1994 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA brake

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.
See the next section,
Trailer Wiring
Harness.
Trailer Wiring Harness (OPTION)
Your Bravada is equipped with a 7-wire
trailer harness with a 30-amp battery
feed wire. It’s stored under the vehicle
along the rear frame crossmember.
Since connectors for trailers vary, no
connector is provided.
You will need to
obtain one for the trailer
you want to
pull. Have it wired to the harness by a
qualified service technician.
When wiring the harness to a
connector, disconnect the battery before
removing the tape from the wire. The
wire applications are:
White-Ground
Dark green-Right turn signal
Yellow-Left turn signal
Brown-Rear lamps
Light green-Back-up lamps
Red-Battery charging
Blue-Trailer brakes, auxiliary
In use, tape or tie the harness to your
vehicle’s frame rail. Leave enough slack
so the wiring doesn’t bend or break, but
not
so much that it drags on the
ground.
When it’s not in use, fold the harness
neatly and wrap or tie it. Store in the
original place along the frame
crossmember.
137
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
~~
Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Trying to start your
Oldsmobile by pushing or pulling it
won’t work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Oldsmobile:
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
Oldsmobile, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll.
Set the parking brake
firmly on each
vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in P (Park) or a manual transmission in
N (Neutral).
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could
be badly damaged. The repairs
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries. Find the positive
(+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each
battery.
II
141
ProCarManuals.com

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
ProCarManuals.com

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.
151
ProCarManuals.com

Part 6
Sewice &Appearance Care
Service ........................................................................\
............................................. 162
Fuel
........................................................................\
.................................................. 163
Hood Release
........................................................................\
................................... 165
Engine Oil
........................................................................\
........................................ 168
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
...................................... 171
Transmission Fluid ........................................................................\
.......................... 172
Axles/Transfer Case
........................................................................\
........................ 174
Engine Coolant
........................................................................\
................................ 174
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
....................... 176
Windshield Washer Fluid ........................................................................\
................
177
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............................................. 178
Battery ........................................................................\
............................................. 180
Bulb Replacement
........................................................................\
........................... 181
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ................................................................... 182
..
Loading Your Vehicle ........................................................................\
..................... 183
Tires ........................................................................\
................................................. 185
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
............................. 190
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.................................................................... 195
Add-on Electrical Equipment
........................................................................\
........ 196
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................................................................\
................ 196
Capacities
& Specifications ........................................................................\
............ 199
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............................................................... 200
Fluids & Lubricants ........................................................................\
........................ 201
Replacement Bulbs
........................................................................\
.......................... 202
.
161
ProCarManuals.com

4.3L V6 Engine (CODE w)
When you open the hood, you’ll see:
1. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
6. Air Cleaner
7. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
8. Engine Oil Dipstick
9. Radiator Pressure Cap
IO. Battery
a
167
ProCarManuals.com

To Check the Fluid Hot or Cold:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
With your foot on the brake pedal,
the
shift lever in
P (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in
P (Park).
minutes or more.
Let the engine run at idle for three Then, Without Shutting off the
Engine, Follow These Steps:
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. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the
COLD area for a cold
check or in the
HOT area or cross-
hatched area for a hot check.
4. 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.
How to Add FIuid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind
of transmission
fluid to use. See
Recommended Fluids
G Lubricants in the index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level up
to the COLD area for a cold check or
the HOT area for a hot check. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a
pint
(OSL) . Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRONB-I11 or DEXRONB-IIE,
because fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic
transmission. Damage caused by fluid
other than DEXRONB-I11 or
DEXRONB-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
I 73
ProCarManuals.com

Service & Appearance Care
1 78
~-
Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is
filled with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in your master cylinder
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.
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 system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to check your brake
fluid. See
Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
in the Index.
To Check Brake Fluid
You can check the brake fluid without
taking
off the cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid reservoir.
The fluid levels should be above
MIN. If
they aren’t, have your brake system
checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the levels
are above
MIN and below the top of
each window.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only
DOT-3 brake fluid
- such as Delco
Supreme
11s (GM Part No.1052535).
Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the
brake fluid reservoir cap before
removing it.
ProCarManuals.com