1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets
or extra clothing, make body
insulators
from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats
-- anything you can wrap around yourself or
tuck under
your clothing to keep warm.
A CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you.
You can’t see it or smell it, so you might not
know it
is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s away from the wind. This will help
keep
CO out.
You
can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
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Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you
run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel
for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off
and close the window almost
all the way
to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour
or so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
Tm OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.

TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY
WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSiI28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the driver's door tells you the proper size,
speed rating
and recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on your vehicle.
It also gives you important
information about the number
of people that can be in
your vehicle and the total weight that
you can carry.
This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight and
includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
options not installed in the factory.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE US. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge
of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front
or rear
axle.
If you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Don’t
carrv more than 203 lbs. (92 kg) in the trunk.
I ‘A CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, or it can change the
way your vehicle
handles. These could cause
you to lose control.
Also, overloading can shorten the life of your
vehicle.
I NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that faiI because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages
or anything else -- they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
if there is a crash, they’I1 keep going.
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A CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and
injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash.
Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Wy to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the
seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing a Trailer
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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. Ask your Cadillac dealer for
advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly car! damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not .covered
by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Cadillac
dealer for important information
about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
proper towing equipment.
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 part. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such
as the engine, transaxle,
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.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, 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 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1 ,OOO miles
(1
600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle
or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 kmh) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Three important considerations have to do with weight: the trailer, the weight of the trailer tongue and the total
weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
If you have a DeVille without the optional h-ailer towing
package,
the maximum trailer weight is 1,OOO lbs. (450 kg).
If you have a DeVille Concours or a DeVille with the
optional trailer towing package, the maximum trailer weight should never be more than
3,900 lbs. (1 773 kg)
total including the load. But even that can be too heavy.
The optional trailer towing package. provides the
necessary oil cooler for the DeVille to
tow a trailer
heavier than 1,OOO lbs.
(450 kg). The Concours is
equipped with this cooler as standard equipment.
The maximum trailer weight for your vehicle can
be
determined from the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight
(GCVW). The GCVW
= curb weight + passenger’s
weight
+ cargo + trailer weight, should never weigh more
than
8,200 lbs. (3 727 kg) total loaded vehicle and trailer.
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 Customer Assistance Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
30009 Van Dyke
P.O. Box 9025
Warren,
MI 48090-9025
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
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 load
from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A B
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).
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.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the
recommended .pressure for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Certification label at the rear
edge of the driver’s
door or see “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t go
over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the
weight of
the trailer tongue.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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:
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 and
do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag
on the ground.
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0 If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more
than 2,000 lbs. (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.
0 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 “Carbon Monoxide”
in the Index). Dirt
and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended
for hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use’only
a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
Trailer Brakes
Because you have anti-lock brakes, don’t try to tap into
your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes
so you’ll be able to maintain them properly.
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