brake light OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1998 Owners Manual

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on
an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
x
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
for
you and
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS 9
TURN
RUNNING
' 0
DAYTIME .
LAMPS **
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
CS 0b
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VEN TlLATlNG
FAN
These symbols are
used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
V
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a Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, 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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2-4
2-6
2-9
2-
10
2-1 1
2- 12 2- 12
2- 14
2- 15
2-16
2- 19
2-20
2-22
2-22
2-23
2-23
2- 24 Keys
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
Liftgate
Theft Passlock
TM
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transmission Operation
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Locking Rear Axle 2-24
2-25
2-25
2-26
2-26
2-32 2-34
2-35
2-37 2-44
2-44
2-45
2-45 2-46
2-50
2-5
1
2-53 All-Wheel Drive
Windows Horn
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Sun Visors
Accessory Power Outlets
Sunroof (If Equipped)
Universal Transmitter Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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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 reg~dar brake
pedal down.
I NOTICE:
~
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and you must park on a hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer fl-om moving.
Pull the BRAKE RELEASE lever. It is located on the
bottom
of the instrument panel on the driver‘s side.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
0 Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the button
at the end of the lever: then release
the button
and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A. Each
time you do this. your vehicle
will go about 1 mph
( 1.6 km/h) faster.)
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
Press in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release
it.
0 To slow down in very small amounts, press the
button for less than half
a second. Each time you do
this, you‘ll go I mph ( I .6 kdh) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed,
load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control
on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal.
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Menwry
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
2-3 1
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To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is
off. Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system
will stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition
is
in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To turn the tone off, turn
the knob all the way to the left.
In the automatic mode, the
headlamps
turn off once the ignition key is in OF.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will
make your headlamps come on at
reduced brightness when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is in automatic headlamp mode and
0 the parking brake is released. When the
DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be on.
The instrument panel won't be
lit up either.
When
it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL
to the regular headlamps.
When you turn the headlamp switch off, the regular lamps
will go off, and your headlamps will change to the reduced
brightness of DRL provided
it is not dark outside.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay off
until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle. you should turn on the regular
headlamp system
when you need it.
Fog Lamps
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your low-beam headlamps must be
on for
your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamp switch is
on the instrument panel under
the lamps switch. Press the switch to turn the fog lamps
on. Press the switch again to turn them off.
A light will
glow
in the switch when the fog lamps are on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off, the
fog lamps
will come on again.
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Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on when you set your parking brake. The light
will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle‘s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though. you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
BRAKE
-
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have
it fixed so it will be
re.ady to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have. the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle“
in the Index.)
I CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
1 with the brake system warning light on can lead
~ to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
~ With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will
come on when you start
your e.ngine and may stay
on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle 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 section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on
then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red area. your
engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road. stop your
vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,“ this manuill shows you what
to do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This
is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes
will wear out much
faster
if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That
means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
nol-mally but don’t
pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal
may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you
will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent
a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear
a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on. This is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light
will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light‘‘ in
the Index.
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Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you'll want to
consider a number
of things:
0 How steep is the downhill'? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
0 What's the surface like'? Smooth'? Ro~lgh'? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt'? Gravel?
0 Are there hidden surfdce obstacles? Ruts'? Logs'?
Boulders?
0 What's at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom
with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep
your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low
they won't have to do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
i> (rear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and
.. . -,
A CAUTION:
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.
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.
0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that's not too
0
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.
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Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can‘t, try to slow down before you hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
as well in a quick
stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen
if the road is wet enough and you’re
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often.
But it can if your
tires
do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low.
It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road.
If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles
or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning
LISLI~~Y happens at higher speeds. There
just
isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when
it is raining.
L qoing fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
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