parking brake Oldsmobile Bravada 2003 s User Guide

Q: Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down the
hill and decide
I just can’t do it. What
should
I do?
A: Set the parking brake, put your transmission in
PARK (P) and turn
off the engine. Leave the
vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill
side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would
take
if it rolled downhill.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you’ll want to
consider a number of things:
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
What’s the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Boulders?
What’s at the bottom of the hill? Is there a 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 gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes
and they won’t have
to do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
4-22
Heavy braki.., 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.
Q: 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.
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline
of the hill. A hill that’s not too
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.

Q: Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if it
happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
Apply the parking brake.
engine.
and drive straight down.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Shift to PARK (P) and, while still braking, restart the
Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to
decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here
are some things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight up
or down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the distance from
the front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble
end over end. But when you drive across an incline,
the much more narrow track width (the distance
between the left and right wheels) may not prevent
the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Also,
driving across an incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels. This could cause
a downhill
slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you
drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip
sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it
can hit something that will trip it (a rock, a rut,
etc.) and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse.
If you drive across a rock with the
uphill wheels, or it the downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
4-23

Par1 . on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached,
on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your
rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet. When parking uphill, turn your wheels
away from the curb. When parking downhill, turn
your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
regular brakes until
the chocks absorb the load.
parking brake, and then shift into PARK
(P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each
of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-52

Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10OC). If it's colder than 50°F (IOOC), drive the vehicle
in
THIRD (3) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for
10 minutes.
A cold fluid check can be made after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine
off,
but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine
run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or more. If it's colder than 50°F (IOOC), you
may have to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid
level be low during this cold check, you
must check the
fluid hot before adding fluid. Checking the fluid hot
will give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more. Then,
without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
-1 The automatic
transmission dipstick
handle with the
transmission and lock
symbol is located in the
engine compartment
I I on the passenger's side of
the vehicle.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for
more information on location.
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back
in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
5-21

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.
can be dangerous
* They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or
* They contain enough electricity to
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some
Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it
won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with
a negative ground system.
Notice: If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system
with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in
PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake. If
you have a four- wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is not in NEUTRAL.
Notice: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets (if equipped).
Turn
off the radio and all lamps that aren’t needed.
This will avoid sparks and help
to save both
batteries. And it could save your radio!
5-39

A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop - well off the road if possible.
If
a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning flashers. Cha..,ing
a tire can ca-.-e an injc.
,. The
vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Put the wheel blocks at the front and rear
of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire on
the other side of the vehicle,
at the
opposite end.
5-62

Fuses
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Usage
Blank Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning B
Front Parking Lamps
Left Turn Signal Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning
1
Truck Body Controller 4
Radio
Trailer Park
Right Turn Signal
Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning
Fuses
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Usage
Rear Fog Lamps
Auxiliary Power
1
Ignition 0
Four-wheel Drive
Blank
Truck Body Controller Ignition Brakes
Truck Body Controller Run
5-92

At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hood latch assembly, secondary latch,
pivots, spring anchor, release pawl, rear compartment
hinges, outer liftgate handle pivot points, rear door
detent link, roller mechanism, liftgate handle pivot points,
latch bolt, fuel door hinge, cargo door hinge, locks
and folding seat hardware. Part
D tells you what to use.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly.
If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
around
the vehicle.
brake. See
Parking Brake on page 2-25 if
necessary.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn
off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only in PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N).
If the starter works in any other position, your
vehicle needs service.
6-1 2

Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Cmtrol Sy-tem Check
When you are doing this check, the vehicle
could move suddenly.
If it does, you or others
could be injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on page
2-25 if necessary.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the RUN
position, but don’t start the engine. Without applying
the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK
(P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out
of PARK (P), your vehicle needs service.
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to LOCK only when the
shift lever is in PARK (P).
The key should come out only
in LOCK.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately
if
the vehicle begins to move.
6-1 3

Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism
Check
I
When you are doing this check, ur hicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room
in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake
at once should the vehicle begin
to move.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transmission in NEUTRAL
(N), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular
brake pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is held by the
parking brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK
(P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
6-1 4