1994 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA air condition

Engine Fan Noise
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.
I Ifa Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
will
create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop
well out of the traffic lane.
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 section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
I 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.
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Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. Use premium
unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher for high power performance,
when towing a trailer or with a high
payload requirement. But when
operating with a light load as
a normal
condition, you may use middle grade or
regular unleaded gasolines.
The gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the U.S.
and CGSB
3.5-92 in Canada. These
fuels should have the proper additives,
so you should not have to add anything
to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be
sure you get the right kind of gasoline
(unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED” right
on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler
neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 91
for premium, 89 for middle grade and
87 for regular.
If the octane is less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If it’s bad enough, it
can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at 91 octane or
higher and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating
or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane
fuel to get rid of it. It’s the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a
problem.
What about gasoline with blending
materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates), such as MTBE or
alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.”
Fuel that
is no more than 15% MTBE is
fine for your vehicle.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol.
Properly-blended fuel that is no more than
10% ethanol is
fine for your
vehicle.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5%
methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage wouldn’t be covered
under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must be
“cosolvents” and corrosion
preventers in this fuel to help avoid
these problems.
GasoUnes for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit
control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming in your engine
and fuel system. That helps keep your
engine in tune and your emission
control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be
doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with
oxygenates. General Motors
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Let the warning lights and gages work
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
6038-M,” which won’t damage
aluminum parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need
to add anything else.
as
they should.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the
mix can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
Some conditions, such as air trapped in
the cooling system, can affect the
coolant level in the radiator. Check the
coolant level when the engine is cold
and follow the steps under
Adding
Coolant for the proper way to add
coolant.
If you have to add coolant more than
four times a year, have your dealer
check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you
don’t have to add extra inhibitors
or additives which claim to improve
the system. These can be harmful.
~~
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at
ADD, or a little
higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
FULL HOT, or a
little higher.
L
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NOTICE:
DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can
Don’t let someone put in the
damage
your vehicle. Don’t use it.
wrong kind of fluid. 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.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so
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 Oldsmobile has front disc brakes
and rear
drum 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).
I NOTICE:
I
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.
Your rear
drum brakes don’t have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear
brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake
linings inspected.
Also, the rear brake
drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you
have the front brakes replaced,
have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
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.
If your brake pedal goes down farther
than normal, your rear drum brakes
may need adjustment. Adjust them by
backing up and firmly applying the
brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern 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.
Vehicles we design and test have top-
quality
GM brake parts in them, as your
Oldsmobile does when it is new. When
you replace parts
of your braking system
- for example, when your brake linings 179
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Sewice & Appearance Care
Payload
The Payload Capacity is shown on the
Certificationflire label. This is the
maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure to include the
weight of the people inside as part of
your load. If you added any accessories
or equipment after your vehicle left the
factory, remember to subtract the weight
of these things from the payload.
Your dealer can help you with this.
Trailering Package
If your vehicle comes with the trailering
package, there is also a load rating
which includes the weight of the vehicle
and the trailer it tows. This rating is
called the Gross Combination Weight
Rating (GCWR)
.
When you weigh your trailer, be sure to
include the weight of everything you put
in it. And, remember to figure the weight
of the people inside as part
of your load.
Your dealer can help you determine
your GCWR.
Add-on Equipment
When you carry removable items, you
may need to put a limit on how many
people you carry inside your vehicle. Be
sure to weigh your vehicle before you
buy and install the new equipment.
NOTICE:
Your warranty doesn’t cover parts
or components that fail because of
overloading.
I Single Belt Accessory Drive
Your new vehicle uses a serpentine belt
that is lighter, more durable and fuel
efficient than systems with several belts.
The belt runs over or around the pulleys
on the engine.
A tensioner is used to
keep the belt tight at all times. The
tensioner also makes replacing the belt
easier.
If you need to replace the belt, be
sure to get the correct replacement belt.
Your dealership or parts supplier can
help you with this. The Accessory Drive
Belt Routing label on your vehicle will
show you how to route the belt your
vehicle uses.
I Air Conditioning
Every now and then have your
dealership check your air conditioning
system to be sure it has not lost any
cooling ability. If you think the system
is not working properly, have your
dealership check it out as soon as
possible.
The air conditioning will not work when
the temperature is below
40°F (4°C).
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Service & Appearance Care
188
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires
you need, look at the Certificationnire
label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when
it was new had a Tire Performance
Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you get new tires, get ones with that
same TPC Spec number. That way, your
vehicle will continue to have tires that
are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, speed rating, traction, ride
and other things during normal service
on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-
season tread design, the TPC number
will be followed by a
“MS” (for mud
and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those
not having a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range,
speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your
original tires.
Uniform Tire Qualify 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.)
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 - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are: A,
B, and C. They 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 braking (straight-
ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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
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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.
These grades are molded
on the
sidewalls of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard
or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades,
all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have
been approved for use
on General Motors
vehicles.
All passenger type (P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements
in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving
on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked
or badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep
coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced. If
the wheel leaks air, replace it (except
some aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your
Oldsmobile dealer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need. Each new
wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Oldsmobile model.
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Sewice & Appearance Care
194
Aluminum Wheels
Your aluminum wheels have a
protective coating similar to the painted
surface of your truck. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish,
abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning
brushes on them because you could
damage this coating. After rinsing
thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
NOTICE:
Don’t use an automatic vehicle
wash that has hard silicon carbide
cleaning brushes. These brushes
can take off the protective coating.
1 Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will
make them last longer, seal better, and
not stick or squeak. Apply silicone
grease with
a clean cloth at least every
six months. During very cold, damp
weather more frequent application may
be required. (See
Recommended Fluids
G Lubricants in the Index.)
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires
sheet metal repair or replacement,
make sure the body repair shop applies
anti-corrosion material to the parts
repaired or replaced to restore
corrosion protection.
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice
melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap,
bird droppings, chemicals
from
industrial chimneys, and other foreign
matter can damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain on painted surfaces. Use
cleaners that are marked safe for painted
surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be
repaired right away. Bare metal will
corrode quickly and may develop into a
major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be
repaired with touch-up materials available from your dealer or
other
service outlets. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect on
the underbody.
If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust)
can occur on the underbody parts such
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have
corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these
materials from the underbody with plain
water. Clean any areas where mud and
other debris can collect. Dirt packed in
closed areas of the frame should be
loosened before being flushed. Your
dealer or an underbody vehicle washing
system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric
conditions can create a chemical fallout.
Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle.
This damage can take two forms:
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