1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA brake light

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you'll want to
consider a number
of things:
0 How steep is the downhill'? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
0 What's the surface like'? Smooth'? Ro~lgh'? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt'? Gravel?
0 Are there hidden surfdce obstacles? Ruts'? Logs'?
Boulders?
0 What's at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom
with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep
your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low
they won't have to do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
i> (rear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and
.. . -,
A CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause
your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill
and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.
Are there some things
I should not do when
driving down a hill?
A: Yes! These are important because if you
ignore them you could lose control and have
a
serious accident.
0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that's not too
0
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over
if you don't drive straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission
in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called "free-wheeling."
Your brakes will have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can‘t, try to slow down before you hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
as well in a quick
stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen
if the road is wet enough and you’re
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often.
But it can if your
tires
do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low.
It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road.
If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles
or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning
LISLI~~Y happens at higher speeds. There
just
isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when
it is raining.
L qoing fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
4-31
ProCarManuals.com

Trailer Wiring Harness
The trailer wiring harness is an eight-wire harness
assembly. The harness
is stored under the vehicle, on the
driver's side corner frame crossmember. The harness has
a 30-amp feed wire
with an inline fuse located by the
junction block. See "Fuses and Circuit Breakers"
in the
Index. The harness does not have
a connector and
should be wired by
a qualified electrical technician. The
technician can use the following color code chart when
connecting
the wiring harness to your trailer.
Dark Blue: Use for electric trailer brakes or
auxiliary wiring.
Red: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
starter solenoid.
Light Green: Back-up lamps.
Brown: Tdillarnps and parking lamps.
Yellow: Left stoplamp and turn signal.
Dark Green: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
White (Heavy Gauge): Ground wire.
White (Light Gauge): Auxiliary stoplamp.
Securely attach the harness to the trailer, then tape
or strap it to your vehicle's frame rail. Be sure you leave
it loose enough so the wiring doesn't bend or break, but
not
so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness
in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and tie
it neatly so it won't be damaged.
ProCarManuals.com

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly
on both vehicles involved in
the procedure. Put an automatic transmission vehicle
in
PARK (P) and a manual transmission vehicle in
NEUTRAL (N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter, or accessory power outlets,
if you have this
option. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help to save
both batteries. In addition,
it could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repair wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5-4
ProCarManuals.com

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your bra
cz k es.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts
in the
proper sequence to
GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of this
manual under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections.’’
.e Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign
of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality
GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system
-- for example, when your brake linings wear
down and you have to have new ones put in
-- be sure
you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you
don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change
-- for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come
to expect can change in many
other ways
if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Every new vehicle has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for
a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
6-32
ProCarManuals.com

Section 9 Index
ABS ......................................... 4.7
Accessory Power Outlets
......................... 2-45
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle
...... 6-3
Adding Sound Equipment
........................ 3-20
Add-on Equipment
............................. 4-44
AirBag
....................................... l-20
Adding Equipment ............................ 1-26
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-24
How it Works ................................ 1-22
Location
.................................... 1-22
Readiness Light
......................... 1-21, 2-53
Servicing
................................... l-25
What Makes it Inflate .......................... 1-23
What You See After it Inflates
................... 1-24
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-23
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-5
Refrigerants
................................. 6-6 1
Alignment and Balance, Tire ...................... 6-43
All-Wheel Drive
.......................... 2-24, 6-20
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
...................... 6-50
Antenna, Fixed
................................. 3-22
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
......... 2-57, 4-7
Anti-Lock Brakes
............................... 4-7
Materials
.................................... 6-52
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Appearancecare
............................... 6-44 Armrest.
Storage
............................... 2-41
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-44
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-7
Automatic Headlamp System
...................... 2-32
Automatic Transmission
Check
...................................... 7-40
Fluid
....................................... 6-16
Operation
................................... 2-16
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-42
Front
....................................... 6-21
Rear
....................................... 6-22
Axle
Battery
...................................... 6-32
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement, Keyless Entry
..................... 2-7
Warnings
................................ 5-3, 5-5
Battery Run-Down Protection
..................... 2-35
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard, Driving
In ............................. 4-40
BrakeFluid
.................................... 6-29
Brake, Parking
................................. 2-19
Brake System Warning Light
...................... 2-56
ChargeLight
................................ 2-54
9-1
ProCarManuals.com

Brakes Adjustment
.................................. 6-32
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-29
PedalTravel
................................. 6-32
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-32
Trailer
...................................... 4-48
Wear
....................................... 6-31
Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock Check
........... 7-4 I
Braking ........................................ 4-6
In Emergencies ................................ 4-9
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-34
BTSICheck
................................... 7-41
Bulb Replacement .............................. 6-33
Capacities and Specifications
............... 6-60, 6-6 1
Carbon Monoxide ................ 2-9,2-23, 4-41 4-49
Cargo Security
Shade ............................ 2-42
Cargo Tie Downs
............................... 2-42
Certification/Tire Label
.......................... 4-42
Chains Safety
...................................... 4-48
Tire
........................................ 6-44
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-22
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-54
Check Gages Light
.............................. 2-62
Checking Your Restraint System
.................. 1-5 1
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-5 1
Child Restraints ................................ 1-37
Center Seat Positions
.......................... 1-45
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-43
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-45
TopStrap ................................... 1-42
Where
to Put ................................ 1-37 Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-44
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-55
Cleaner.Air
................................... 6-15
Cleanins
Alumnun1 Wheels ............................ 6-50
Exterior Lamps and Lenses ..................... 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-46
Glass
....................................... 6-47
Inside
of Your Vehicle ......................... 6-45
Instrument Panel ............................. 6-47
Interior Plastic Components
..................... 6-47
Leather
..................................... 6-47
Outside
of Your Vehicle ........................ 6-48
Stains
...................................... 6-46
Tires
....................................... 6-50
Vinyl
....................................... 6-46
Weatherstrips
................................ 6-48
Wheels
..................................... 6-50
Windshield, Backglass and Wiper Blades .......... 6-48
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
Clock. Setting
................................... 3-7
Comfort Controls ................................ 3-1
Compact Disc Care ............................. 3-22
Compact Disc Player Care
........................ 3-22
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-31
Compass
...................................... 2-38
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-6
Convenience Net
............................... 2-41
Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-36
Coolant
....................................... 6-22
Coolant Heater
. Engine .......................... 2-15
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control ................................. 2-29
9-2
. ..
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Positions
.................................... 2-12
Transmission Lock Check
...................... 7-42
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-34
Inflation. Tire
............................. 6.38. 7.39
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-35
Inspections
Brakesystem
................................ 7-44
Drive Axle
.................................. 7-44
Engine Cooling System
........................ 7-43
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front Drive Axle Boot
......................... 7-43
Steering
.................................... 7-43
Throttle System
.............................. 7-44
Transfer Case
................................ 7-44
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-50
Cleaning
.................................... 6-47
Cluster
..................................... 2-51
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-34
Suspension
.................................. 7-43
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-55
Jacking Equipment
............................. 5-23
Jump Starting
................................... 5-3
Keyless Entry System
Operation
.................................... 2-7
Remote Panic Alarm
........................... 2-7
Resynchronization
............................. 2-8
Keys
.......................................... 2-2 Labels
Certification/Tire
............................. 4-42
Fuse
.................................. 6.55. 6.57
Safety Belt
.................................. 1-51
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-53
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-53
Lamps
........................................ 2-32
Dome
...................................... 2-34
Front Reading
........................... 2-34, 2-37
Interior
..................................... 2-34
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-21
Liftgate OnReminder
................................ 2-33
ManualRelease
............................... 2-9
Lighter
....................................... 2-44
Remote Release
.............................. 2-10
Lights Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-57, 4-7
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-56
Charging System
............................. 2-54
Gate Ajar
................................... 2-62
LowFuel
................................... 2-63
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-8, 2-53
Security Warning
............................. 2-61
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-58
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-42
Locking Rear Axle
.............................. 2-24
Lockout Prevention
.............................. 2-5
CheckGages
................................ 2-62
Service4WD
................................ 2-61
LockoutSwitch
................................ 2-25
9-5
ProCarManuals.com