1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE brakes

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH - 8: This message shows
that the electrical charging system is overcharging (more
than 16 volts). To avoid being stranded, have the electrical
system checked by your dealership.
You can reduce the
charging overload by using the accessories.
Turn on the
lamps and radio, set the climate control on
AUTO and the
fan speed on
HI, and turn the rear window defogger on.
You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing
the
INFiO button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts
when the engine is running.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW - 6: This message will
appear when the electrical system is charging less than
9 volts or if the battery has been drained. If this message
appears immediately after starting, it
is possible that the
generator can still recharge the battery. The battery should recharge while driving but may take a few hours
to do
so. Consider using an auxiliary charger (be sure to
follow the manufacturer’s instructions) to boost the
battery after returning home or to a final destination. If
this message appears while driving or after starting your
vehicle and stays on, have
it checked immediately to
determine the cause of this problem.
To help the
generator recharge the battery quickly, you can reduce
the load on the electrical system by turning
off the
accessories.
You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC
by pressing the INFO button. The normal range is 11.5
to 15.5 volts.
CHANGE BRAKE PADS - 125: This message is used
to notify you that the brake pads may have worn down.
A sensor is connected to the brake pads and is triggered
when they wear to a certain point. Have the front and
rear brakes serviced by your dealer as soon as possible.
CHANGE TRANS FLUID - 47: This message will
appear when
it is time to replace the transaxle fluid. See
the Maintenance Schedule booklet for the proper fluid and change intervals.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID - 37: This message will
display if the ignition is in
ON to inform the driver that
the brake fluid level is low. Have the brake system
serviced by a technician as soon as possible. See “Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL - 2: This message will
appear when there is a low level of engine coolant. Have
the cooling system serviced by a technician as soon
as possible.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL - 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within
200 miles. See “Engine Oil” and “Filter
Recommendations” in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After
an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must
be reset. See “Oil Life Indicator” in the Index
on how to
reset
it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine THEFT ATTEMPTED - 40: This message is
displayed
if the theft system has detected a break-in
attempt while
you were away from your vehicle.
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF - 111: This message
will appear when the
PCM senses that the maximum
speed for your vehicle has been reached. The speed of
your vehicle will surge as the fuel supply is cutoff. This
allows your vehicle to stay in
a safe tire operating range.
The top speed is set based on the top speed rating of
the tires.
TRACTION ENGAGED - 91 : When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is displayed,
so
adjust your driving accordingly. This message will stay
on for a few seconds after the traction control system
stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF - 89: This message will be displayed
after the traction control has been turned
off by the
button
on the center console.
TRACTION READY - 90: This message informs the
driver that the traction control system
is available. This
occurs when the traction ordoff button on the console has
been returned to ON (pressing the button once turns the
traction control system
off: pressing the button again turns
the system back on). This message will automatically
disappear from the display after five seconds.
TRACTION SUSPENDED - 56: This message
displays when the traction control system has been
temporarily shut off because your vehicle’s brakes have overheated. This message does not indicate a problem
with your vehicle’s traction control system. After a few
minutes, the traction control system will be available
again and the TRACTION
READY message
will appear.
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE - 112: This message
indicates that the transaxle fluid
in your vehicle is too
hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools
down or until this message is removed.
TRUNK OPEN - 24: This message indicates that the
trunk is open when the ignition is on.
TURN SIGNAL ON - 20: This message is a reminder,
after driving about a mile, that you have the turn signal
on.
A multiple chime will also sound when this message
is displayed.
2-88

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.
~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~
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 3/4 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 Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in 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 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.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
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.
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.
4-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
both rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road conditions. As you
brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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 stor>, 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.
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.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Since your vehicle is equipped with Stabilitrak, you will
see the STABILITY SYS ENGAGED message
on the
Driver Information Center. See “Stability Sys 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.
To help you steer in the direction you want to go, during
certain sharp or sudden cornering maneuvers, gear selection
is controlled. This will maximize the available
drive wheel torque and minimize the transaxle response
time and shift activity. During this kind of maneuver, the
transaxle shifts automatically as vehicle speed changes.
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.
4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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.
4-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes
can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes.
Try to avoid puddles.
But if
you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.
I -
A CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
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