1993 CADILLAC ELDORADO parking brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine some warning lights come on briefly when you turn the ignition key just to
let you know they’re working.
If you are familiar with this section, you
should not be alarmed when this happens.
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. Please 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.
Your vehicle may
also have a driver information system that works along
with the warning lights. See “Driver Information System” in the Index.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Cadillac 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.
BRAKE
(0) BRAKE
This light should come
on 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 TRAFFIC OFFICER
The traffic police officer is also a source of important information. The
officer’s signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights
or other signs
say.
The next section discusses some
of the road conditions you may
encounter.
DEFENSIVE DMNG
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively.
Please start with a
very important safety device in your Cadillac: Buckle
up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets,
rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and
make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their
mistakes.
Expect children to dash out from behind parked cars, often followed by
other children. Expect occupants in parked cars to open doors into traffic.
Watch for movement in parked cars
-- someone may be about to open a
door.
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 are\
as,
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 wh.en
the vehicle in front
of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
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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
I
Turn your wheels to
the right.
You don’t have to jam
your tires against the
curb,
if there is a curb.
A gentle contact is all
you need.
Parking Uphill
If there is a curb, turn
your wheels to the left
if the curb is at the
right side
of your
vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 Kg) and you have an
automatic transaxle with Overdrive, you may want to drive
in “3” instead
of Overdrive (or, as you need to, a lower gear). This will help your
transmission.
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
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into “P” (Park) firmly and
apply your parking brake.
5. Release the regular brakes.
the
chocks absorb the load.
When You Are Ready to Leave Afier Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
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.
216

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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”
‘”ark).
-
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!
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood elc ric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery.
222

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine r
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A CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0
0
0
0
0
0
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the
tow truck.
Always use separate safety chains on each side when towing a
vehicle.
Never use
“J” hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
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
-
F 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/h) or farther than 500 miles (804 lun) or your transaxle will
be damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have
to. be supported on a dolly.
c
m
IC
229

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CMGING 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 flashers.
I
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:
1. Put the shift lever in "P" (Park).
2. Set the parking brake firmly.
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain 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.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.
247

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
NOTICE:
1
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle fluid level if you
have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180’F to 200°F (82°C to 93OC).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km) when
outside temperatures are above
50°F (10” C). If it’s colder than 50’F
(10 C), you may have to drive longer.
To check the fluid level:
0 Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in “P” (Park) with the parking brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. The\
n,
position the shift lever
in “P” (Park).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
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