1996 CADILLAC ELDORADO tow

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.
This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
The head restraints tilt forward and rearward also.
Seatback Latches
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
P
The front seatback folds
forward to let people get
into the
rear seat. The
seatback will move back
and forth freely unless you
come to a sudden stop, then
it will lock in place.
The seatback may not fold without some help from you
if
your vehicle is parked going down a fairly steep hill.
In
this case, push the seatback toward the rear as you lift
the latch. Then the seatback will fold forward. The latch
must be down for the seat to work properly.
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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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
Children who aren't buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
0 Children who aren't buckled up can strike other
people who
are.
' &I CAUTION:
r I
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine New Vehicle L6Bre-ak-In’’ Ignition Positions
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:
0 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 Trailer” in the Index for more
information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A E
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.
Retained Accessory Power
The following accessories on your Cadillac may be used
for up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned
to
OFF:
Radio
0 Power Windows
Astroroof
Power to these accessories stops after
10 minutes or if
either door is opened. If you want power for another
10 minutes, turn the ignition key to RUN and then back
to
OFF.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine rt: Your EI
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Cadillac is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift
to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
kt
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn‘t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three seconds at a time until your
engine starts. Wait about
15 seconds between each
try to help avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as
you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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. Ensure
the shift lever is fully in PARK
(P) range before
starting the engine. Your Cadillac has a brake-transaxle
shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular
brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition key is in the
RUN position. If you cannot
shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on the shift
lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
and release the shift lever button on the floor shift
console models
as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. (Press the
shift lever button before moving the shift lever on
floor
shift console models.) See “Shifting Out of PARK (P)”
in this section.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
EICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
has stopped.
Also use this gear to rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out
of snow, ice or sand without damaging your
transaxle. See
“If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow” in the Index for additional information.
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
Shifting out of PARK (P) or N1 ~ 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.
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.
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