Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I- -
L
For the 1948 model, Cadillac
introduced the
7
which set the trend in automotive
styling for nearly two decades. This
was followed
by the 1949 model with
the two door hardtop Coupe DeVille
and the modern overhead valve,
high compression
V8 engine
Engineering innovations, con-
veniences and styling dominated the
'50s and '60s. Cruise control, auto-
matic climate control,
tilt and
telescoping steering wheels, twilight
sentinel and four door hard tops all
debuted in these years. In
1957 the
Eldorado Brougham featured
ad-
vances such as air suspension, mem-
ory seat, automatic electric door
locks, transistor radio, a brushed
1
stainless steel roof and low profile
tires.
The Eldorado,I introduced in
1953, was redesigned for 1967 as the
first front wheel drive personal
lux-
ury car. The 472 cu. in. V8 engine
used in
all Cadillacs in 1968 and
1969 was enlarged to 500 cu. in. for
all
1970 Eldorados.
An Air Cushion Restraint Sys-
tem (airbag) was available for
1974,
1975 and 1976 Cadillacs.
Analog Electronic Fuel Injec-
tion was available, on
1975 Cadillacs
and was standard on
the new inter-
national size 1976 Seville. In 1978,
the Trip Computer option incor-
porated an on-board microprocessor.
'"1 L
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ‘f the “TRACTION OFF” warning light comes on and stays on for an
:&ended
period of time, your vehicle needs service.
A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed when the “TRACTION
OFF” warning light is on, they can explode and you or others
could be injured. And, spinning your tires with the “TRACTION
OFF’’ warning light on can cause the transaxle to overheat or
can cause other problems. 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 speedometer.
-.
I,
YOTICE: I-
Spinning your wheels when the “TRACTION OFF” warning 7
light is on can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tir ,
If you spin your wheels too fast while shifting your transaxlf
back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. when you’rt
-tuck, spin the wheels
as little as possible.
c
-.
I,
124
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having
an accident is
six times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chances are
twenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself
of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up.
“I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What
if there’s an emergency, a
person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to
avoid the collision.
-
-_ need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A
-~ . There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people
don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can
make crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spinal cord
-- and heart injuries. That means that if anyone who has been drinking --
driver or passenger -- is in a crash, the chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking.
And we’ve already seen that the chance
of a crash itself is higher for
drinking drivers. -
* Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, and judgment will be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You could have a serious -- or even fatal --
accident if you drive after drinking. Please don’t drink and drive
or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home’in a cab;
or if you’re with a pup, designate a driver who will not drink
- CONTROL OF A WHICLE
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to
go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator.
All three
systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. --
179
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of
those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control
of your vehicle.
BRAKING
Braking action involves perception time and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception
- time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an
average. It might be less with one driver and as long as
two or three
seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play
a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4
of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100
km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency,
so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is
important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of
the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition
of the road
(wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition
of your brakes.
Most drivers treat their brakes with care. Some, however, overwork the
braking system with poor driving habits.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking
-- rather than keeping pace
180
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine VOTICE:
Cmtinuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in
I
costly brake repair
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with your brakes.
Rear Drum Brakes
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but if you ever hear a
rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings inspected.
Also, the
rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. When
you have the front brakes
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if
there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely make a moderate or heavier stop, then your brakes might
not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way, then
-- very carefully -- make
a
few moderate brake stops about every 1000 miles (1600 km), so your
brakes will adjust properly.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you
can steer and brake at the same time.
In many emergencies, steering can
help you more than
even the very best braking.
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c
r
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system
fails to function, you can steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news
happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of us is subject to the same laws of
physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels.
If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going
in the same direction.
If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
__
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly
accelerate.
Those
two control systems -- steering and acceleration -- can overwhelm
those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Let up on the accelerator
pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed.
Of
course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road
conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before
you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing
the next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
brake lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to
turn.
0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get
ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.
LOSS OF CONTROL
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough
friction where the tires meet
the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t 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 Cadillac’s three control
systems. In the braking skid your
wheels aren’t 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 and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow-
or ice-covered road), ease your foot off the accelerator pedal as
soon as
you feel the vehicle start to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will
straighten out.
As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is
on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery
192
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid. Steer the way you want to go.
DRIPTNG AT NIGHT
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that
some drivers are likely to be impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or
by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most dangerous time.
0 Don’t drink and drive. (See “Drunken Driving” in the Index for more
on this problem.)
193