Oldsmobile Bravada 2003 Owner's Manuals

Engine Fan Noise
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 radiator
filler neck may 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 pressure cap is hand-tight. This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling
fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions the clutch is not engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing, and/or high outside temperatures,
the fan speed increases when the clutch engages.
So
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the transmission
slipping or making extra shifts.
It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan will slow down
when additional cooling is not required and the clutch
disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine.
It will go away as the fan clutch disengages.
5-32

Power Steering Fluid
1 The power steering fluid
reservoir is located in the
engine compartment
on the passenger’s side of
the vehicle.
.y
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid
loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page
5-12 for reservoir location.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
Turn the key off, let the engine compartment cool down,
wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean, then
unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove
the cap again and look at the fluid level on the
dipstick.
The level should be at the
C (cold) mark. If necessary,
add only enough fluid to bring the level up
to the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see Part D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-1 7.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will
be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on page
5- 12 for reservoir
location.
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Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it. Add
washer fluid until the
tank is full.
Notice:
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0
0
e
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding
water.
Don’t
mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water doesn’t
clean
as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when it’s very cold. This allows for expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Don’t use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in your
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
L A
L
L
1
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3
brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5-72 for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might
go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is
that fluid is leaking out of the brake system.
5-34

If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later your brakes won’t
work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add (or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic sys+-n.
Checking Brake Fluid
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done
on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check your brake fluid. See
farf C: Periodic
Maintenance Inspections on
page 6- 15.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system, make
sure the level is above the MIN but not
over the
MAX mark.
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What to Add Notice:
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6- 17.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt )m en’
. the reservoir.
A I:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake
fluid.
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil,
in your
brake system can damage brake system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be replaced.
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint finish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle. If
you
do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care’’ in the Index.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing
on the
brake pedal firmly).
5-36

Brake Pedal Travel
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won’t work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary
to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence
to GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-16.
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have
to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts
of your braking
system
- for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in
- be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts.
If
you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are
wrong for your vehicle, the balance between your front
and rear brakes can change
- for the worse. The
braking performance you’ve come
to expect can change
in many other ways
if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
5-37

Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelco@ battery. When it’s time for a new battery, get
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco@
battery. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5-72 for battery location.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, remove the black, negative
(-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
Batteries ~ -.-ve acid tha- -an burn , -u and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” next for
tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see
Theft-Deterrent
Feature on page
3-88.
5-38

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

4. Open both hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on each
battery. Your vehicle has a remote negative
(-) jump
starting terminal. You should always use this
remote terminal instead of the terminal on the
battery. The remote negative
(-) terminal is located
on the front engine lift bracket and
is marked
“GND.” See Engine Compartment Overview on
page 5-72 for more information on location.
Using a match near
a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight
if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You
don’t need to add water to the ACDelco@
battery installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid
is there. If it is low, add water
to take care of that first.
If you don’t, explosive
gas could be present.
CAUTION: (Continued) Battery fluid contains acid thal
~ m bul..
you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with water and get medical help immediately.
Fans
or other moving engine parts can in,-.-’e
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5-40

5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or
to a remote
negative
(-) terminal if the vehicle has one. Don’t
connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you’ll get
a short that would damage the battery and maybe
other parts
too. And don’t connect the negative (-)
cable to the negative (-) terminal on the dead
battery because this can cause sparks.
6. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of the
dead battery.
Use a
remote positive
(+)
terminal if the vehicle
has one.
7. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to
the positive (+) terminal
of the good battery. Use a
remote positive (+)
terminal if the vehicle
has one.
8. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to the
negative
(-) terminal
of the good battery. Use
a remote negative
(-)
terminal if the vehicle
has one.
5-4 1