1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA towing

Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out
of sight.
Put them
in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock
it up and take your keys.
But
what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable
in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove
box.
0 Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
New Vehicle “Break-In”
-
NOTICE:
-
Your modern Oldsmobile doesn’t need an
elaborate “break-in.’’ But it will perform better
in the long run if you follow these guidelines:
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0
0
0
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 kmk) or
less for the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts. Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
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3.
If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START. If it doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down for five more
seconds, or until it starts.
If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), wait
15 seconds and start over.
When the engine starts, let
go of the key and the
accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts
or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your retailer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
The engine coolant heater
cord is secured on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle,
by the brake controller.
In very cold weather,
0°F (- 18 “C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
.. .
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It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Your vehicle will be free to roll -- even if your
shift lever is in
PARK (P) -- if your transfer case
is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case
is in a drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N). See
“Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index. If you’re
pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index. Ensure the shift lever
is fully in
PARK (P) range before
starting the engine.
Your vehicle has a
brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- press the button on the shift lever and
push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you
maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of PARK (P)”
in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with
the wheels. To restart when YOLI’I-~ already
moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@): This position
is for
normal driving. If you need 111o1-e power for passing,
and you’re:
Going less than about 35 rnph (56 kidhj, push your
Going about 35 mph (56 kdhj or more, push the
accelerator
peclal about halfway
down.
accelerator all the way
down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(0) should not be used
when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on
steep hills 01- for off-road driving. Select THIRD (3) when
operating the vehicle under
any of these conditions.
THIRD
(3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however
it offers more power but lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@I. You
should LIS~ THIRD (3) when towing ;I trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills or winding roads or
for off-road driving.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads,
but then you would also want to use
your txakes off’ and on.
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instrument panel.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and you must park on a hill,
see ”Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first
to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
I. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
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Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if
ever have to, here are SOT things to know.
Idling the engine with the air system control
off
could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling
in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is
a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the
Index.)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
~ Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
Follow the proper steps
to be sure your vehicle won’t
nove. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
:he Index.
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Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the
turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on
the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there
until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don't
flash but just stay on,
a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your
turn signal. If
a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at
all when you
signal
a turn, check the fuse (see "Fuses and Circuit
Breakers"
in the Index) and for burned-out bulbs.
If you have
a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, a different turn signal flasher is used.
With this flasher installed, the signal indicator will flash
even if a turn signal bulb is burned out. Check the front
and rear turn signal lamps regularly to make sure they
are working.
Headlamp HighLow Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low to high-beam or
high to low-beam,
pull the multifunction lever all the
way toward you. Then release
it.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light on
the instrument panel will
also be on.
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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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