2004 Oldsmobile Bravada mirror

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes,
steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.If you have the Traction Assist System, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If you do not have
this system, or if the system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a “mirrored surface” — and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-15

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is:
Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
the ow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your “blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to
move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
4-34

Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in at or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. SeeOperating
Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off Paved Roads on
page 4-16for information about driving off-road.
4-36

Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
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 not see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-27. 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.
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
the climate control setting for maximum air
because it only recirculates the air inside
your vehicle. See Climate Control System
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 all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connection, 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.
4-56

L
Lamps
Exterior......................................................3-15
Interior.......................................................3-17
Lamps On Reminder.......................................3-16
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-14, 1-22
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-40
Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-12
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running . . . 2-26
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR................................3-57
Liftgate Release..............................................2-13
Liftgate/Liftglass..............................................2-13
Liftglass/Liftgate..............................................2-13
Light
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-32
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-35
Brake System Warning.................................3-34
Change Engine Oil......................................3-40
Charging System.........................................3-33
Check Gages Warning.................................3-43
Cruise Control.............................................3-41
Gate Ajar...................................................3-43Light (cont.)
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-44
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-36
Reduced Engine Power................................3-42
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-31
Security.....................................................3-41
Service All-Wheel-Drive................................3-42
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirror...............................2-16
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-43
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving..........4-17
Locking Rear Axle...........................................4-11
Lockout Protection..........................................2-12
Locks
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-9
Door........................................................... 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-12
Lockout Protection.......................................2-12
Power Door.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Loss of Control...............................................4-15
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-44
Luggage Carrier..............................................2-39
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................. 1-2
9

M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-16
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-15
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-59
Making Turns.................................................4-57
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-36
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Memory Seat.................................................2-42Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-54
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S.
Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance................ 7-5
Mirror Operation.............................................2-29
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®
and Compass..........................................2-29
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb
View Assist.............................................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-31
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-32
Outside Manual Mirrors................................2-31
Outside Power Mirror...................................2-31
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
Navigation/Radio System..................................3-81
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-18
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-15
10

O
Odometer......................................................3-30
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-13
Oil
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-40
Engine.......................................................5-14
Pressure Gage............................................3-39
OIL PRESSURE LOW/STOP ENGINE...............3-55
Older Children, Restraints................................1-27
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®Personal Calling.................................2-33
OnStar®Services............................................2-33
OnStar®System.............................................2-32
OnStar®Virtual Advisor....................................2-34
Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off
Paved Roads..............................................4-16
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-7
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-25
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb View
Assist.....................................................2-32
Convex Mirror.............................................2-31
Heated Mirrors............................................2-32
Manual Mirrors............................................2-31
Power Mirror...............................................2-31Outside (cont.)
Overhead Console..........................................2-38
Overseas – Customer Assistance........................ 7-5
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner’s Information........................................7-13
P
Park (P)
Shifting Out of............................................2-26
Parking
Brake........................................................2-24
Over Things That Burn.................................2-27
Parking on Hills..............................................4-58
Park(P)
Shifting Into................................................2-25
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR..............................3-56
Passing.................................................4-13, 4-57
Passlock
®......................................................2-18
Personalization...............................................3-48
Personalization, Climate Controls......................3-27
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-8
Playing a Cassette Tape..................................3-65
Playing a Compact Disc..........................3-67, 3-76
11

Rear Door Security Locks................................2-12
Rear Floor Storage Lid....................................2-40
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-24
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)....................................3-93
Rear Seat Entertainment System.......................3-82
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-6
Rear Seat Passenger Positions.........................1-21
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-21
Rear Underseat Fuse Block............................5-102
Rear Window Defogger....................................3-24
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
OnStar
®and Compass.................................2-29
Reclining Seatbacks, Power............................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-13
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-43
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-42
Remote Control..............................................3-85
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-81
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-75
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-51
Replacing Brake System Parts..........................5-40Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash.....1-56
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-12
General Motors...........................................7-12
United States Government............................7-11
Reprogramming a Single HomeLink
®Button.......2-37
Resetting Defaults...........................................2-37
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-55
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash.....................................................1-56
Restraint Systems
Checking....................................................1-55
Replacing Parts...........................................1-56
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-19
RFA # BATTERY LOW....................................3-57
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-21
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR..............................3-57
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-6
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out...................4-42
Routing, Engine Drive Belt...............................6-15
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-28
13