1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine . . . . . . . . ., ...
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly
an animal jumps out in
front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling,
the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the br&e.pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer isqxogrammed to
make
the most of available &.and road conditions.
..
..
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead
to stop, even though YOU have
anti-lock brakes.
using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and
let anti-lock work for YOU. You may hear the
anti-lock pump or motor operate, and feel
the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits wheel
spin.
This is especially useful in slippery road conditions.
The system operates only
if it senses that one or both of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When
this happens, the system works the front brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION
ENGAGED message will display on
the Driver Information Center when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. See “Driver Information
Center Messages”
in the Index. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
Conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in
the Index.)
This warning light will
come
on to let you know if
there’s a problem with your
traction control system.
See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this
warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel
spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To liHnit wheel spin,
especially in slippery
road conditions, you should
always leave
the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system
off if you ever need to. (You

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud,
ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
To turn the system off, press
the TRAC OFF button
located inside
of the
glove box.
The
TRACTION OFF message will display on the
Driver Information Center.
If the system is limiting
wheel spin when you press the button, the TRACTIQN
OFF message will display -- but the system won’t turn
off right away. It will wait until there’s no longer a
current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time
by pressing
the button again. The
TRACTION READY message
should display briefly
on the Driver Infomation Center. With
anti-lock,
you can steer and brake at the same
time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
TM
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM MAGNASTEER,
a system that continuously adjusts the effort you feel when
steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease when
parking yet a
fm, solid feel at highway speeds.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver
or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws
of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels.
If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you’ve ever
tried
to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction
you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering
through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems -- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much
of those places. You can lose control. Refer to
“Traction Control System”
in the Index. What should
you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to
go, and slow down.
If you have the Eldorado
ETC, you may see the
STABILITY SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver
Information Center. See “Stability Engaged Message”
in
the Index.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed.
Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you
need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do
it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until
you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine teering in
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right
in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by bralung
-- if you can stop in
the. But sometimes you can’t; there
isn’t room.
That’s the time
for evasive action -- steering around
the problem.
Your Cadillac can perfonn very well
in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes.
(See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier
in this section.) It is better to
remove as
much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or
right depending
on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But
you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just
as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided
the object.
The fact
that such emergency situations are always
possible is
a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you’re driving.
LEFT APPRQX. QUARTER TURN
SLOW DOWN
edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly
easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then,
if therc is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can
turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn
until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then
turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
ssi
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes
back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle
on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration
or anger can
suddenly
put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
-- the head-on collision.
SO here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.”
Look down the road, to the sides and
to crossroads for situations that might affect your
passing patterns.
If you have any doubt whatsoever
about
making a successful pass, wait for a better time.
wdtch for traffic
signs, pavement markings and lines.
If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken
center line usually indicates it’s
all right to pass
(providing the road ahead
is clear). Never cross a solid
line on your side of the lane or a double solid line,
even if the
road seems empty of approaching traftk.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one
thing, following
too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you’re following a larger
vehicle. Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the
vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance
to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes
to move into the
other Bane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up
for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your
pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying
to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember
to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder,
and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead
of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside
mirror, activate
your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than
it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
ss
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 bralung skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering shd, 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 easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration
skid.
If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
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. If you
have
the Eldorado ETC, you may see the
STABILITY
SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver
Information Center. See “Stability Engaged Message”
in
the Index.
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.