1994 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA ABS

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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Here you’ll find information about
driving on different kinds
of roads
and in varying weather conditions
.
We’ve also included many other
useful tips
on driving .
Part 4
Your Driving and the Road
Defensive Driving .. ............................................... ................................................... 106 . ..
Drunken Driving ........................................................................\
............................. 106
Control of a Vehicle
What
Is All-Wheel Drive? ........................................................................\
........... 108
Braking ........................................................................\
......................................... 109
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
........................................................................\
............. 110
Braking in Emergencies
........................................................................\
............... 111
Steering ........................................................................\
........................................ 111
Steering in Emergencies ........................................................................\
.............. 112
Passing ........................................................................\
......................................... 113
Driving Guidelines ........................................................................\
.......................... 115
Operating Your Bravada
Off Paved Roads ............................................................ 115
Driving at Night
........................................................................\
.............................. 124
Driving
in the Rain ........................................................................\
.......................... 125
City Driving
........................................................................\
..................................... 126
Freeway Driving ........................................................................\
.............................. 127
Hill and Mountain Roads ........................................................................\
................ 129
Winter Driving
........................................................................\
................................. 130
Towing a Trailer ........................................................................\
.............................. 132
..
105
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Your Driving and the Road
110
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON ANT’- LOCK I
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has an advanced electronic
braking system that can help you keep
it under control. When you start your
vehicle and begin to drive away, you
may hear a momentary motor or
clicking noise. This is the ABS system
testing itself. Here’s how anti-lock works.
Let’s say
the road is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels. The anti-
lock system can change the brake
pressure faster than any driver could.
The computer is programmed to make
the most of available tire and road
conditions. You can steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
of
you.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change
the time you need to get your foot up to
the brake pedal.
If you get too close to
the vehicle
in front of you, you won’t
have time to apply your brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to stop,
even though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Four-wheel Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you. You may feel the brakes
vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
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hur Driving and the Road
114
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do
what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care
suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Oldsmobile’s three control
systems. In the braking skid your
wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the
acceleration skid too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering
skid and an acceleration
skid are best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot
off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering
quicldy enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow
down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited. While driving
on a surface with reduced
traction, try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not
realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues
- such as enough water,
ice or packed snow on the road to make
a “mirrored surface”
- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking
system (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
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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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Problems on the Road
158
I
16. Replace the wheel nut cover on the
spare wheel. Be sure to insert the
pin on the wheel cover into the hole
in the wheel. Screw the cover in
place using the TorxB head wrench.
17. Lower the jack head completely by
rotating the jack handle
counterclockwise. If you have an
inside-mounted spare tire, return
the jack and wheel wrench to their
storage compartment and secure
them with the wing nut. Replace the
jack storage compartment cover.
18. Fasten the flat tire where the spare
was stored. If you have a tailgate-
mounted spare tire carrier, tighten
firmly. Push and pull to make sure it
is not loose.
As soon as possible,
tighten the nuts to 22-32 pound-feet
(30-40
Nom) torque.
I If You’re Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
19. If you have a tailgate-mounted spare
tire, return the jack and wheel
wrench to their storage
compartment and replace the jack
storage compartment cover. Insert
the cover tabs into the trim panel,
align the cover and fasten the latch. What
you
don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
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Index
ABS Warning Light ......................... 88
Accelerator Control System ............. 185
Accessory Belt Drive ........................ 184
Accessory Power Outlets
................... 71
Fluid
............................ 176. 199. 201
Adding
Automatic Transmission
Brake Fluid
............................. 178. 201
Electrical Equipment
......... 46. 95. 196
Engine Coolant
...... 174. 177. 199. 201
Engine Oil
...................... 168. 199. 201
Power Steering Fluid
............. 176. 201
Windshield Washer Fluid
...... 177. 201
Add-on Equipment
.......................... 184
Air Cleaner
................................ 171. 200
Air Conditioner
.......................... 92. 184
Alcohol. Driving Under the
Influence of
.................................... 106
Alcohol in Gasoline
.......................... 163
All-Wheel Drive
................................ 108
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
........... 194
Antenna
............................................ 103
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Antifreeze
......................... 174.
199. 201
Using ABS
...................................... 110
Warning Light
.................................. 88
Appearance Care .............................. 190
Ashtrays and Lighter
.......................... 73 Audio
Systems
.................................... 95
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Cassette Player
& Equalizer ......... 96
AM/FM Stereo Radio with
Compact Disc Player
..................... 98
Care of Compact Discs .................. 102
Care of Cassette Player
.................. 102
Radio Reception. For the Best
....... 101
Setting the Clock
.............................. 95
Automatic Transmission Adding Fluid
.................................. 173
Checking Fluid
............................... 172
Shifting
............................................. 48
Battery
........................................... 180
Jump Starting
................................. 140
Light
........................................... 87. 90
Belt. Accessory Drive
....................... 184
Blizzard
............................................. 13 1
Block Heater. Engine ................. 47. 170
Blowout. Tire
.................................... 15 1
Brake
Adjustment
..................................... 179
Fluid
....................................... 178. 201
Master Cylinder
............................. 178
Parking
............................................. 51
Rear Drum ...................................... 179
Replacing Brake System Parts
....... 179
Warning Light
.................................. 88
Wear Indicators .............................. 179 Brake
System Warning Light
............. 88
Braking .............................................. 109
Braking in Emergencies
.................... 111
Break.1n. New Vehicle ............... 44. 132
Buckling Up (see
Safety Belts)
Bulb Replacement Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................ 110
Braking Technique
........................... 109
Fog Light
........................................ 182
Headlight ........................................ 181
Taillight .......................................... 182
Bulbs. Replacement
.......................... 202
Capacities
& Specscations .......... 199
Carbon Monoxide in
Exhaust
...................... 53. 54. 131. 135
Cargo Bed Liner .................................. 75
Cassette Tape Player
(see
Audio Systems )
CD Player (see Audio Systems)
Center Passenger Position
Certificatioflire Label
.................... 186
Chains. Tire ...................................... 190
Changing a Flat Tire
......................... 151
Checking
Brake Fluid
..................................... 178
Engine
Oil ...................................... 168
(see Safety Belts )
Engine Coolant .............................. 174
233
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