1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA tow

Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy. vanity.
reading, glove
box and underhood lamps if they are left
on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is off.
This
will keep your battery from running do~n.
Mirrors
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
This mirror auton~atically changes to reduce glare from
headlamps behind you.
A photocell on the back of the
mirror senses when
it is becoming dark outside. Another
photocell
built into the mirror surface senses when
headlamps are behind
you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when
the glare is reduced.
Press the button
at the base of the mirror to turn on the
automatic feature. The button has
an indicator light to
show
it is on. Press the button again to turn the
automatic feature
off.
Time Delay
The automatic mirror has a time delay feature which
prevents unnecessary switching from the night back to
the day position. This delay prevents rapid changing of
the mirror
as you drive under lights and through traffic.
Cleaning the Photocells
Use a cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the
photocells
when necessary.
Outside Manual Adjust Mirror
Adjust your outside min-ors so you can just see the side
of your vehicle.
You can fold them before entering
a car wash. Pull the
mirrors in toward the vehicle. Push the mirrors back out
when finished.
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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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Security Warning Light
This light will come on
briefly when you turn the
key toward
START. The
light will stay on
until the
engine starts.
Service 4WD Light
This light should come on
briefly when you turn on the
SERVICE
4WD
I ignition, as a check to show
If the light flashes, the Passlock system has entered a
tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, see "Passlock"
in the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
system. Your vehicle
will not be protected by Passlock,
and you should see your retailer. The
SERVICE 4WD light
comes on to indicate that
there may be
a problem with the drive system and
service is required. Malfunctions can be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent, which may
prevent serious damage to
the vehicle. This system is
also designed
to assist your service technician in
correctly diagnosing a malfunction.
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Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation
in your vehicle.
Electronic Climate Control
Fan Control
The knob on the left side of the electronic climate control
panel controls the fan speed.
To manually increase airflow,
move the knob to the right.
To manually decrease airflow.
move
it to the left.
OFF: If the knob is in OFF, outside air will still enter
the vehicle, and
will be directed based on the position of
the mode knob.
AUTO: If the knob is in AUTO, the fan speed will vary
as the system maintains the selected temperature.
Temperature Knob
The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the
desired air temperature
in your vehicle. This knob will
allow you to adjust the interior air temperature
independently of the function knob setting. Move the
knob to the right toward 82 for warmer air. Move the
knob to the left toward
66 for cooler air.
Full Hot: If you turn the temperature knob past 82°F
(28”C), the system will
go into the “full hot” mode. The
system
will remain at that maxilnum heating setting and
the
fan will blow at the speed the fan knob is set to. If
the fan is in AUTO, it will run at full speed.
Full Cold: If you turn the temperature knob past 66°F
(19°C). the system will go into the “f~dl cold” mode.
The system will remain at that maximum cooling setting
and the fan
will blow at the speed the fan knob is set to.
If the fan is in AUTO. it will run at full speed.
Choosing either maximum setting
will not cause the
system to heat or
cool any faster.
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You will find air outlets in the center and on the sides of
your instrument panel.
You can direct the airflow side-to-side
by rotating the
thumbwheel located
in the center of the vent. The vent
can be tilted
up and down also. To control the amount of
airflow through the outlets, rot.ate the thumbwheel
below the vent.
Ventilation Tips
0
0
0
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater
and defroster
will work fa better, reducing the
chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter
a vehicle in cold weather, move the
fan control to high for a few moments before driving
off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow
and
moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the
inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the
front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use BLEND to keep the
windshield and side windows clear.
Use DEFROST to remove fog or ice from the
windshield quickly
in extreme humid or cold conditions.
Turn the temperature knob to the right and move the fan
control toward high.
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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.
4-2
4-3
4-6 4- 6
4-9 4-1
1
4- 12
4- 14
4- 15 4-15
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
4-28 4-30
4-32
4-33 4-34 4-35
4-36
4-38 4-42
4-44
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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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