1993 CADILLAC DEVILLE tires

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be
slick and hard to drive
on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because
it may offer the least traction
of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about
freezing
(32OF; O°C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition
-- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow --
drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels
will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on
a
slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want to begin stopping sooner than you would
on dry pavement. See
“Anti-lock” in the Index.
0 Allow greater following distance on any slippery roaa.
0 Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot
that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may
appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps
of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a
214

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep snow without
damaging it. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.
TOWING A TWLER
I
‘ A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive properly, you
can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the
trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not work well -- or even at
all. You and your passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a
trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer.
To identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight
of the Trailer” that appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your
safety and that
of your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight.
The engine is required
to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
217

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer
Assistance Center,
1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7.
2. Weight of the Trailer Tongue
When a trailer is connected to your vehicle, the trailer tongue adds
to the weight your vehicle is carrying.
So, remember to subtract the
weight
of the trailer tongue from your vehicle’s capacity weight.
The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10% of the total loaded trailer
weight
(B). After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they
aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some
items around in the trailer.
3. Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for cold tires.
You’ll find these numbers
on the Certification label at the rear edge
of the driver’s door (or see “Tire Loading” in the Index). Then be
sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
1
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to
follow:
219

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see
“Carbon Monoxide’’ in the Index). Dirt and water can, too.
e Don’t let the steel in a hitch contact the aluminum on your bumper. If
you do, the two will corrode. You can use something like paint or
plastic tape to separate the steel and aluminum. The same steel to
aluminum problem can happen with fasteners, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue
will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always leave just enough
slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag
on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to
tap into your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do, both brake systems won’t
work well,
or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
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 so responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
L
.-.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TOMNG YOUR mHICLE
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your
Cadillac. The usual towing equipment
is a sling-type, or a wheel-lift, or
car carrier tow truck.
CAR CARRIER
.
SLING-TYPE
WHEEL LIFT
.
J
n
J
V
7
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front with sling-type
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
equipment.
232

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 8. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on
the pressure cap
line up like this.
IF A TIRE GOES FLAT
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out
of a tire, it’s much more likely
to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake
to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout,
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under
control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off
the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine P
- r
Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or wheel with other wheels
or tires.
They won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel together.
A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger
compartment
of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop
or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all
these in the proper place.
IF YOU’RE STUCK: IN SAND, MUD, ICE OR
SNOW
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your
wheels. The method known as “rocking” can help you get out when
you’re stuck, but you must use caution.
257

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can explode and you
or others could be injured. And, the transaxle or other parts
of
the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine fire or
other damage. When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the beedometer.
transaxle back and forth, you can destroy your transarl-
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
“R’
(Reverse) 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 transaxle is
in gear. If that doesn’t get you out
after
a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need to be
towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
-
L