1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA cooling

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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Remember that in order for the automatic system
to perform
well, it needs A/C to provide
cooling performance.
Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time
it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
For quick cool-down on very hot days, use
MAX A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left. This setting
should be used to keep odors and/or dust from entering
the vehicle. For normal cooling on hot days, use A/C
with the temperature knob turned to the left.
On cool but sunny days, use BI-LEVEL A/C to deliver
warm air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets.
When the air conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice
slight changes
in your vehicle‘s engine speed and power.
This
is normal because the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and off to keep the desired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using
it. On cold days, use HEATER with the
temperature knob turned
to the right. BLEND is useful
in cool weather when you have fog or ice on the
windshield or side windows.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater”
in the Index.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Airflow is through the instrument
panel outlets.
Your vehicle’s ventilation system supplies outside air to
the inside of your vehicle when
it is moving. When the
vehicle is
not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through by selecting any mode and any fan speed.
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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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Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If
you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. (See "Off-Road
Driving" in the Index
for information about driving
off-road.)
0
0
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and
also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These
parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to
go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let
your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go
down a steep or long hill.
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down
a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on
a steep I
1 downhill slope.
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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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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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When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see: If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until
it cools down.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Radiator Pressure Cap
C. Engine Fan
The coolant level should be at least up to the ADD mark.
If it isn't, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in
the cooling system.
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U
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
1 NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again. See if
the engine cooling fan speed increases when idle speed is
doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal down. If it
doesn’t. your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the
ADD mark. add a 50/50 mixture of clecrn
\,L*crtet- (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL@ engine
coolant
at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine
Coolant”
in the Index for more information.)
I A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system
is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
I
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