1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO warning

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time
to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear
out much faster if you
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking
system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will
eliminate a lot
of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder
to push down. If your engine
stops,
you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake, Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will
be harder to push. When you
start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system
will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in
the Index.
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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
firmly 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. 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
reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in
the Index.)
TRACTION
CONTROL
This warning light will
come
on to let you know if
there’s a problem with your
traction control system.
Traction Control System
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 Infomation
Center Messages” in the Index. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this is normal. 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 limit 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
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loss of Control
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.
Skidding
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 vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, 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 Stabilitrak,
you may see the STABILITY
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown
part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part. “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light
turns green, and just before you start
to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared
the intersection or may be running the
red light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However, if there is
snow or ice between your tires and
the road.
you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be
very careful.
Y L
d
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 5 Problems on the Koad
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
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Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating 5-24
If a Tire Goes Flat
5-24 Changing a Flat Tire
5-34 Compact Spare Tire
5-35
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
Press the button in td make your front and rear turn
signal lamps flash
on and off.
This light on the instrument
panel will flash, indicating
that the hazard warning
flashers are
on.
The hazard warning flashers will work once the button
is pressed in regardless of the key position.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start your
I vehicle. Please follow the steps below to do it safely.
A CAUTION:
Pull out on the collar to turn the flashers off. When the
hazard warning flashers are on, the turn
signals won't
work since they are already flashing.
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.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
0 They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
burn you.
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