1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA overheating

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That‘s normal.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is
too hot!
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your Oldsmobile needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes.
See “Brake System Warning Light” earlier in this part.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready
to warn you if there is a problem. It
means that your engine coolant has overheated.
Tf you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,”
this manual shows you what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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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.
You should use THIRD (3) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle
in THIRD (3) when towing a
trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend
the life of
your transmission.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on
a hill. Tf 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
PARK
(P) yet. Then turn your wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if facing uphill.
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 shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it off and get everyone
away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
I 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.
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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.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
I
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
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.
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.
Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
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6. Put the blade assembly pivot in the wiper arm hook.
Pull up until the pivot locking tab locks
in the
hook slot.
7. Carefully lower the wiper arm and blade assembly
onto the windshield.
Backglass Wiper Blade Replacement
See “Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement” in this
section for instructions
on how to change the backglass
wiper blade. The backglass wiper blade
will not lock
in
a vertical position like the windshield wiper blade,
so care should be used when pulling it away from
the vehicle.
Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new Oldsmobile comes with
high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions about your tire warranty and
where to obtain service, see your Oldsmobile Warranty
booklet for details. Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0
0
0
0
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index. Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
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Ordering Publications ............................ 8-9
Outside Mirrors
................................ 2-34
Overdrive. Automatic Transmission
................ 2- 16
Overhead Console .............................. 2-35
Overheating Engine
............................. 5- 1 1
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-39
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-50
Park
......................................... 2-14
Shifting Into
................................. 2- 18
Shifting Out
of ............................... 2-20
AtNight
..................................... 2-9
Brake
...................................... 2-17
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
On Hills with
a Trailer ......................... 4-50
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-20
Passing
....................................... 4-11
Payload
....................................... 4-43
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Power
Accessory Outlet
............................. 2-43
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-34
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-23
Windows
................................... 2-22
Parking
Lots
........................................ 2-9
DoorLocks
................................... 2-4
Steering
..................................... 4-8 PowerSeat
..................................... 1-1
Pregnancy.
Use of Safety Belts .................... 1-22
Problems on the Road
............................
Radiator. Adding Coolant ....................... 5-17
Radiator Pressure Cap ........................... 6-23
Radio Reception
................................ 3-13
Radios
........................................ 3-6
Rain. Driving
.................................. 4-29
Rear
Axle
....................................... 6-19
Door Security Locks
........................... 2-4
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-26
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-23
Seats
........................................ 1-4
Towing
..................................... 5-10
Window Defogger
............................. 3-5
Window WasherIWiper
........................ 2-27
Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-33
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-2
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
.......... 6-58. 7-45
Recovery Hooks
................................ 5-30
Recovery Tank. Coolant
.......................... 5-13
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-56
Parts ....................................... 6-57
Wheel
...................................... 6-42
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 8-7
9-7
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