2007 CADILLAC SRX steering wheel

What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and
walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart
way to nd out.
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often
have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks
because they are more susceptible to the
effects of erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill,
you need to take some special steps.
Use a low gear and get a rm grip on the
steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to
maintain your speed. Do not use more power
than you need, because you do not want
your wheels to start spinning or sliding.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to
nd another route.
{CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can
be dangerous. You could lose traction,
slide sideways, and possibly roll over.
You could be seriously injured or killed.
When driving up hills, always try to go
straight up.
Ease up on your speed as you approach the
top of the hill.
Attach a ag to the vehicle to make you more
visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
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As you are backing down the hill, put your left
hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock
position. This way you will be able to tell if your
wheels are straight and maneuver as you
back down. It is best that you back down the
hill with your wheels straight rather than in
the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too
far to the left or right will increase the
possibility of a rollover.
Here are some things youmust notdo if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting
into NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine
and regain forward momentum. This will not
work. Your vehicle will roll backwards
very quickly and you could go out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop
the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake.
Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking
brake, and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep
enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep
enough to cause you to roll over if you turn
around. If you cannot make it up the hill, you
must back straight down the hill.
Q:Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down
the hill and decide I just cannot do it. What
should I do?
A:Set the parking brake, put the transmission in
PARK (P), and turn off the engine. Leave the
vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the
uphill side and stay clear of the path the
vehicle would take if it rolled downhill.
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Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, the wheels
will not get good traction. You cannot accelerate
as quickly, turning is more difficult, and you
will need longer braking distances.
It is best to use a low gear when you are in
mud —the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In
really deep mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle
moving so you do not get stuck.
When you drive on sand, you will sense a change
in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how
loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed
sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes, the tires
will tend to sink into the sand. This has an effect
on steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive
at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns
or abrupt maneuvers.Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire
traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose
control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating.
And, if you do get moving, poor steering and
difficult braking can cause you to slide out
of control.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Underwater springs,
currents under the ice, or sudden thaws
can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your
vehicle on safe surfaces only.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the
body structure, steering, suspension, wheels,
tires, and exhaust system for damage. Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need
to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
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Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
Turn the StabiliTrak
®System off. SeeStabiliTrak®
System on page 283. Then shift back and forth
between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release
the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning the
wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you
will cause a rocking motion that may free your
vehicle. If that does not get your vehicle out after
a few tries, it may need to be towed out. Or,
you can use the recovery hook if your vehicle has
one. If your vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 328.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of
all occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight it may properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the Certication/Tire
label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
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If you have a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicle, it
can be towed using a dolly. If you have an
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicle, it can only be
towed on a at-bed trailer. To tow your RWD
vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
1. Put the rear wheels on the dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove
the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for
towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
Level Control
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle level
as the load changes. It’s automatic — you
don’t need to adjust anything.
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Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a
good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can
return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one
hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left,
just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to the right. Always
back up slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while
trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer
won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your dealer. The arrows on your
instrument panel will ash whenever you signal a
turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
339

Service........................................................ 346
Accessories and Modications................... 347
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 347
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 348
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 348
Fuel............................................................. 349
Gasoline Octane........................................ 349
Gasoline Specications.............................. 350
California Fuel........................................... 350
Additives................................................... 350
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 351
Filling the Tank......................................... 352
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 354
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 354
Hood Release........................................... 355
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 356
Engine Oil................................................. 360
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 363
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 365Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 367
Engine Coolant.......................................... 368
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 371
Engine Overheating................................... 372
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 374
Cooling System......................................... 374
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 379
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 380
Brakes...................................................... 381
Battery...................................................... 385
Jump Starting............................................ 386
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 392
Rear Axle.................................................... 394
Front Axle................................................... 395
Bulb Replacement....................................... 396
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 396
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 396
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 397
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
343