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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are
driving, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Pkase
follow
the manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights. They’re a big help.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Cadillac’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 goes on, there could be a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
This light shoula
come
on and turn off as you
start the vehicle. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will
be ready to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you set your parking brake, and 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. If the
light comes on while 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.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Expect other drivers to run stop signs when you are on a through street.
Be ready to brake if necessary as you go through intersections.
You may
not have to use the brake, but
if you do, you will be ready.
If you’re driving through a shopping center parking lot where there are
well-marked lanes, directional arrows, and designated parking areas,
expect some drivers to ignore all these markings and dash straight toward
one part
of the lot.
Pedestrians can be careless. Watch
for them. In general, you must give
way to pedestrians even if you know you have the right of way.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they
are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive
driving maneuver,
in both city and rural driving. You never know when
the vehicle in front
of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Here’s
a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most
dangerous time for driving in the
U.S. is very early on Sunday morning. In
fact, GM Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous
times for driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday.
The most dangerous time is Sunday from
3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time
is Sunday from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday
at
3 a.m. isn’t just a little more dangerous than it is at 10 a.m. It’s about
134 times more dangerous!
That leads to the next section.
-i
r
L.4
DRUNKEN DRMNG
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national
tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll,
claiming thousands
of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things
that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination
Vision
Police records show that half
of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol
- a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian,
had been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result
of someone
176
Page 222 of 406
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - Another part of this manual tells how to use your parking brake (see
“Parking Brake” in the Index). But on a mountain or steep hill, you can
do one more thing. You can turn your front wheels to keep your vehicle
from rolling downhill or out into traffic.
Here’s how: -
Parking Downhill
Turn your
the right. wheels
to
I_ You don’t have to jam your tires against the curb, if there is a curb. A
gentle contact is all you need.
209
Page 235 of 406

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug trailer lights into
your vehicle’s lighting system, its bulb warning lights may not let you
know if one
of your lights goes out. So, when you have trailer lights
plugged in, be sure to check your vehicle and trailer lights
from time to
time to be sure they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer lights,
the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one of your vehicle lights is
out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes
so much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to “3” (Drive) and reduce your speed
to
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle
overheating.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be
injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into “P” (Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until
the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into “P” (Park) firmly and
apply your parking brake.
5. Release the regular brakes.
222
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 Be sure the parking brake has released.
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 transaxle fluid
(don’t overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, 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.
223
Page 240 of 406

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine loring these steps could rt Llt in costly damage to YOU
rehicle that wouldn’t bt lvered bv vow warranh
Trying to start your Cadillac by pushing or pulling it won’t work, and it
could damage your vehicle.
TO JUMP STAlzT YOUR CADILLAC:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
2. Get the vehicles close enough
so the jumper cables can reach, but be
sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause
a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start
your Cadillac, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical
systems.
A CAUTION:
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake
firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle in
“P”
(Park).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios.
This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries.
And it could save your radio!
227
Page 246 of 406

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this
manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The
operator may want to see them.
~ A CAUTION:
, To help avoid injury to you or others: .. B c
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
N- . er tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
0
0 Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the
tow truck.
0 Always use separate safety chains on each side when towing a
vehicle.
0 Never use “J” hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
*, 1 J
f
L
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. 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 transaxle should be in Neutral and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have
your vehicle towed on the front wheels, unless you must. If
the vehicle must be towed on the front wheels, don’t go more than 55
mph (88 km) or farther than 500 miles (800 km) or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.
Page 260 of 406
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CWGING A FLAT TIRE
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to
a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flasher.
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the
jack and roll over you or other people. You and they could be
badly injured. Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
0 Put the shift lever in “P” (Park).
0 Set the parking brake firmly.
0 Turn off the engine.
To be even more sure the vehicle won’t move, you can put chocks
at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one being
changed. That would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle,
at the opposite end.
I
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.