1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA fuel

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled
as soon as it is possible.
If the light
stops flashing and remains on steady, see "If
the Light
Is On Steady'. following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to clo so,
stop the vel?icle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine.
If the light remains on steady, see "If the Light
Is On Steady" following. If the light is still .flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
retailer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
YOLI may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering
the following:
Did you recently
put fuel into your vehicle'?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or
missing fuel cap
will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle
of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should
turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands
of fuel?
If so, be s~~re to file1 your vehicle with quality fuel (see
"Fuel"
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not
to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice
this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration
or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This
will be detected
by the system and cause the light to turn
on.
If YOLI experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand
yo^^ use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your retailer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools
to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
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Fuel Gage
@ FUEL ONLY
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 yo11
turn off the ignition.
LOW
FUEL
ow Fuel Light
This light comes on when
the fuel tank is low on fuel.
I I
To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank. See “Fuel”
in the Index.
24- -
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Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For
example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance and
service work done. Check to make sure all underbody
shields
(if so equipped) are properly attached. Be
sure you read all the information about your
four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual.
Is there
enough fuel?
Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the
fluid levels up where they should be? What are the
local laws that apply to off-roading where you’ll be
driving? If you don’t know, you should check with
law enforcement people
in the area. Will you be on
someone’s private land?
If so, be sure to get the
necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the load floor and
forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items as far
forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on
the off-road terrain doesn’t toss things around.
~ L, CAUTION:
0
0
0
Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep cargo
below the top of the seatbacks,
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be
tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can be
struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s
center of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over.
You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo
area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area
as far forward
and low as possible.
You’ll find other important information
in this manual.
See “Vehicle Loading,” “Luggage Carrier” and “Tires”
in the Index.
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If the water isn‘t too deep, then drive through it slowly. At
fast speeds, water splashes on your ignition system and
your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get
your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your tailpipe is
under water, you‘ll never be able to start your engine.
When you go through water, remember that when your
brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop.
A CAUTION: I
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown.
If it’s
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Don’t drive
through rushing water.
See “Driving Through Water” in the Index for more
information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust system
for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
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Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid
a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call
it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the
hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush
of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen
to you! If
it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less
than a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
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I
A CP ""IC\:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it,
so you might not
know it is
in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This
will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine. make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for
the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need
a we.11-charged battery to
restart the vehicle. and possibly
for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and
close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncornfortable
from the
cold. BLI~ do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
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Loading Your Vehicle
The Certificationnire label is found on the driver’s door
edge, above the door latch. The label shows the size of
your original tires and the inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel, cargo and trailer tongue weight,
if pulling a trailer. The
Certificatioflire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR).
To find out the actual loads on
your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Your retailer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on
both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR
for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either the front
or rear axle.
If you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Similar appearing vehicles may have different GVWR’s
and payloads. Please note your vehicle’s
CertificationITire label or consult your retailer for
additional details.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also t\
echnical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6- 3
6-5
6-6
6-8
6-8
6-11
6- 15
6- 16
6-20
6-22
6-22
6-26
6-26
6-26 6-27 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the
Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
All-Wheel Drive
Rear Axle
Engine Coolant Radiator Pressure Cap
Thermostat
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
6-29
6-32
6-33
6-35
6-37
6-44
6-45
6-47
6-48
6-52
6-53
6-53
6-54
6-60 6-60
6-6
1
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
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