automatic transmission OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1997 Owners Manual

a Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Oldsnwbile, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you
if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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2-34 Important Information
About Keys
Door Locks
Operation of Child Security Locks
Remote Keyless Entry
Battery Replacement for RKE
Preventing
Theft of Your Vehicle
New Vehicle "Break-In"
Ignition Positions
Tips
on Starting Your Engine
Using the Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transmission Operation
Parking Brake Guidelines
Important Information
on Engine Exhaust
Operation of Your Windows 2-2s
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Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel
Functions
of the Multifunction Lever
How
to Use the HighLow Beam
Headlamp Changer
Windshield Wipers and Fluid
Using Cruise Control
Exterior Lamps Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Rearview Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel Overview
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages
Interior
Lamps
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Keyless Entry System
You can lock and unlock your doors or unlock your
liftgate from up to
30 feet (9 m) away using the key
chain transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Your Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry and Science
Canada Rules.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry and
Science Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause
interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation
of the device.
The range
of this system is about 30 feet (9 m). At times
you may notice
a decrease in range. This is normal for
any remote lock control system.
If the transmitter does
not work
or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle
for the transmitter to work, try this:
0
0
0
0
Check to determine if battery replacement or
resynchronization
is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check
the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take
a few steps to the left
OS right.
If you’re still having trouble, see your Oldsmobile
retailer or
a qualified technician for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use
this equipment.
Operation
When you press UNLOCK, the driver’s door and
liftgate will unlock automatically.
If you press
UNLOCK again within five seconds, all
the doors will
unlock. Press LOCK to lock all the doors.
Press the REAR button twice within
3 1/2 seconds to
unlock and unlatch the liftgate. The transmission must
be
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
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To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
[ON:
-
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store
the cord as it was before to keep it away fi-om moving
engine
parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged. How
long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Oldsrnobile retailer in the area where you’ll be
parking your vehicle. The retailer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
P
R
N
03
3
2
1
There are several different
positions for your
shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with
the wheels. To restart when YOLI’I-~ already
moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@): This position
is for
normal driving. If you need 111o1-e power for passing,
and you’re:
Going less than about 35 rnph (56 kidhj, push your
Going about 35 mph (56 kdhj or more, push the
accelerator
peclal about halfway
down.
accelerator all the way
down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0) should not be used
when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on
steep hills 01- for off-road driving. Select THIRD (3) when
operating the vehicle under
any of these conditions.
THIRD
(3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however
it offers more power but lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@I. You
should LIS~ THIRD (3) when towing ;I trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills or winding roads or
for off-road driving.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads,
but then you would also want to use
your txakes off’ and on.
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You can also use SECOND (2) for starting your vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is
put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into
FIRST
(1) until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand
or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This
could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position
on a hill.
Locking Rear Axle
Your rear axle can give you additional traction on snow,
mud, ice,
sand or gravel. It works like a standard axle
most of the time, but when one of the rear wheels has no
traction and the other does, the locking feature will
allow the wheel
with traction to move the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive
Your engine’s driving power is sent to all four wheels
for extra traction. All-wheel drive is like four-wheel
drive, but there
is no lever or switch to engage or
disengage the front axle. It is
fully automatic and adjusts
itself as needed
for road conditions.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal
with your left foot. If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light
will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal
down.
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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force
on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready
to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) h If torque lock does occur, yo^^ may need to have another
vehicle push yo~~rs
a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from
the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock.
You have to fully apply your regular brake before you
can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the
RUN position. See “Automatic Transmission Operation”
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then press
the shift lever button and move the shift lever into the
gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL(N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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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.
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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.
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NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic
car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t
mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What YOU don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuc
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known
as
:k is
“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 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Oldsmobile. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information
about
your vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-37 Doing
Your Own Service Work
What Kind of Fuel to Use
Using Fuel
in Foreign Countries
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling
the Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Checking Your Engine Oil
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Engine Coolant
Where to Fill
the Windshield Washer Fluid
Important Brake Information
Information
on Your Vehicle’s Battery
Tips
on Vehicle Storage
Bulb Replacement Procedures
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement How and When
to Check Tire Inflation 6-39
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6-60
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6-6
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When it is Time to Buy New Tires
Wheel Alignment
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Oldsmobile
Care
of the Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Oldsmobile
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Recommended Appearance Care Materials
Your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
The Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Replacement Parts
Air Conditioning Specifications
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