1995 CADILLAC DEVILLE ESP

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
brake lamps are not flashing,
it may be slowing down or starting to turn,
0 If you're being passed, make it easv for the following driver to get
ahead
of you. Perhaps you can easi a little to the right.
LOSS OF CONTROL
Let's review what driving experts sav about what happens when the three
control svstems (brakes, steering an> acceleration)
don't have 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.
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.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If your traction control system
is off? then an acceleration skid is also 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 and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0
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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps
behind you.
Since you can‘t see
as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can
light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older
these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice
as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What
you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example,
if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses.
Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving,
don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from
headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded
bv approaching lights. It can take a
second or two, or even several seconds, for your eves to readjust to the
dark. When
YOU are faced with severe glare (as frim a driver who doesn’t
lower the
high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down
a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights.
Keep
your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and
out. Glare at night is made much worse
by dirt on the glass. Even the
inside
of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far
less of a roadway when you
are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick
out dimly lighted objects. Just as
your headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes be examined regularly.
Some drivers suffer
from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim
light
-- and aren’t even aware of it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hydrupluning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven‘t much
tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of
water
is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops ‘‘dimple’‘ the water‘s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning
usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn‘t a hard
and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it
is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Turn on your low beam headlamps -- not just your parking lamps -- to
help
make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by
road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 Ilandling and braking with the added weight of
the trailer. And always keep in mind that thc vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsivs as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check thc trailer hitch
and platform (and attachments),
safety chains, electrical connector, lamps, tires
and mirror adjustment. If
the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controlier by hand
to be sure the brakes are
working.
This lets you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During \Tour trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and
that the’lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle 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 you‘re a good deal longer,
you’ll need to go much farther
beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Bucking 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, havc someone guide you.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, y&r riq could start to move. People can be
injured, and
both your vel;icle and the trailer can be darnagecl.
L.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here‘s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into PARK (P).
2. ILiave sonleone place chocks under the trailer whecls.
Wzen You Are Ready to Leave A@r Parking on n Hill
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2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drivc slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are especially
important
in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t
overfill), engine
oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment. Each of
these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help you find them
quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What about gasoline with blending materials that contain oxygen
(oxygenates). such as MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is ”nlethyl tcl-tiary-butyl ether. Fuel that is 11o more ttlan 15%
MTRE is fine for your vehicle.
Etimol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Propcriy-blended fuel that is no more
than 10% ctizwtol is fine for your velliclc.
“clurmd is methyl or wood alcohol.
.,
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t
use it. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and
also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be
covered
under your warranty And even at 5% or less, there must
be “cosolvents” and corrosion preventers in this fuel to help
avoid these problems.
G~lsoiines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming
ill vour engine and fuel s\jstern. That helps keep
your engine L. in tune a11d your emission control $stem working properly.
It‘s good for your vehicle. and you‘ll bc doing vour part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with oxygenates. General Motors
recommends that YOU us2 gasolines with these blending materials. such as
MTBE and ethanol. By doing so. you can help clean the air, especially in
those parts of the county that have high carbon monoxide levels.
In addition. some gasoline suppliers are mv producing reformulated
gasolines. These gasoiirm are speciallv designed to reduce vehicle
emissions. General
Motors recornrnshs that you use reformulated
gasoline. By doing so, you can help clean the air, especially in those parts
of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their gasolines contain
deposit control additives and oxygenates,
and if they have been
reformulated
to reduce vehicle emissions.
L-
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Check both sides
of the dipstick, and
read the lower
level. The fluid
level must be in
the cross-hatched
i! rc2 *
4.
i
r
i
i
How to Add Fluid
F I
i
Pull out the dipstick. i.
2. r Using a long-neck funne'l. add enough fluid at the dipstick hole, tc
briniit to tie proper level. It doesn't take much fluid, generally less
than a pint (0.X). Do11 'r 01~~1fill. We recommend you ise only fluid
labeled
DEXRON."-III. because fluid with that label is ma&
especially for your automatic transaxle. Damage caused bv fluid other
than
DE~RON'~-III is not covered by your nLw ve~e wdarrantp.
i
Ir
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under "How to
Check."
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Who Will Repair Your Cadillac At Roadside ? ? ?
In many cases, the advisor at the Roadside Service Center can provide
instructions
to get you back on the road.
To resohe more complex problems, the advisor will page an experienced
Cadillac dealership Service Technician. The technician will call
you and
evaluate the possible cause. If a roadside repair is possible, the technician
will come to your location and provide a permanent or temporary repair.
What If Your Cadillac Is In An Unsafe Location Or
On A Limited Access Highway ? ? ?
If your car is located in an area that is determined to be unsafe (by you, the
advisor or the technician) or if the vehicle is on a limited access freeway or
regulated highway, the advisor will arrange to tow your Cadillac to a safe
location, where service can be performed. Additional assistance
will be
provided if necessary.
What If Your Cadillac Cannot Be Repaired
At Roadside ? ? ?
If your car cannot be repaired at roadside within a reasonable period of
time (approximately 45 minutes) or requires the resources of a Cadillac
dealership service facility, the advisor
will arrange a tow service for you.
Towing may also be necessary after the technician has attempted
a repair,
but determines that your car cannot be repaired
at roadside.
Tow services are provided by independent companies, so therefore,
Cadillac
is not responsible for the tow company. During the 48 months, or
50,000 miles/80,000 kilometers warranty period, towing services are
covered
for any disablement.
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