Page 103 of 399
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AUTOlMATIC TRANSAXLE
Your automatic transaxle shift lever is located on the steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
P
..................................................... Park
R
................................................. Reverse
N ................................................. Neutral
@ ............................................... Overdrive
3 ........................................ Third Gear (Drive)
2 ............................................. SecondGear
l................................................FirstGear
LI
k.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into “P” (Park) position like this:
3.
4.
5.
0 Pull the lever
toward you.
0 Move the lever
up as far as it
will
go.
With your right foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the
parking brake.
Move the ignition key to “Lock.”
Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in “P” (Park).
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Page 116 of 399
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Window Lockout
__ Press the right side of the switch to disable rear passenger window
switches. This is a useful feature when
you have children as passengers.
HORN
To sound the horn, just press a corner of the air bag located in the center
of the steering wheel.
TILT WHEEL
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you
drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room
when you exit and enter the vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To tilt the wheel, hold
the steering wheel and
pull the lever. Move
the steering wheel to
a
comfortable level, then
release the lever to
lock the wheel in
place.
TURN SIGNA/MULTIFUNCTION LEVER
The lever on the left side of the steering column includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlight High-Low Beam
.-
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TURN SIGNAL ON - 20
This message is a reminder, after driving about a mile, that you have your
turn signal on. r- e
r
i
I
i
F
i I
n
TRUNK OPEN - 24
This message indicates that your trunk is open when the ignition is ON.
VERY LOW REFRIGERANT A/C COMPRESSOR OFT - 12
This message means that the Air Conditioning System detects a
refrigerant level that is low enough to cause damage to the A/C
compressor. To avoid damage, the A/C compressor automatically turns
off and the Electronic Climate Control will automatically switch from
“AUTO” to “ECON” and remain there. Have your A/C system serviced
if
this message appears.
Speed Sensitive Steering (SSS)
This system varies the amount of steering effort proportionate to your
vehicle speed. Steering is easier at a lower speed for increased
maneuverability and parking ease.
As your vehicle speed increases, the
steering effort is also increased proportionately. At highway speeds the
amount
of steering effort is greatly increased to provide a manual like
steering feel for maximum control and enhanced vehicle stability.
Speed Sensitive Suspension
The Speed Sensitive Suspension automatically controls the ride of your
vehicle. The system controls damping forces in the shock absorbers and
struts in response to various speed and road conditions. There are three
dampening modes: Comfort, Normal and Firm. As the vehicle speed
increases, the firmness of the suspension increases. The system is in the
Comfort mode, for speeds less than
40 mph (65 km), normal mode for
speeds between 40 mph
(65 km) and’70 mph (110 km/h), and firm for
speeds greater than 70 mph
(1 10 km/h). The system also stiffens damping
during hard acceleration, braking and cornering for increased control.
The Speed Sensing Suspension controller is a computer used to control
and monitor the system. The computer receives inputs from acceleration
and determines optimum mode strut valving
(or suspension stiffness) for
your current operating conditions. The computer also receives feedback
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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 drivifig 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 beendrinking.
And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for
drinking drivers.
CONTROL OFA VEHICLE
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 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.
STEEMNG
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is
not functioning, 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. Both control systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration
can demand too much
of those places. You can lose control.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What should you do if this ever happens? Ease 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.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the
curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
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 yowan 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. r
186