transmission OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1997 User Guide

Your vehicle’s engine should be turned off while
programming the transmitter.
Follow these steps to
program up to three channels:
1. If you have not previously programmed a universal
channel, proceed to Step
2. Otherwise, hold down
the two outside buttons
on the universal transmitter
until the red light begins to flash rapidly
(approximately
20 seconds). Then release the
buttons. This procedure initializes the memory and
erases any previous settings for all three channels.
2. Hold the end of the hand-held transmitter against the
bottom surface of the universal transmitter
so that
you can still see the red light.
3. Decide which one of the three channels you want to
program. Using both hands, press the hand-held
transmitter button and the desired button on the
universal transmitter. Continue to hold both buttons
through Step 4.
4. Hold down both buttons until you see the red light
on the universal transmitter flash rapidly. The rapid
flashing, which could take up to
90 seconds,
indicates that the universal transmitter has been
programmed. Release both buttons once the light
starts to flash rapidly.
If you have trouble programming the universal
transmitter, make sure that you have followed the
directions exactly as described and that the battery
in the
hand-held transmitter
is not dead. If you still cannot
program
it, rotate the hand-held transmitter end over end
and try again. The universal transmitter may not work
with older garage door openers that do not meet current
Federal Consumer Safety Standards.
If you cannot
program the transmitter after repeated attempts, consult
your Oldsmobile retailer.
Be sure to keep the original hand-held transmitter
in case
you need to erase and reprogram the universal transmitter.
Operating the Transmitter
Press and hold the appropriate button on the universal
transmitter. The red light comes on while the signal is
being transmitted.
Note that the effective transmission range
of the
universal transmitter may differ from
the hand-held
transmitter and from one channel to another.
2-46
ProCarManuals.com

0 Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible
to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to
let opposing traffic know you’re there.
0 Use your headlamps even during the day. They make
you more visible to oncoming traffic.
Driving to the top (crest)
of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed.
As you near
the top
of a hill, slow down and stay alert. What should
I do
if my vehicle stalls, or is about
to stall, and
I can’t make it up the hill?
A: If this happens, there are some things you should
do, and there are some things you must not do.
First, here’s what you
sI~ouZc1 do:
Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle ‘and keep it
from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking brake.
0 If your engine is still running, shift the transmission
to REVERSE
(R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the
hill in REVERSE (R).
If your engine has stopped running, you’ll need to
restart it. With the brake pedal depressed and the
parking brake still applied, shift the transmission to
PARK
(P) and restart the engine. Then, shift to
REVERSE
(R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the
hill as straight as possible in
REVERSE (R).
4-2 1
ProCarManuals.com

0 As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand
on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position. This
way, you’ll be able to tell
if your wheels are straight
and maneuver as you back down. It’s best that you
back down
the hill with your wheels straight rather
than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel
too far to the left or right will increase the possibility
of a rollover.
Here are
some things you mist not do if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going
up a hill.
0 Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into
NEUTRAL (N) to “rev-up” the engine and regain
forward momentum. This won’t work. Your vehicle
will roll backwards very quickly and you could go
out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the vehicle.
Then apply the parking brake. Shift to REVERSE
(R),
release the parking brake, and slowly back straight down.
0 Never attempt to turn around if you are about to stall
when going up
a hill. If the hili is steep enough to
stall your vehicle, it’s steep enough to cause you to
roll over
if you turn around. If you can’t make it up
the
hill, you must back straight down the hill.
Q: Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down the
hill and decide
I just can’t do it. What should
I do?
A: Set the parking brake, put your transmission in
PARK (P) and turn off the engine. Leave the
vehicle and go get some help. Exit
on the uphill
side and stay clear of
the path the vehicle would
take
if it rolled downhill.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you’ll want to
consider
a number of things:
0
0
0
0
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
What’s the surfice like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-pac ked dirt‘? Gravel?
Are there. hidden surface obstacles‘? Ruts?
Logs? Boulders?
What’s at the bottom
of the hill‘? Is there a hidden
creek bank
or even a river bottom with large rocks‘?
4-22
ProCarManuals.com

If you decide you can go down a hili safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a
low
gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and
they won’t have to do
all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
CAWTION: I
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the
hill. A hill that’s not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over
if you don’t drive straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called “free-wheeling.” Your
brakes
will have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause
your brakes to overheat and fade. This could
, cause loss of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill
and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed
under control. ~
Q.’ Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a hill?
A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore them
you could lose
control and have a serious accident.
Q.’ Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if
it happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply the parking brake.
Shift to PARK (Pj and, while still braking, restart
the engine.
Shift back to
a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
0 If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

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 fl~lid
levels and also the brakes, tires. cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know 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.
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down
a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on
a steep
downhill slope. Coasting
downhill in NEUTRAL
(N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash.
Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
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 take appropriate action.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

I NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Oldsmobile
retailer for important information about towing
a trailer with
your vehicle.
Every Bravada is ready for some trailer towing. If yours
was built with trailering options, as many are, it’s ready
for heavier trailers. But trailering is different than just
driving
your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part.
In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull
a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
0
0
0
0
0
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig
will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh 2.000
Ibs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use
a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 kln) your new vehicle
is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (800
kin) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over SO mph (80 kdh) and
don‘t make starts at
full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the
heavier loads.
You should use THIRD
(3) (or, as you need to, a
lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle
in THIRD (3) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life of
your transmission.
4-45
ProCarManuals.com

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.
You should use THIRD
(3) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in THIRD
(3) when towing a
trailer will minimize heat buildup 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
PARK
(I?) yet. Then turn your wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
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 shift into PARK
(P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-51
ProCarManuals.com

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and 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, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-52
ProCarManuals.com

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transmission in
PARK (P). Put a
manual transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
I unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter, or accessory power outlets, if you have this
option. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help to save
both batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repair wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
I ‘ 5-4
ProCarManuals.com

12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal. Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM retailer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. See “Roadside Assistance”
in
the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed since it was factory-new
by adding things like
fog lamps, aero skirting, or special
tires and wheels, these instructions may not be conect.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has all-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can move the shift lever for the
transmission.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains these towing
instructions.
The operator may want to see them.
5-7
ProCarManuals.com