1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA towing

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill). engine
oil. axle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and‘the Index will help you
find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight
,
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
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5-2
5-3
5-8
5-13
Hazard Wwning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating 5-22 If a Tire
Goes Flat
5-22 Changing a Flat Tire
5-3 1 Compact Spare Tire (If Equipped)
5-32 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM retailer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. See “Roadside Assistance”
in
the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed since
it was
factory-new
by adding things like fog lamps, aero
skirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions
may
not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell
the towing service:
0 That your vehicle has all-wheel drive.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can move the shift lever for
the transmission.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged. When
the towing service
arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains these towing
instructions. The operator may want to see them.
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/i CAJTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
Never get under your vehicle after it has
Always use separate safety chains on each
Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being
towed.
fully secured.
been lifted by the tow truck.
side when towing a vehicle.
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned
to the OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transmission
should be in NEUTRAL (N). The parking brake should
be released.
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Front Towing
Tow Limits -- 35 mph (55 k&), 50 miles (80 km)
You must use a towing dolly under the rear wheels when
towing from the front.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment. To help avoid damage, install a
towing dolly and raise the vehicle until adequate
clearance is obtained between the ground and/or
wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook
slots.
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or rear
bumper valance damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment.
To help avoid damage, install a
towing dolly and raise the vehicle until adequate
clearance is obtained between the ground and/or
wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you’ll need is stored along the
driver’s rear wall. Your vehicle is also equipped with
work gloves and a plastic ground mat
to assist in the
changing
of a flat tire.
To remove the jack cover,
pull up on the latch(es) on
the cover, Remove the
wheel blocks, jack and
wheel wrench.
The spare tire
is stored under the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Never remove or restow a tire frodto a
stowage position under the vehicle while the
vehicle is supported
by a jack. Always tighten the
tire
fully against the underside of the vehicle
when restowing.
To remove the spare, insert
the chisel end
of the wheel
wrench, on an angle, into the hole
in the rear bumper.
Be sure the chisel end
of the
wheel wrench connects into
the hoist shaft.
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NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see "Tire Chains"
in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your- steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around
your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as
little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you
shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. If
that doesn't get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. Or, you can use your recovery hooks
if
your vehicle has them. If you do need to be towed out,
see "Towing Your Vehicle''
in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle is equipped with recovery hooks. The
recovery
hooks are provided at the front of your vehicle.
You may need to use them
if you're stuck off-road
and need to be pulled to someplace where you can
continue driving.
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