1993 CADILLAC ELDORADO brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to
avoid the collision.
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.
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A CAUTION:
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 group, 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.
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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. Tha\
t means
you can lose control of your vehicle.
BRAKING
Braking action involves p- 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
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster
if you do a
lot
of heavy braking. a
0 Don’t “ride’’ the brakes by letting your left foot rest lightly on the
brake pedal while driving.
8
r
. . ... ..
A CAUTION:
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“Riding” your brakes can cause them to overheat to the point
that they won’t work well.
You might not be able to stop your
vehicle in time to avoid an accident.
If you “ride” your brakes,
they
will get so hot they will require a lot of pedal force to slc
you down. Avoid “riding” the brakes.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better
braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but
don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the pedal may get harder to push
down.
If your engine. stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you
will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it
may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Cadillac has an advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent skidding.
This light on the
instrument panel
will
go on when you start
your vehicle.
hear a
Once the vehicle speed reaches about
5 mph (8 km/h), you may
momentary motor or c1,icking noise and you may
even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little
while this is going on. This is the ABS system
testing itself.
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the
anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on. See “Anti-lock Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine C I I
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving
safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. The computer
separately works the brakes at each front wheel and at the re\
ar wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire
and road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
A CAUTION:
Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to
the brake pedal. If you get too close
to the vehicle in front of
you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes.
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To Use Anti-Lock:
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you.
You may hear the anti-lock pump or motor operate. and
feel the brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your Cadillac has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is
moving (except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
UJTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner or later YL-,
brakes won’t work well. That could lead to an accident. When
you hear the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
NOTICE:
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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 disc 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.
STEERING
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For
example, you come over a
hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a
car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems
by braking
-- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around the problem.
Your Cadillac can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes. It is better
to remove as much speed as you can from a
possible collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If
you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a
full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. You must then be
prepared to steer back to your original lane and then brake to a
controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for an unprepared
driver. This
is one of the reasons driving experts recommend that you use
your
safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations are always possible
is a good
reason to practice defensive driving at all times.
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