1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO steering

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine HVAC Steering Wheel Controls
Some heating and cooling
controls can be adjusted at
the steering wheel. Other
touch controls operate some
audio controls. See “Audio
Steering Wheel Controls”
later in this section.
FAN SPEED: Press the up arrow lever to increase
the fan speed and the down arrow lever to decrease
fan speed.
TEMP: Press the up arrow lever to increase
the temperature and the down arrow lever to
decrease temperature.
Climate Control Personalization
(If Equipped j
This feature allows both driver’s (driver 1 or 2 depending
on the number
on the back of your remote keyless entry
transmitter)
to personalize their own climate control
settings. For more information, see “Programmable,
Memory and Personalization Features” in the Index.
Audio Systems
Your Cadillac audio system has been designed to operate
easily and give years of listening pleasure.
You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself
with
it first. Find out what your audio system can do
and how
to operate all its controls, to be sure you‘re
getting the most out of the advanced engineering that
went into
it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HR or MN until the time display begins
to change. Release the button as you get close to the
correct time. The time may be set anytime the clock is
displayed. There is a two-second delay before the clock
goes into time-set mode.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. Your vehicle has
a “built-in” theft-deterrent
feature on each radio that
is automatic -- there is no
programming required. The radio in your vehicle cannot
be used
in any other vehicle. When the radio was
originally installed in your vehicle at the factory, it
stored the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Each
time the ignition
is turned on, the VIN is verified. If the
vehicle’s
VIN does not match the VIN stored in the
radio, the radio will
THEFTLOCK. If the radio is
removed from your vehicle,
the original VIN in the
radio can be used to trace the radio back to your vehicle.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering
wheel. They include the following:
VOLUME: Press the
up arrow lever to
increase volume and
the down arrow lever
to decrease volume.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I_
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included many other useful tips
on driving.
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4- 6
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Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss of Control
Driving at Night
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4- 32 Driving
in Rain
and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing
a Trailer
4-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
L
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. . , . . . .
. . . . . . . ....... .....
P
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s
reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 314 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances
vary greatly
with the surface
of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition
of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight
of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle.
4-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 TRACTION
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 Information Center.
Braking in Emergencies
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.
Steering
Power Steenng
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.
Magnasteer TFr‘
This system continuously adjusts the effort you feel
when steering
at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a firm,
solid feel at highway speeds.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
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 Stabilitrak, you may see the STABILITY
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.
4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Steering in Emergencies
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 braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t: there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Off-Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge
of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
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 there
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.
Passing
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.
Watch 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 traffic.
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