1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE brakes

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CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Parking Brake Indicator Light
This light comes on when
the parking brake is set, and
it will stay on if the parking
brake does not fully release.
If you try to drive off with
the parking brake set, this
light will remain on.
This light should also come on briefly as you start the
vehicle. If it doesn't, have the light fixed so it will be
ready to remind you if the parking brake has not fully
released. For more information on how to release the
parking brake, see ªParking Brakeº in the Index.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when you start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.

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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 INFO 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 ENGINE OIL
- 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within 200 miles. See ªEngine Oilº and ªFilter
Recommendationsº in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must
be reset. See ªOil Life Indicator, How to Resetº in
the Index.
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 ªBrake
System Warning Lightº 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.

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STARTING DISABLED REMOVE KEY - 33: This
message will appear when the Personalized Automotive
Security System (PASS
-Key
III) senses that an
improper ignition key is being used to try to start the
vehicle. Check the ignition key for damage. If it is
damaged, it may need to be replaced. If you see no
damage, remove the key and try to start the vehicle
again. If it still does not start, try another ignition key.
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 Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
senses that the maximum speed for your vehicle has
been reached. The speed of your vehicle will surge as
the fuel supply is cut off. 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 control switch 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.

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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.
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.
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.

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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 ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº 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.

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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.
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.
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.
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.

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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 ªTraction
Control Systemº 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
may see the STABILITY SYS ENGAGED message on
the Driver Information Center. See ªStability Sys
Engaged Messageº 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 ªdriveº 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 ªBraking in
Emergenciesº 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.

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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 ªoverdrivingº
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.