1993 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD weight

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
DRUNKElN DMNG
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
who was drinking and driving. Over
25,000 motor vehicle-related deaths
occur each year because of alcohol, and thousands
of people are injured.
Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no
one should drink alcohol and then drive. But if one does, then what’s “too
much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends
on each person and situation, here is some general information on
the
problem.
The Blood Alcohol Content
(BAC) of someone who is drinking depends
upon four things:
How much alcohol is in the drink.
0 The drinker’s body weight.
0 The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking.
0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.
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DRINKING THAT WILL
RESULT IN A BAC OF .05%
IN THE TIME SHOWN
’P 6
~ 3 HOURS
rL 2 HOURS
NUMBER
OF, DR!NKS (as In plcture) 4 1 HOUR
3
2
1
100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS
The law in most US. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent.
In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower
than that. The BAC will be over
0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in
one hour).
Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in
the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.
But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected
well below a BAC
of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and
that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels
above
0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident
increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC
of 0.05 percent or above. A
driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a
180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance
of having an
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.
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If you’re going uphill
on a one-way street
and you’re parking on
the left side, your
wheels should point to
the right.
If there is no curb
when you’re parking
uphill, turn the wheels
to the right.
Q
Q
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left side of a
one-way street, your wheels should be turned to the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into “P”
(Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of “P” (Park). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque
lock, always be sure to shift into “P’, (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so
until help comes.
If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
You should turn your Traction Control System off 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 TMLER
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.
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Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result
in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
To pull a trailer -
c*
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 m .> d
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safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transmission, 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 greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer
adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
0 Handling
0 Durability
Fuel economy
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
0
0
0
0
0
0
There are many different laws having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be
driving.
A good source for this information can be state or provincial
police.
Consider using a sway control if your trailer will weigh
2,000 pounds
(900 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer
will
weigh more than 2,000 pounds (900 kg).
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
1,000 miles (1600 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads. Avoid continuous operation
in mountainous areas that have
grades greater than
2% and are longer than 5 miles.
Change axle
oil annually or every 6,000 miles (9654 km) of trailer towing,
whichever comes first.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
1. Weight of the nailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than
2,000 pounds (907 kg). But, if you have the optional Trailer Towing

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Package you can increase your vehicle’s trailer towing capability to
7,000 pounds (3175 kg). But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your
vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also
depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice, or
you can write us at Cadillac.
In Canada, write to General Motors
of Canada Limited, Customer
Assistance Center,
1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7.
2. Weight of the nailer Tongue
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The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to
measure because it affects the total capacity weight
of your vehicle.
The capacity weight includes the curb weight
of the vehicle, any
cargo
you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the
vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue
3
load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your vehicle will be I
carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle’’ in the Index
for more information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
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If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should
weigh
10% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a
“weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh
12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
If your vehicle
is equipped to tow up to 7,000 pounds (3178 kg), and
you should use a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should
weigh
10% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). Or, if you have a
“weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh
12% 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
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:
0
0
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If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will weigh more than
2,000 pounds (900 kg), be sure to use a properly mounted,
weight-distributing hitch and sway control of the proper size. This
equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
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
Index under “Carbon Monoxide”). Dirt and water can, too.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it
needs its
own brakes -- and they must be adequate. 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, don’t 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
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This
lets you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load
is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
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