Oldsmobile Bravada 2003 s Manual Online

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible
to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may be equipped with a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
SECURITY
4 I1
I I I I
United States Canada
Here’s how to operate the system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The
SECURITY light should flash.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes
off.
If a locked door is opened without the key or the remote
keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will go
off. The
headlamps and parking lamps will flash for two minutes,
and the horn will sound for
30 seconds, then will turn
off to save the battery power.
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate
if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual
door lock.
It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that
you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key
if
the alarm has been set off.
Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key
after the doors are closed.
0 Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any
other way will set
off the alarm.
If you set
off the alarm by accident, unlock any door with
the key. You can also turn
off the alarm by pressing
unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm
won’t stop
if you try to unlock a door any other way.
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Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window
and open the driver’s door.
Passlock@
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for
the SECURITY light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set
off the alarm.
When the alarm is set the power door unlock switch
is
not operational.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
headlamps flash, check
to see if the horn works. The
horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers on page
5-86.
If the alarm does not sound or the headlamps do not
flash, the vehicle should be serviced by your dealer. Your
vehicle is equipped with the
Passlock@ theft-deterrent system.
Passiock@
is a passive theit-deterrent system.
Passlock@ enables fuel
if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system
is disabled and the vehicle will not start.
During normal operation, the SECURITY light will turn
off
approximately five seconds after the key is turned
to RUN.
If the engine stalls and the SECURITY light flashes,
wait about
10 minutes until the light stops flashing before
trying
to restart the engine. Remember to release the
key from START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.
If the engine is running and the SECURITY light comes
on, you will be able
to restart the engine if you turn
the engine
off. However, your Passlock@ system is not
working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock@ at
this time. You may also want to check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-86. See your
dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
2-1 7

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed -fast or slow
- for
the first
500 miles (805 km). Don’t make
full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow
this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index for more information.
Ignition Positions
C
Use the key to turn the ignition switch to four different
positions.
A (LOCK): This position locks the ignition and
transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You will only
be able to remove the key when the ignition is turned
to LOCK.
2-1 8

Notice: If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can’t turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force
it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these works,
then your vehicle needs service.
B (ACCESSORY): This position lets you use things like
the radio and the windshield wipers when the engine
is
off.
Notice: Don’t operate accessories in the
ACCESSORY position for long periods of time.
Prolonged operation of accessories
in the
ACCESSORY position could drain your battery and
prevent you from starting your vehicle.
C (RUN): This is the position for driving.
D (START): This position starts the engine,
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
01
your vehicle to continue to work up to 20 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to LOCK.
Your radio, power windows, sunroof (option) and
overhead console will work when the ignition key is in
RUN or ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from
RUN to LOCK, these features will continue to work for
up to
20 minutes or until a door is opened.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your
engine won’t start in any other position-that’s a safety
feature. To restart when you’re already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice: Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
At 15 seconds, the
starter will automatically be disengaged. Wait
about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.
2-1 9

When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0°F or -18"C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still won't start
(or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go
of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
for five or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer.
If you don't, your engine
might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have this feature. In very cold
weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder, the engine coolant
heater can help. You'll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant
heater should be plugged in a minimum of four
hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (OOC), use of the coolant heater
is not
required.
2-20

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine
compartment, behind the battery.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 IO-Volt AC outlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a fire. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
CAUTION: (Continued) three-prong 110-volt
AC
o-.-.et. If the cc. -
won’t reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before
to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
2-2 I

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever
PARK (P): This position locks the rear wheels. It’s
the best position to use when you start the engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See “Shifting Into Park (P)”
in the
Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index. Ensure
the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You have to fully apply the
regular brakes before you can shift from PARK
(P) when
the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, press the
button on the shift lever and push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake
application. Move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-27.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page
4-40.
2-22

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use N ITRAL
(N) only.
1 ifting into c _. 2 gear w e your engine is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don’t shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
Nofice: Damage to your transmission caused by
shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with
the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
On cold days, approximately 32°F (OOC) or colder, your
transmission is designed
to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended
to improve heater performance.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
0 Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
You’ll shift down
to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving.
You may want
to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts
too often.
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use the brakes
off and on.
You can also use SECOND (2) for starting the vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
2-23

FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than
SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the
selector lever is put in FIRST
(1) while the vehicle
is moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: If your wheels won’t turn, don’t try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or were up against a solid object. You
could damage your transmission. Also, if you
stop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle there
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat
and damage the transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in
position on a hill.
Shift Lock Release
This vehicle is equipped with a shift lock release
system. If your vehicle has a dead battery and you need
to have your vehicle towed, there is a shift lock
release lever that will allow you to move the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
I o access the shift lock release lever, do the following:
1. Press on the sides of the boot around the shift
2. Lift up the boot on the shift lever and you will see
lever
to release the boot.
an orange lever.
3. Lift the orange lever up and move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P).
4. Snap the shift lever boot back in place.
All-Wheel Drive
Your vehicle may have this feature. There is no lever or
switch to engage
or disengage the front axle. It is
fully automatic and adjusts as needed for road
conditions. Your vehicle has an active transfer case
allowing two-wheel-drive operation on dry roads.
The transfer case will shift automatically into all-wheel
drive on slippery surfaces. You may feel an extra
shift when the all-wheel drive engages.
2-24

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right
foot and pull up on the parking
brake lever. If the ignition is on, the brake system
warning light will come on.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your parking brake 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 on page 4-45. That section
shows what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into Park (P)
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press in the button at the end
of the lever. Hold the
button in as you move the parking brake lever all the
way down.
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t
move, even when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.
If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2-25