1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE tow

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When should an air bag inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag
will inflate
only
if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is
about
9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that
it can be somewhat above
or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move
or deform, such
as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash,
no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle
or because of what the repair costs were. .
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
the vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one indication of this.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity,
the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is
suddenly stopping as
a result of a crash. The sensing
system triggers a chemical reaction
of the sodium azide
sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen
gas, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and
related hardware are all
part of the air bag modules
packed inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or
the instrument panel. The air bag supplements the,
protection provided by safety belts.
Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over
the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But
air bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts,
primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward the
air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only
in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
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A CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here
two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can't properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the
two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at
a time.
@ What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child's face or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still
is on the child's
shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still very
close
to the child's face or neck, you might want to
place the child in the center seat position, the one
that has only a
lap belt.
1-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine key immediately. See your Cadillac dealer or a
locksmith for
key service.
If the STARTING DISABLED DUE TO THEFT
SYSTEM, REMOVE IGNITION KEY and WAIT
3 MINUTES messages are displayed, the key should
be cleaned and dried. After three minutes,
try again.
A START CAR message will appear at this time. If
the engine still does not start, wait 3 minutes and try a
duplicate key.
At this time, fuses should be checked (see
“Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index). If the engine
does not start with the duplicate key, your vehicle needs
service. See your Cadillac dealer
for service.
If the THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEM message is
displayed during vehicle operation,
your vehicle needs
servicing. Your vehicle will restart
if you turn it off;
however, your vehicle may be unprotected. See your
Cadillac dealer for service.
If an ignition key is lost or damaged, see your Cadillac
dealer
or a locksmith to have a new key made.
New Vehicle CLBreak-In’’
NOTICE:
Your modern Cadillac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it
will perform better in the long
run if
you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
0 Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing
a ’Ilrailer” in the Index for more
information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
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3.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I_
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Ignition Positions
I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it,
be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key
hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service. With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you
can turn
the switch to five different positions:
ACCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers when the
engine
is off. To get into ACCESSORY, push in the key
and
turn it toward you. The steering wheel will remain
locked, just as it was before you inserted the key.
LOCK
(B): Before you put the key in, the ignition will
be in the
LOCK position. This is the only position in
which you can remove the key. This position locks the
ignition, steering wheel
and transaxle. It’s a
theft-deterrent feature.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like
LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle in motion while the engine is off (for example, if
your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN (D): This is the position for driving.
START (E): This starts the engine.
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NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment; check
with your dealer. If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
(Canada
Only)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged
in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
2-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle Operation
The automatic transaxle has a shift lever located on the
steering column.
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
c PARK (P): This locks the front wheels. It’s the best
position to
use when you start the engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the
shift lever to PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already
moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I A CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running at high ,speed) is
dangerous. Unless
your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people
or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered
by your warranty. OVERDRIVE
(a): This position is for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about haliivay down:
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transaxle will shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or
if it doesn’t seem to shift gears as you accelerate,
something may be wrong with
a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right
away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than
35 mph (55 kdh) and OVERDRIVE (@)
for higher speeds.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine THIRD (3): This position is also used for noma1
driving however,
it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
OVERDRIVE (0).
Here are examples for using THIRD (3) instead of
OVERDRIVE (@):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between
gears.
0 When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power. You
can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your
speed
as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want
to use your brakes off and on.
I NOTICE:
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Don’t shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 rnph (105 kdh), or you can
damage your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
than
SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills,
or
in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift into first gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.)
I NOTICE:
~~
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object,
You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and damage
the transaxle. Use your brakes
to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
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