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1997 Oldsmobile Bravada Owner's Manual - Page 181

1997 Oldsmobile Bravada Manual

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Driving with a Trailer m m m If you have a rear-most window open and you pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) could come into yourvehicle. 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. If exhaust does come into your vehicle through a window in the rear or another opening, drivewith 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 yourvehicle. (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. Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. 4-49

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Controls	10
Manual Passenger's Seat	10
Power Driver's Seat	10
Reclining Front Seatbacks	11
Rear Seats	13
Why Safety Belts Work	15
Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts	18
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	19
Questions and Answers About Air Bags	28
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	32
How to Use Child Restraints	42
Important Information for Buckling Children in Child Restraints	42
Child Restraint Top Straps	43
How to Obtain a Safety Belt Extender	52
Checking Your Restraint Systems	52
Replacing Parts After a Crash	53
Features and Controls	55
Important Information about Keys	56
Door Locks	58
Operation of Child Security Locks	59
Remote Keyless Entry	60
Battery Replacement for RKE	61
Preventing Theft of Your Vehicle	64
New Vehicle "Break-In"	65
Ignition Positions	66
Tips on Starting Your Engine	67
Using the Engine Coolant Heater	68
Automatic Transmission Operation	69
Parking Brake Guidelines	72
Important Information on Engine Exhaust	76
Operation of Your Windows	78
Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel	79
Functions of the Multifunction Lever	79
How to Use the High/Low Beam Headlamp Changer	80
Windshield Wipers and Fluid	81
Using Cruise Control	82
Exterior Lamps	85
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)	86
Interior Lamps	87
Rearview Mirrors	88
Storage Compartments	89
Instrument Panel Overview	102
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages	106
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	117
Comfort Controls	118
Air Conditioning	119
Heating	119
Ventilation System and Tips	120
Tips for Defogging and Defrosting	121
Rear Window Defogger	121
Setting the Clock	122
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer	122
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control	125
Theft-Deterrent Feature	129
Adding Sound Equipment to Your Vehicle	131
Understanding Radio Reception	131
Tips About Your Audio System	131
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	132
Care of Your Compact Discs	132
Antenna	132
Your Driving and the Road	133
Defensive Driving	134
Driving Drunk	135
Having Control of Your Vehicle	138
Your Braking System Information	138
Anti-Lock Brake Information	139
Braking in Emergencies	141
Steering Tips	141
Off-Road Recovery Tips	143
Passing Other Vehicles	144
Losing Control of Your Vehicle	146
Four-Wheel Off-Road Driving Guidelines	147
Night Driving	160
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	162
Tips Before Leaving on a Long Trip	167
Avoiding Highway Hypnosis	168
Driving on Hills and Mountains	168
Winter Driving	170
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard	172
Loading Your Vehicle	174
Recreational Vehicle Towing	176
Helpful Hints for Towing a Trailer	181
Problems on the Road	187
How to Use Warning Flashers	188
Other Types of Warning Devices	189
Step-by-Step Procedure for Jump Starting	189
Information You Should Know Before Towing	193
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front	196
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear	197
If Your Engine is Overheating	198
If Steam is Coming From Your Engine	198
Cooling System	200
How to Add Coolant	202
What to do if a Tire Goes Flat	207
How to Change a Flat Tire	207
Where to Store the Flat Tire and Tools	215
Information on the Compact Spare Tire	216
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Snow or on Ice	217
How to Rock Your Vehicle to Get Unstuck	218
Using Recovery Hooks	218
Service and Appearance Care	221
Doing Your Own Service Work	222
What Kind of Fuel to Use	223
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries	224
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank	225
Checking Things Under the Hood	226
Checking Your Engine Oil	229
Automatic Transmission Fluid	234
Engine Coolant	240
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid	244
Important Brake Information	245
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery	249
Tips on Vehicle Storage	249
Bulb Replacement Procedures	250
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	254
How and When to Check Tire Inflation	257
When it is Time to Buy New Tires	259
Wheel Alignment	262
Cleaning the Inside of Your Oldsmobile	264
Care of the Safety Belts	267
Cleaning the Outside of Your Oldsmobile	268
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels	270
Underbody Maintenance	271
Recommended Appearance Care Materials	272
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	273
The Electrical System	274
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	275
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle	279
Capacities and Specifications	280
Normal Replacement Parts	280
Air Conditioning Specifications	281
Maintenance Schedule	283
Introduction to Your Maintenance Schedule	284
Your Vehicle and the Environment	284
How this Section is Organized	285
Part A: Using Your Maintenance Schedule	286
Selecting the Right Schedule for Your Vehicle	286
Short Trip/City Definition	287
Short Trip/City Intervals	287
Long Trip/Highway Definition	288
Long Trip/Highway Intervals	288
Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule	289
Long Trip/Highway Maintenance Schedule	310
Part B: Owner Checks at Each Fuel Fill-up	321
What to Check at Least Once a Month	321
What to Check at Least Twice a Year	322
What to Check at Least Once a Year	322
Periodic Maintenance Inspections	325
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	327
Tips for Keeping Track of Maintenance	329
A Place to Record Maintenance Procedure	329
Customer Assistance Information	331
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	332
Address for Writing to Oldsmobile	334
Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	334
Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance Program	335
Phone Number for Roadside Assistance	335
Oldsmobile Courtesy Transportation	336
BBB Autoline Information	337
Warranty Information	338
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States	338
Reporting Safety Defects to Canada	339
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	339
Ordering Service Publications in Canada	339
How to Order Service Publications	340
Order Form for Service Publications	341

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Driving

with a Trailer

you have

rear-most

window

open

and

you

pull

trailer

with

your

vehicle, carbon

monoxide

(CO)

could

come

into

your vehicle. You can’t see

or smell

CO.

can

cause

unconsciousness

death.

(See

“Engine

Exhaust”

the

Index.)

maximize

your

safety

when

towing

trailer:

Have

your

exhaust

system

inspected

for

leaks,

and

make

necessary

repairs

before

starting

your

trip.

Keep

the

rear-most

windows closed.

exhaust

does

come

into

your vehicle

through

window

the

rear

another

opening,

drive with your

front,

main

heating

cooling

system

and

with

the

fan

any

speed.

This will bring

fresh,

outside

air

into

your

vehicle.

not use

MAX

A/C because

only

recirculates

the

air

inside

your vehicle. (See

“

Comfort

Controls”

the

Index.)

Towing

trailer requires

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

mind that

the vehicle you are

driving

now

good deal longer and

not nearly

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.

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.

Following

Distance

Stay at

least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you

would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This

can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking

and sudden turns.

4-49