coolant level OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 1998 Owners Manual

~ . le Knob - Automatic
Operation
I he right knob on the control panel allows you to
choose the direction of air delivery. When the system is
set
for automatic operation, sensors will control the air
delivery mode. Air will come primarily from the floor
or
instrument panel outlets, with some air directed to the
windshield to prevent fogging.
When the system is
in AUTO mode, the air conditioning
light will turn on, and
the recirculation and outside air
lights
turn off. With the system in full auto control
(both the fan and mode knobs
in AUTO), YOLI still
have the ability to override any function. However?
continually overriding the outside air or the A/C
compressor will
limit the ability of the system to cool
the vehicle quickly.
If you push a button for a function which is not
available, the light next to that button
will flash three
times to alert you that it's
not available.
To find your comfort zone, start with the
74°F (23°C)
setting and allow about 20 minutes for the system to
adjust the temperature
if necessary.
With the automatic setting, the air conditioning
compressor automatically cycles when needed to cool
the air.
In cold weather, when the system senses the need
for heat, the airflow will be directed out the floor outlets.
As the
interior temperature approaches a desired
setting,
the blower speed will decrease. To maintain
interior comfort, the airflow will adjust between the
instrument panel air outlets and
floor outlets. On bright
sunny days in cool weather, the airflow may come out
of
the air conditioning and floor outlets (bi-level mode) to
maintain comfort and prevent stuffiness.
To avoid blowing cold air
in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on the outside air
temperature, engine coolant temperature or the time
since the engine was last started.
As the coolant
warms
up, the blower fan speed will gradually increase
and air will flow from the heater outlets, with some
airflow to the windshield to prevent fogging under most
normal conditions.
If your vehicle is sitting out on a warm day and you
have the filn set on AUTO, the air
will first flow out of
the floor air outlets for
a few seconds. That is normal.
This is to expel hot air from the air outlets.
As the air is
cooled, the airflow
will move through the air
conditioning outlets.
Be careful
not to put anything over the solar sensor
located around the center of the instrument panel.
This sensor is used by the automatic system
to
regulate temperature.
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Remember that in order for the automatic system
to perform
well, it needs A/C to provide
cooling performance.
Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time
it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
For quick cool-down on very hot days, use
MAX A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left. This setting
should be used to keep odors and/or dust from entering
the vehicle. For normal cooling on hot days, use A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left.
On cool but sunny days, use BI-LEVEL A/C to deliver
warm air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets.
When the air conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice
slight changes
in your vehicle‘s engine speed and power.
This
is normal because the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and off to keep the desired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using
it. On cold days, use HEATER with the
temperature knob turned
to the right. BLEND is useful
in cool weather when you have fog or ice on the
windshield or side windows.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater”
in the Index.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Airflow is through the instrument
panel outlets.
Your vehicle’s ventilation system supplies outside air to
the inside of your vehicle when
it is moving. When the
vehicle is
not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through by selecting any mode and any fan speed.
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When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see: If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until
it cools down.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
The coolant level should be at least up to the ADD mark.
If it isn't, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in
the cooling system.
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U
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
1 NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See if
the engine cooling fan speed increases when idle speed is
doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal down. If it
doesn’t. your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the
ADD mark. add a 50/50 mixture of clecrn
\,L*crtet- (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ engine
coolant
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine
Coolant”
in the Index for more information.)
I A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system
is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
I
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6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting
hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the I-' d' lator
filler neck rnay be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base of the filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the
arrows
on thti pressure cap line up like this.
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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.
6-2
6- 3
6-5
6-6
6-8
6-8
6-11
6- 15
6- 16
6-20
6-22
6-22
6-26
6-26
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
6-29
6-32
6-33
6-35
6-37
6-44
6-45
6-47
6-48
6-52
6-53
6-53
6-54
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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Rear Axle What to Use
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler pl~~g hole. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain
in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL@ extended life coolant.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating”
in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your retailer check your cooling system.
I NOTICE: I
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
ADD, or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level
should be up to FULL HOT, or a little higher.
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Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance
of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in
Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil.’ in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid 1,evel Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid
if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid’’ in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the cosrect pressures. See
”Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
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Customer Assistance Information ................... 8- I
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-5 1
Damage. Sheet Metal ............................ 6-50
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-33
Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-8
Defensive Driving
............................... 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting
......................... 3-6
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-61
Dome Lamps .................................. 2-34
Door Locks
....................................... 2-4
Storage
..................................... 2-41
Drive
........................................ 2-18
Drive
. Autornatic Transmission .................... 2- 18
Driver Information System
....................... 2-38
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 13
Driving ........................................ 4-1
City
........................................ 4-32
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Foreign Countries
.............................. 6-5
Freeway
.................................... 4-33
Guidelines
.................................. 4- IS
Hill and Mountain Roads ....................... 4-36
In a Blizzard ................................. 4-40
Night
...................................... 4-28
Off-Ro~l
................................... 4- 15
OnCurves
................................... 4-9
Rainy Conditions
............................. 4-30 Snowy
and Icy Conditions
...................... 4-38
WetRoads
.................................. 4-30
Winter
...................................... 4-38
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-49
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Electrical Equipment. Adding
.................... 6-54
Electrical System
............................... 6-54
Engine
....................................... 6-10
Coolant Hearer ............................... 2-15
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-39
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-57
Identification
................................ 6-53
OiiLevelCheck
.............................. 7-39
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked
......................... 2-23
Specifications
................................ 6-60
Starting
..................................... 2-14
Engine Colnpartment
Fuse Block .................. 6-57
EngineOil
.................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-11
Kindtouse
................................. 6-12
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-60
Remote Filter
................................ 6-14
Used ....................................... 6-15
Whento Add
................................ 6-12
When
to Change .............................. 6-14
Exhaust. Engine ................................ 2-23
Through
Deep Standing Water
................... 4-32
Driving On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ........... 4-51
Exhaust
..................................... 2-23
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