1994 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA engine overheat

How to Use this Manual
MANY PEOPLE READ THEIR OWNER’S
manual from beginning to end when
they first receive their new vehicle.
This
vvlll help you learn about the
features and controls for your vehicle.
In
this manual, you’ll find that
pictures and words work together
to explain things quickly.
There are nine parts with thumb-
tabbed pages
in this manual.
Each part begins with
a brief list of
contents,
so you can usually tell at a
glance if that part contains the
information you want.
You can bend the manual slightly to
reveal the tabs that help you find
a
part.
6
Part 1: Seats & Restraint Systems
This part tells you how to use your
seats and safety belts properly.
Part 2: Features & Controls
This part explains how to start and
operate your Oldsmobile.
Part 3: Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
This part tells you how to adjust the
ventilation and comfort controls and
how to operate your audio system.
Part 4: Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information
and tips about the road and how to
drive under different conditions.
Part 5: Problems on the Road
This part tells you what to do if you
have
a problem while driving, such as
a flat tire or engine overheating.
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VOLTS
Voltmeter (STANDARD CLUSTER)
Your charging system gage will show
the rate of charge when the engine is
running. When the engine is not
running but the ignition is on (in the
Run position), the display measures thc
voltage output of your battery.
The reading will change as the rate
of
charge changes (with engine speed,
etc.), but readings between the warning
zones indicate the normal operating
range. Readings in either warning zone
indicate a possible problem with your
charging system. Have your Oldsmobilc
serviced immediately.
-100
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage
(STANDARD CLUSTER)
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your engine is too
hot!
It means that your engine coolant
has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions, you
should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon
as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN
YOU
BADLY!
In
Problems on the Road, this manual
shows what to do. See the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
0
0
0
Fuel Gage (ELECTRONIC CLUSTER)
Your fuel gage bars light up when the
ignition is on
to show you about how
much fuel you have left.
When the gage first indicates empty,
you still have
a little fuel left, but you
should get more soon.
A box around the gas pump symbol wil:
flash when your tank is
1/8 full or less.
Here are five things that some owners
ask about. None of these show
a
problem with your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump
shuts
off before the gage reads full.
The top bar does not go out until you
have driven a long distance-about
3r
miles (48 kilometers).
51
85
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Features & Controk
88
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
pcmoNIc CLUSTER)
This gage has bars that show the engine
coolant temperature.
A box around the temperature symbol
will flash when your engine
is too hot.
It means that your engine coolant has
overheated. If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road,
stop your vehicle and turn
off the
engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT
CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In ProbZems on the Road, this manual
shows what to do. See the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
~
Brake System Warning Light
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts.
If one
part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts
working well.
If the warning light comes on, there
could be a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on as you start
the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you
if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are
driving, pull off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to
stop.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See
Towing
Your Truck in the Index.)
The brake system warning light will also
come on when you set your parking
brake, and it will stay on
if your parking
brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays
on
after your parking brake is fully released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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Your Driving and the Road
120
Here are some things you must not
do if you stall, or are about to stall,
when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by
shifting into
N (Neutral) to “rev-
up” the engine and regain forward
momentum. This won’t work. Your
vehicle will roll backwards very
quickly and you could go out of
control. Instead, apply the regular
brake to stop the vehicle. Then
apply the parking brake. Shift into
reverse, release the parking brake,
and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if
you are about to stall when going
up a hill. If the hill is steep enough
to stall your vehicle, it’s steep
enough to cause you to roll over
if
you turn around. If you can’t make
it up the hill, you must back
straight down the hill.
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 P (Park), and turn off
the engine. Leave the vehicle and go get some nelp. 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? Hard-packed dirt?
Gravel?
Are there hidden surface obstacles?
Ruts? Logs? Boulders?
What’s at the bottom of the hill? Is
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.
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.
transmission in
N (Neutral). This
is called “free-wheeling.” Your
brakes will have to do all the work
and could overheat and fade.
Never go downhill with the
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Your Driving and the Road
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher
and extra wiring. The green arrows on
your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer
lights will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change
lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not, It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well. On
a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed
to around 45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs
more than
3,000 pounds (1 350 kg), it’s
best to drive in
D instead of Overdrive
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). This
will minimize heat build-up and extend
the life of your transmission.
Parking 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.
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
P (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake and then
shift to
P (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave
After Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
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
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of
the chocks.
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 adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual,
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Here you’ll find what to do about some
problems that can occur on the road
.
Part 5
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................................................\
............... 140
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
.................................. 140
Towing Your Bravada ........................................................................\
..................... 144
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
......................... 145
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
........................... 151
Changing a Flat Tire ........................................................................\
........................ 151
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ......................................................... 158
0
139
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When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped in a straight-ahead
position, with a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use
the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transmission should be in
P (Park) and the parking brake
released.
Don’t have your Bravada towed with
the wheels in contact with the ground.
If your vehicle is being towed with
sling-type or wheel-lift equipment,
either the front or rear wheels must be
supported on a dolly.
If towing your Bravada with a car
carrier, block supports may be required
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
;age and the warning light about
a hot
mgine on your Oldsmobile’s instrument
)anel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
!45
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Problems on the Road
146
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral). If
you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes.
If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed.
Bring the engine speed back to normal
idle speed after two or three minutes.
Now see
if the warning stops. But then,
if you still have the warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
If the coolant inside the coolant
recovery tank is boiling, don’t do
anything else until it cools down.
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