1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA warning

Rear Axle What to Use
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level
to the bottom of the filler plug hole. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
S years or 100,000 miles (1 66 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating”
in
the Index.
A SO/SO mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Oldsmobile
will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result.
In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
What
to Use
Use a mixture of one-half
clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets
GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
A CAUl ,ON:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water,
or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you
or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze.
ProCarManuals.com

~~
~ NOTICE:
0
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. 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. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle%
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. 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
The brake wear warning sound means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
6-28
ProCarManuals.com

I
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
Uniform Tire Quality 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.) The
grades are molded
on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to
30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires. While the tires available
on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
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, and 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 (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
6-41
ProCarManuals.com

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 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.
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
or corroded. 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 retailer if any of these conditions exist.
Your retailer 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.
6-42
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame
if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container
to clean your
Oldsmobile, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s
warnings and instructions. And always
open your doors
or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can
all be hazardous -- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too. Don’t use
any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Oldsmobile
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with
a clean, damp cloth.
Your Oldsmobile retailer has two
GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well.
Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
0 Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
0 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
0 If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
often.
A soft brush may be used if stains
are stubborn.
only. If you use them, don’t saturate the stained area.
area immediately
or it will set.
6-44
ProCarManuals.com

1 Section 9 Index
.
Accessory Power Outlets ........................ 2-43
Adding Sound Equipment
........................ 3- 14
AirBag
....................................... 1-16
Adding Equipment ............................ 1-2 1
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-19
How it Works ................................ 1 . 18
Location
.................................... 1-18
Readiness Light
......................... I . 17. 2-5 1
Servicing ................................... 1-2 1
What Makes it Inflate .......................... 1-19
What
You See After it Inflates ................... 1-20
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1 . 19
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-13
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Refrigerants
................................. 6-58
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-42
All-Wheel Drive
.......................... 2.17. 6.17
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-49
Antenna. Fixed
................................. 3-15
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
......... 2.54. 4.6
Appearance Care
............................... 6-44
Materials
.................................... 6-5 I
Add-on Equipment ............................. 4-43 Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-6
Armrest. Storage ............................... 2-38
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Automatic Overdrive
........... : ................ 2-16
Automatic Transmission Check
...................................... 7-40
Fluid
....................................... 6-14
Operation
................................... 2-14
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-42
Front
....................................... 6-18
Rear
....................................... 6-19
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-41
Axle
Battery ......................................
6-30
ChargeLight ................................ 2-51
Jump Starting
................................. 5-2
Replacement. Keyless Entry
..................... 2-6
Warnings ................................ 5.2. 5.4
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-6
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-6
BrakeFluid
.................................... 6-25
Brake. Parking
................................. 2-17
9-1 .
ProCarManuals.com

Brakes Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-25
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-29
Trailer
...................................... 4-47
Wear
....................................... 6-28
Brake System Warning Light
...................... 2-53
Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock Check
........... 7-4 1
Braking ........................................ 4-5
In Emergencies ................................ 4-8
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-32
BTSICheck
................................... 7-41
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-30
Lapacities and Specifications
............... 6.57. 6.58
Carbon Monoxide
................ 2-7.2.21.4.40. 4.48
Cargocover
................................... 2-39
Cargo Tie Downs
............................... 2-39
Cassette Tape Player
............................. 3-6
Care
.................................. 3-14, 7-39
Center Seat Positions
............................ 1-36
Certification/Tire Label
.......................... 4-4 I
Chains
Safety
...................................... 4-47
Tire
........................................ 6-43
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-20
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-S 1
Check Gages Light .............................. 2-59
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-42
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-50
Child Restraints
................................ 1-32
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-34
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position ........... 1-36
TopStrap
................................... 1-33
Where to
Put ................................ 1-32
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-41
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-53
Cleaner.
Air ................................... 6-13
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels ............................ 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-45
Glass ....................................... 6-47
Inside of Your Vehicle
......................... 6-44
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-46
Leather
..................................... 6-46
Outside of Your Vehicle
........................ 6-48
Stains
...................................... 6-45
Tires
....................................... 6-49
Vinyl ....................................... 6-46
Weatherstrips
................................ 6-47
Wheels
..................................... 6-49
Windshield. Backglass and Wiper Blades
.......... 6-47
Climate Control System
........................... 3-1
Clock
. Setting ................................... 3-6
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
9-2
ProCarManuals.com