1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO steering

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.
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 whe\
n the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t ha\
ve 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 is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way you want the vehicle
to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
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 .md adjust
your driving
to these conditions. It is important to slow dowr on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
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While driving on a surface with redueed tractio.n, try your. best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (hciuding 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.
DMNG ATNIGHT
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.
Drive defensively.
0 Don't drink and drive.
0 Adjust your inside reamew mirror to reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the:roaa probably
have good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can
have
a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and
will need to be
very careful.
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be
slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because
it may offer the least traction of all. You can get “wet
ice” when it’s about
freezing
(32 F; 0 C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice untihalt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition -=smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow
--
drive with caution.
If you have the traction control system, it will improve your ability to
accelerate when driving on a slippery road. Even though your vehicle has
a traction control system, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your
driving to the road conditions. See “Traction Control System” in the
Index.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want
to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See
“Anti-lock” in the Index.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot
that’s covered with ice. Oman otherwise clear road, ice patc\
hes may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps
of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a
curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are
clear.
If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on
it.
Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
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Folbwing Distance ~ ..
Stay at Least ,twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicie without a trailer.
This can help you.avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
,Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead-.when you’re towing a. trailer.
And, because y0u’re.a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you .can return to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the
trailer ‘to .the- left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to
the right, .move -your hand
‘to the right. Always back up. slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making nrns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do
.this so your trailer won? strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other .objects. Avoid jerky.or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn sigreals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal
.= flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will f
J I flash, whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked. up, the
trailer
l&hts will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
flash for turns even’if the.bulbs on the trailer are burned out. .Thus, you
may think drivers behind
you are seeing your- signal when they are not.
’ Et’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer. bulbs are still
r
i When towing a trailer; the green arrows on your instrument panel will
t! working.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this
manual-contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The
operator may want to see them.
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 brake relea\
sed.
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IF A TIRE GOES FLAT
It’s unusual for a: tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a. tire, it’s much more ‘likely
to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your
foot, off .the accelerator pedal and grip- the
steering wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then-gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In .any rear blowout,
remove your foot from the accelexator pedal. Get the vehicle under
control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off
the. road.if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
. . ._ .. . .
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. NOTICE:
Spinningyour.wheels-can destroy par€s of your vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels too transaxle back and
forth, you ,can destroy your transaxle.
Rocking yourvehicle
to get it out:
First, tumyour steering wheel left and right. That will clear ,the area
around your front wheels. Then
shift back and forth. between “.R”
(Reverse) and, a forward gear, spinning the wheels.as-!itt€e.as possible.
Release-the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when
.the transde.is.in gear. If that doesn’t get you out
after .a
few txie-s,. you-may need to-be 6owed:out. If you do need to Be
towed out, see “Tiwing Your Vehicle’’ in .the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine THERMOSTAT
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the engine
coolant system. The thermostat stops the flow
of coolant through the
radiator until the coolant reaches
a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat is recommended.
POWER STEERING FLUID
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten
it. Then remove the cap again and look at the
fluid level
on the dipstick.
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