your engine do some
of the slowing down.
Shift to
a lower gear when you
go
down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may
want to shift
down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb
the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on
two-lane roads in hills or mountains.
Don’t swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at speeds that
let you stay in your
own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be
alert. There could be something in
your lane, like a stalled car or an
accident.
You may see highway signs on
mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert
to these and tale appropriate action.
129
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not, It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well. On
a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed
to around 45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more than
3,000 pounds (1 350 kg), it’s
best to drive in
D instead of Overdrive
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). This
will minimize heat build-up and extend
the life of your transmission.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake and then
shift to
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave
After Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of
the chocks.
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on
this. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are
automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt,
cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual,
ProCarManuals.com