1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA engine

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle
has been
driven, in miles.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed.
If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then
it must be. But if
it can’t, then it’s set at zero, and a label must be put on
the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how fa- your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
To view
the trip odometer, press the button near the
readout.
To reset the trip odometer, press the button
until it clears.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm). Each
tachometer has a different
limit depending on the
powertrain
in your vehicle. The tachometer has three
areas: normal operating range, red warning range and
red danger range.
The normal operating range shows your engine speed
during normal driving conditions. For example, when
the needle points to
2, it means the engine is running at
2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). The tachometer
needle will vary all the time that the engine is running.
The shaded red warning range tells you that your engine
speed is reaching its upper limits. Don’t drive very long
with the tachometer in the red warning range. Lift your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
The solid red danger range tells you that your engine
speed
is at its upper limits. You should immediately shift
to
a higher gear, or lift your foot off the accelerator pedal.
I NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red range,
or engine damage will occur.
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Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on
your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair
or replacement. Paying, attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come
on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when
you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow
this manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has
a driver information system that
works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System”
in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds, then it
will flash for about 55
seconds. If the driver’s belt
is already buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will
come on.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel,
which shows the air bag symbol. 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.
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
1 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
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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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
~ With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will
come on when you start
your e.ngine and may stay
on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle 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 come on
then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves
into the red area. your
engine is too hot!
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 manuill 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 vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
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 system is called OBD I1 (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. 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 malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
0
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 may be 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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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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Engine Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows
the engine
oil pressure in
psi (pounds per square inch)
when the engine
is running.
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problems causing low
oil pressure.
I
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 your
vehicle serviced.
1 NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can
be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
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