traction control Oldsmobile Bravada 1999 Owner's Manuals

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2-32
Rear Window Washer/Wiper
This switch is located on the
instrument panel.
To turn the rear wiper on, slide the switch to either LO
or HI. For delayed wiping, slide the switch to LO. For
steady wiping, slide the switch to HI. To turn the wiper
off, slide the switch to OFF.
To wash the window, press the wash button located on
the switch. The switch must be in either the HI or
LO position.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as
the windshield washer. However, the rear window
washer will run out of fluid before the windshield
washer. If you can wash your windshield but not your
rear window, check your fluid level.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.

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4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel the
brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.

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4-13
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

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4-17
Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off
-road driving. One of the best ways to control your
vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some things to
keep in mind. At higher speeds:

you approach things faster and you have less time to
scan the terrain for obstacles.

you have less time to react.

you have more vehicle bounce when you drive
over obstacles.

you'll need more distance for braking, especially
since you're on an unpaved surface.
CAUTION:
When you're driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash. So, whether you're driving on
or off the road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things to consider.
Surface Conditions. Off
-roading can take you over
hard
-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or
ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering, acceleration
and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending
upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience
slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration,
poor traction and longer braking distances.
Surface Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you if
you're not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:

Is the path ahead clear?

Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?

Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There's
more discussion of these subjects later.)

Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly?

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4-25
CAUTION:
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle
stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wheels
won't get good traction. You can't accelerate as
quickly, turning is more difficult, and you'll need
longer braking distances.
It's best to use a low gear when you're in mud
-- the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud, the
idea is to keep your vehicle moving so you don't get stuck.
When you drive on sand, you'll sense a change in wheel
traction. But it will depend upon how loosely packed the
sand is. On loosely packed sand (as on beaches or sand
dunes) your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This has
an effect on steering, accelerating and braking. You may
want to reduce the air pressure in your tires slightly
when driving on sand. This will improve traction.Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it's very easy to lose control. On wet
ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you will
have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get moving,
poor steering and difficult braking can cause you to slide
out of control.
CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could fall through the ice and you and
your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle
on safe surfaces only.
Driving in Water
Light rain causes no special off-road driving problems.
But heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood
waters demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive through
it. If it's deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles or
exhaust pipe, don't try it
-- you probably won't get
through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle
and other vehicle parts.

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6-41
CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias
-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only radial
-ply
tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow tires,
space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.

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6-42
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a
half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
-- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature
-- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

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9-9
Steering 4-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In Emergencies 4-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power 4-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel, Tilt 2-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering Wheel Controls 3-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage Compartments 2-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage, Vehicle 6-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools 5-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow 5-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sun Visors 2-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunglasses Storage 2-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunroof 2-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symbols, Vehicle vi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tachometer 2-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taillamp Bulb Replacement 6-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tape Player Care 3-22, 7-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature Display 2-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Theft 2-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THEFTLOCK
3-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thermostat 6-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third Gear 2-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt Steering Wheel 2-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Time, Setting 3-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Chains 6-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Inflation Check 7-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Loading 4-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 6-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 6-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alignment and Balance 6-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buying New 6-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing a Flat 5-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning 6
-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation 6-38, 7-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inspection and Rotation 6-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure 6-38, 7-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature 6-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction 6-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treadwear 6-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uniform Quality Grading 6-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wear Indicators 6-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Top Strap 1-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque Lock 2-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque, Wheel Nut 5-25, 6-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing a Trailer 4-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Your Vehicle 5-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer
Brakes 4
-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving on Grades 4-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving with a Trailer 4-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hitches 4-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance When Towing 4-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking on Hills 4-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Chains 4-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tongue Weight 4-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Weight on Tires 4-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 4-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signals 4-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weight 4-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wiring Harness 4-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transfer Case 6-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmission Fluid 6-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmission, Shifting 2-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmitters, Keyless Entry 2-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transportation, Courtesy 8-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .