Page 193 of 395

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peoplc drive in spurts -- heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking
-- rather than keeping pace 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. 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. Oncc thc 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
a braking skid.
ANTI-
LOCK (@)
This light on the
instrument panel will
come on briefly when
you start your vehicle.
When
you start your vehicle and begin to drive away, you may hear a
momentary motor
or clicking noise. And you may even notice that your
brake pedal mows 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 Brakc System Warning Light”
in the Index.
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Page 201 of 395

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine LOSS OF CONTROL
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and 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.
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 casing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration
skid.
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.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking (including 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 brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
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Page 207 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and
pay attention
to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
0
0
a
Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and
plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light
as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to tnove, check both ways €or vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
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Page 213 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine WINTER DRIVTNG
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your
Cadillac in
good
shape for winter.
Be sure your
engine coolant mix
is correct.
You may want to
put winter
emergency
supplies in your
trunk.
Include an ice scraper,
a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel,
a
flashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a
piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be
sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.
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Page 228 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the
road.
HAZARD WMING FLASHERS
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police
know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lamps will flash
on and off.
5- 1.
Page 229 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Press the button in to
make your front and rear turn signal lamps
flash
on and off.
A
HAZARD
The light on your
instrument panel will
flash indicating
that
the hazard warning
flashers are
on.
HAZARD A
5-2
Your hazard warning flashers will work once the button is pressed in
regardless
of the key position.
Page 230 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine OTHER WMING DEUCES
To turn off the flashers,
pull
out on the collar.
When
the hazard
warning flashers are on, your turn signals
won't work since
they
are already flashing.
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
JUMP STARTING
If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and
some jumper cables to start your Cadillac. Please follow
the steps below
to
do it safely.
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Page 236 of 395
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine n
c
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your
Cadillac. The usual towing equipment is:
W
W
W
W W
Sling Type
Wheel Lift
Car Carrier
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items Iike fog lamps, aero skirting
or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or rear with
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
sling-type
equipment.
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