jump start OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1997 Owners Manual

Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-3
5-7
5- 10
5-11
5-12
5- 12
5- 14 How
to Use
Warning Flashers
Other Types of Warning Devices
Step-by-step Procedure for Jump Starting
Information You Should Know Before Towing
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear
If Your Engine
is Overheating
If Steam is Coming From Your Engine
Cooling System 5-16
5-21
5-21
5-29
5-30
5-3 1
5-32
5-32 How to Add
Coolant
What to do if a Tire Goes Flat
How to Change a Flat Tire
Where to Store the Flat Tire and Tools
Information on the Compact Spare Tire
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Snow or on Ice
How to Rock Your Vehicle to Get Unstuck
Using Recovery Hooks
5-1
ProCarManuals.com

Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. But please use the following steps
to do it safely.
1 NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty.
Do not try to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it. This could damage your vehicle and
it won’t start that way.
~~
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
Batteries can
hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
you.
1. Check the
other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
5-3
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

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Oldsmobile does when it is new.
When you replace parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change
in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Oldsmobile has a Delco Freedom@ battery.
You never have to add water to one of these. When it‘s
time for a new battery, we recommend
a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery
from
running down.
Batteries have acid that can Durn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your retailer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

GloveBox .................................... 2-35
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-42
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-42
GVWR
....................................... 4-42
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-30
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Headlarnps .................................... 2-31
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-30
Highkow Beam Changer
...................... 2-26
On Reminder
................................ 2-32
Wiring
..................................... 6-54
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heating
........................................ 3-3
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-36
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-47
Horn ......................................... 2-24
Hydroplaning
................................ 4-32
Hood
.......................................... 6-6
Ignition
Positions .............................. 2- I 2
Inflation. Tire
............................. 6-37. 7-39
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
................. 2-34
Inspections Brake System
.................... ......... 7-44 Drive Axle
.................................. 7-44
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front Drive Axle Boot
......................... 7-43
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-43
Steering
.................................... 7-43
Suspension
.................................. 7-43
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-44
Transfer Case
................................ 7-44
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-48
Cleaning .................................... 6-47
Cluster
..................................... 2-50
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-55
Interior Lamps ................................. 2-33
Jacking Equipment
............................. 5-22
Jump Starting
................................... 5-3
Keyless Entry System
........................... 2-6
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels Certification/Tire
............................. 4-42
Fuse ....................................... 6-56
Safety Belt
.................................. 1-45
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-53
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-53
ProCarManuals.com