air condition OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1998 User Guide

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:
0 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 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 NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 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 oflthe
engine
and get evrryone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also t\
echnical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-26 6-27 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the
Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
All-Wheel Drive
Rear Axle
Engine Coolant Radiator Pressure Cap
Thermostat
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
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6-53
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6-60 6-60
6-6
1
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
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Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. 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 87 octane or higher and you
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 pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood emission control
label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications.
If such fuels are not available
in states adopting California emissions standards, your
vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
on your instrument
panel may turn on and/or your vehicle may fail a
smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM retailer for diagnosis to determine the cause
of
failure. In the event it is determined that the cause of the
condition
is the type of fuels used, repairs may not be
covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for
low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
tnethylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not
his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM retailer for service.
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Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner off.
I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage
it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level
is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles
(25
000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the
fluid and filter every
50,000 miles (83 000 km).
See ”Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace
it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
retailer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your retailer will know
the kind of wheel you need. Each
new wheel
should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one
it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your
GM model.
l Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
~ bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose air
and make you lose control. You could have a
collision in which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts for replacement.
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Fi nish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal
will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired
with touch-up
materials available from your retailer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of
finish damage can be col-rect.ed
in your retailer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and
dust control can collect on the underbody.
If these
are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur
on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials
from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed
in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your retailer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can
fill upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle.
This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect
in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of new
vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase.
whichever occurs first.
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Name
BIU LP
AIC
RAP
02
IGN B
DRL
FOG LP
IGN
A
STUD #2
PARKLP
LR PRK
IGN C
HTDSEAT
Usage
Back-up Lamps
Air Conditioning
Retained Accessory Power
Oxygen Sensor
Column Feed,
IGN 2, 3, 4
Daytime Running Lamps
Fog Lamps
Starting and Charging
IGN 1
Accessory Feeds, Electric Brake
Parking Lamps
Left Rear Parking Lamps
Starter Solenoid. Fuel PLIIIIP,
PRNDL
Heated Seat
Name
ATC
RRDFOG
HVAC
TRCHMSL
RR WIW
CRANK HAZLP
VECHMSL
HTDMTR
STOPLP
TBC
Usage
Active Transfer Case
Rear Defogger HVAC System
Trailer Center High-Mount
stop Lamp
Rear Window Wiper
Clutch Switch, NSBU Switch
Hazard Lamps
Vehicle Center High-Mount
Stop Lamp
Heated Mirror
Stoplan1ps
Truck Body Computer
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Capacities (Approximat-e)
Cooling System'" ............. 1 1.7 quarts (1 I, I L)
Crankcase with Filter'" .......... 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)
Automatic Transmission
(Drain and Refill):':
........... 5.0 quarts (4.7 L)
Differential Fluid (Rear) ......... 4.0 pints ( I .9 L)
Differential Fluid (Front) ......... 2.6 pints ( 1.2 L)
Fuel Tank ..................... 18 gallons (68 L)
A/C Refrigerant . . 30 oz. or 2 Ibs. (0.9 kg) of R- 13421
'"After refill, the level
m~st be checked.
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs
refrigerant. be
SLIE the proper refrigerant is sed.
I1 you're not sure. ask your retailer.
Vehicle Dimensions*
Wheelbase .............. 107.0 inches (27 1.8 cm)
Length ................. 180.9 inches (459.5 cm)
Height
................... 63.2 inches ( 160.5 cm)
Width ................... 67.6 inches ( 17 1.7 an)
Front Tread
............... 57.3 inches ( 145.4 cm)
Rear Tread ............... 55.1 inches ( 139.9 cm)
'"Figures reflect base equipment only.
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Introduction
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
.VEL AND CHANGE
RECOMMENDED
11
.I
Your Vehicle and the EnvironmcC
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle
in good working condition, but also helps the
environment.
All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment. and to keep your vehicle
in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some
of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified
and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your retailer’s service department or another
qualified service center do these
jobs.
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Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs,
you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if
you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you
will probably want to get the service
information. See “Service and Owner Publications“
in
the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked and when.
It also explains what you
can easily
do to help keep your vehicle in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that
your retailer’s service
department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some recommended products to help keep your vehicle
properly maintained. These products,
or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have
it clone.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place lor
you to record the maintenance performed
on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is perfornled, be
sure to write
it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance
should be clone.
In acldition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle
for
warranty repairs.
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