1996 CADILLAC ELDORADO check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
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
Be sure to read and follow
brakes
so you’ll be able to
them properly. well,
or at all.
the instructions for the trailer
install, adjust and maintain
Driving with a ”hailer
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
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving
is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the 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 controller by hand to be sure
the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time. During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps 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.
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.
4-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
I
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky
or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. Check
with your Cadillac dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked
up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn,
change lanes or stop. When
towing
a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will 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. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear hefor-e you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) or less to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
4-36

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, your rig
could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if
you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P).
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks
are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK
(P) firmly and apply your parking brake.
Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Be sure the parking brake has released.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive 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.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Warning Devices
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.
I NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your Cadillac
by pushing or
pulling it won’t work and it could damage your
vehicle. Batteries can
hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could also be damaged.
Before you connect the cables, here are some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-)
or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts, too.
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care
of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be
present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
5-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The coolant level should be indicated by a CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message on the Driver Information
Center. If
it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere
else
in the cooling system,
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses,
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get
any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
5-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by
your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
If there seem to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at the proper level
(2.5 inches (60 mm) below the
base
of the fill neck), add a 50/50 mixture of cleun
water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL TM
antifreeze at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is cool before
you do it. (See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for more information.)
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to
cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap oft', start the 5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on
engine and let it run until you can feel
the upper the pressure cap line up like this.
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant Driver Information Center, coolant
is at the proper fill
surge tank may be lower.
If the level is lower, add level. If a CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message does
more
of the proper mix to the coolant surge tank appear, repcat Steps 1 to 3 or see your dealer.
until the level reaches about
2.5 inches (60 mm)
below the base
of the filler neck. Start
the engine and allow
it to warm up. If the CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message does not appear on the