1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA towing

Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will 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.
Your vehicle‘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
BRAKE
-
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have
it fixed so it will be
re.ady to warn you
if
there’s a 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.)
I CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
1 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.
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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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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds\
of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips on driving.
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Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss of Control
Driving Guidelines Operating Your Bravada
Off Paved Roads Driving at
Night
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving Before Leaving
on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving Loading Your Vehicle
Towing
a Trailer
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Payload
The payload capacity is shown on the CertificaticdTire
labe!. This
is the maximum load capacity that your
vehicle can carry. Be sure
to include the weight of the
occupants
as part of your load. If you added any
accessories or equipment after your vehicle left the
factory, remember to subtract the weight
of these things
from the payload. Your retailer can help you with this.
Add-on Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you carry inside your vehicle.
Be sure to weigh your vehicle before you
buy and install
the new equipment.
NOTICE:
Your warranty doesn’t cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
I
Towing a Trailer
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull
a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps
in this section. Ask your retailer for advice
and information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
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NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your retailer
for
important information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
Every Bravada is ready for some trailer towing. If yours
was built with trailering options,
as many are, it's ready
for heavier trailers.
But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability and i'uel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment,
and it has to be
used properly.
That's the reason for this part.
In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and saiety rules.
Many of these
are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you
pull a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
1.f you do, here are some important points:
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to
do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal,
not only where you live but
also where you'll be driving. A good source for this
information can be state
or provincial police.
Consider using
a sway control if your trailer will
weigh 2,000 lbs.
(900 kg) or less. You should always
use
a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than 2,000
Ibs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don't tow
;1 trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles
(800 km) that you
tow
a trailer, don't drive over SO mph (80 kndh) and
don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the
heavier loads.
You should use THIRD
(3) (or, as you need to, a
lower gear) 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.
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Driving with a Trailer
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.) To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for leaks,
and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
0 If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through
a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
MAX A/C because it only recirculates the
air inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.) Towing
a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now
a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is
by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working.
This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your
trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure,
and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
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Following Distance Making Turns
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that. require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing
a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need
to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer
to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal flasher (included
in
the optional trailering package).
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal
a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
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When towing a trailer, the 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.
If 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
5. Release the regular brakes.
brake and shift into
PARK
(P).
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