1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA ignition

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag module,
the wiring and the diagnostic module.
For more
information on the air bag system, see
“Air Bag” in
the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and
it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may
not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The air
bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds 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.
Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, but
the engine is not running,
as a check
to show you it
is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes
on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that
you have problems with a generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter Gage
fl u VOLTS
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition
is
on (in the RUN position),
this gage shows your
battery’s state of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine
is running, the gage shows the
condition
of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings
in the low
warning zone may occur when a
large number
of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at
an idle for an
extended period. This condition
is normal since the
charging system
is not able to provide full power at
engine idle.
As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading in
either warning zone.
If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate
a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have
the vehicle
serviced
as soon as possible.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Oldsmobile’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part
can still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have
your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
briefly when you
turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have
it fixed so it will be
ready
to warn you if there’s
a problem.
A CAUTION:
-
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light
is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed
for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light
will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on
while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light
will come
on when you start your
ANTI - LOCK engine and may stay on for I
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 section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t corne on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
I
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine
is
too hot!
TEMP
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If 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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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your Oldstnobile is
equipped
with a computer
which monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and
emission control systems.
This system is called
OBD IT (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and
is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on
to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is
also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
I NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work
as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on! as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a mal.function in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
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A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problems causing low
oil pressure.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your
oil as soon as possible and have yo1
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
:::(-J 0.0
Check Gages Light
CHECK
GAGES
You may have t.his light on
the instrument panel.
It goes on whenever the
DRL are on, the ignition is
on, the headlamp switch is
off and the parking brake
is released.
The
CHECK GAGES light
will come on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and
stays on while
you are
driving, check your coolant
temperature and engine oil
pressure gages to see
if they
are
in the warning zones.
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Fuel Gage
Gate Ajar
GATE
AJAR
This light will come on
briefly when you are
starting your engine.
If it stays on, you’re liftgate
is ajar.
Try closing the
liftgate again. Never drive
with the liftgate even
partially open.
i?‘
E
EB
When the ignition is on, the
fuel gage tells
you about
how much fuel you
have remaining.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these
show a problem with your fuel gage:
0
0
0
0
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill
the tank.
The gage moves
a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The gage doesn’t
go back to EMPTY (E) when you
turn off the ignition.
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Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid, days use BLEND to keep the
windshield and side windows clear.
Use DEFROST to remove fog or ice from the
windshield quickly
in extreme humid or cold conditions.
Turn the temperature knob clockwise and move the fan
control toward
HI.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window has lines that warm the glass. For best
results, clear the window of as much snow or ice as
possible before using the rear window defogger.
To turn on the rear window defogger, find the switch
marked REAR
DEFOG on your instrument panel below
the headlamp switch. Press
ON until the light in the
switch comes on, then release it.
It will only work if the
ignition switch is turned to
RUN.
The rear window defogger will stay on for five to seven
minutes, then turn off. If you need additional warming
time, turn it on again. You can turn the defogger
off at
any time by pressing OFF.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape or decals
across the defogger grid on the rear window.
NOTICE:
Don’t use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut
or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
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