1994 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA radiator cap

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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Problems on the Rod
148
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is at or above the
FULL
HOT mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there’s one more thing you can try.
You
can add the proper coolant mix directly
to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before you do it.
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator:
1. You can remove the radiator pressur(
cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the
pressure cap.) If you hear a hiss, wail
for that to stop.
A hiss means there i:
still some pressure left.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but now push down as you turn
it.
Remove the pressure cap.
3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck.
I. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
the
ADD mark.
149
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Problems on the Road
150
- I
5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap off. 6. Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fan.
7. By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper
mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base
of the
filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At an!
time during this procedure
if coolant
begins to
flow out of the filler neck,
reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure tht
arrows
on the pressure cap line up
like this.
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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
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Service & Appearance Care
1 76
To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
mix
at the coolant recovery tank.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank,
but be careful not
to spill it.
I Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi
(105 1tPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed
to prevent
coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
the overflow tube
on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator
pressure cap, an AC@ cap
is
recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is
controlled by a thermostat in the engine
coolant system. The thermostat stops
the flow
of coolant through the radiator
until the coolant reaches a preset
temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
I Power Steering Fluid
How To Check Power Steering
Fluid
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
. When the engine compartment is hot,
the level should be
at the HOT mark.
When the engine compartment is
cool, the level should be at the
FULL
COLD mark.
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What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of fluid to use. See
Recommended Fluids G Lubricants in
the
Index.
NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid
or malting a complete fluid change,
always use the proper fluid. Failure
to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
To Add
Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID
ONLY. Add washer fluid until the bottle
is full.
NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-
use washer fluid. Water can cause
the solution to freeze and damage
your washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as
washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only %
full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your washer system and
paint.
n
I77
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210
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services
Below are explanations of the services
listed in Schedule I and Schedule 11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use
are listed in Section
D. Make sure
whoever services your vehicle uses
these. All parts should be replaced and
all necessary repairs done before you or
anyone else drives the vehicle.
ITEM SERVICE
NO.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity.
The
“SH” or “SG” designation may be
shown alone or in combination with
others, such as “SH/CD,”
“SH, SG,
CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. To determine the
preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE 5W-30 or SAE 1OW-
30), see the Index under Engine Oil.
2. Chassis Lubrication - Lubricate the
transmission shift linkage, parking
brake cable guides, underbody contact points and linkage. Lubricate the front
suspension and steering linkage.
3. Tire and Wheel Rotation and
Inspection
- For proper wear and
maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following the instructions
in this
manual. See
Tires, Inspection G.
Rotation in the Index. Check the
tires for uneven wear or damage. If
you see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment. Check for
damaged wheels also.
Inspection - Inspect the drive belt
for cracks, fraying, wear and proper
tension. Replace as needed.
5. Cooling System Service‘: - Drain,
flush and refill the system with new
or approved recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification
6038-M. Keep coolant at the proper
mixture as specified. See
CooZant in
the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion
inhibitor level and maintains proper
engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated.
Tighten screw-type hose clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser. Wash the
pressure cap and neck.
4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt
To help ensure proper operation, we
recommend
a pressure test of both the
cooling system and the pressure cap.
6. Transmission Service - Change
both the fluid and filter every 15,000
miles
(25 000 lun) if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the
outside temperature regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police
If you do not use your vehicle under
any of these conditions, change both
the fluid and filter every
100,000
miles (166 000 lun) .
Replace spark plugs with the proper
type. See
Replacement Parts in the
Index.
8. Spark Plug Wire Inspection‘%t -
Inspect for burns, cracks or other
damage. Check the boot
fit at the
coils and at the spark plugs. Replace
wires as needed.
car
or delivery service.
7. Spark Plug Replacement” -
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