tow CADILLAC DEVILLE 1993 7.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine
running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is
not fully in
“P” (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, if
you leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could overheat
and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is
in “P” (Park) and your parking brake is firmly set before you
leave it. After you’ve moved the shift
lever into the “P” (Park) position,
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from “P” (Park) without first pulling it toward you.
If you can,
it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into “P” (Park).
SHIFTING OUT OF “P” (PARK)
Your Cadillac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brake before you can shift from “P” (Park) when the
ignition
is in the “Run” position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of “P” (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever --
push the shift lever all the way into “P” (Park) as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of “P” (Park), try this:
1. Turn the key to “Off.” Open and close the driver’s door to turn off the
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to “N” (Neutral).
Retained
Accessory Power feature.
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine m RUNNING YOUR ENGINE IZIiWLE YOUfRE I
PARKED
r It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to,
here are some things to know.
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A CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the air system control off could allow
dangerous exhaust into your vehicle (see the earlier Caution
under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if the fan switch is
at the highest
setting. One place this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a garage with the
engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See “Blizzard” in the
Index.)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is
not fully in
“P” (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake move the shift lever
to
“P” (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t move.
If you are parking on
a hill, or if you’re pulling a trailer, also see
“Parking on Hills” or “Towing
a lkailer” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident. If the green
arrows don’t go on at all when you signal a turn, check the fuse (see
“Fuses”
in the Index) and for burned-out bulbs.
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle’s lighting system (headlights, parking lights, fog
lamps, side marker lights and taillights) meet all applicable federal
lighting requirements, certain states and provinces may apply their own
lighting regulations that may require special attention before you operate
these lights. For example, some jurisdictions may require that you operate
your lower beam lights with fog lamps at all times, or that headlights be
turned on whenever you must use your windshield wipers. In addition,
most jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with parking lights, especially at
dawn
or dusk. It is recommended that you check with you own state or
provincial highway authority for applicable lighting regulations.
Headlight High-Low Beam
To change the
headlights
from low
beam to high or high
6-
low, pull the turn signai
lever all the way toward
you. Then release it.
-’
When the high beams
are
on, this blue light
on the instrument
7
panel also will be on.
94

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are
driving, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Pkase
follow
the manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights. They’re a big help.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Cadillac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one
part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light goes on, there could be a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
This light shoula
come
on and turn off as you
start the vehicle. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will
be ready to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you set your parking brake, and will
- stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem. If the
light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may
-_ notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service.
(See “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
121

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
I
Your brake system may not be working properly if the brake
warning light is on. Driving with the brake warning light
on can I
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. 1’
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With anti-lock, this light will go on when you start your engine and may
stay on for several seconds or
so. That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come
on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on or comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon
as
possible and turn the key off. Then start the engine to reset the system. If
the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your
Cadillac needs service. Unless the regular brake system warning light is
also
on, you will still have brakes, but not anti-lock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, see “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier in this part.
The anti-lock brake system warning light may also come on when you are
driving with a compact spare tire. If this happens, the light means you
won’t have anti-lock until you replace the compact spare with
a full-size
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122

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Expect other drivers to run stop signs when you are on a through street.
Be ready to brake if necessary as you go through intersections.
You may
not have to use the brake, but
if you do, you will be ready.
If you’re driving through a shopping center parking lot where there are
well-marked lanes, directional arrows, and designated parking areas,
expect some drivers to ignore all these markings and dash straight toward
one part
of the lot.
Pedestrians can be careless. Watch
for them. In general, you must give
way to pedestrians even if you know you have the right of way.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they
are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive
driving maneuver,
in both city and rural driving. You never know when
the vehicle in front
of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Here’s
a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most
dangerous time for driving in the
U.S. is very early on Sunday morning. In
fact, GM Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous
times for driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday.
The most dangerous time is Sunday from
3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time
is Sunday from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday
at
3 a.m. isn’t just a little more dangerous than it is at 10 a.m. It’s about
134 times more dangerous!
That leads to the next section.
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DRUNKEN DRMNG
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national
tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll,
claiming thousands
of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things
that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination
Vision
Police records show that half
of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol
- a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian,
had been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result
of someone
176

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Switch on your turn signal, check your rearview mirrors as you move
along, and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary.
Try to blend
smoothly with the traffic
flow.
Driving on the Freeway
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to
the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to
pass. If you are on
a two-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slow lane
and the left lane as the passing lane.
If you are on a three-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slower-speed
through lane, the middle lane as the higher-speed through lane, and the
left
lane as the passing lane.
Before changing lanes, check your rearview mirrors. Then use your turn
signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make
sure there isn’tanother vehicle in your “blind” spot.
If you are moving from an outside to a center lane on a freeway having
more than two lanes, make sure another vehicle isn’t about to move into
the same spot.
Look at the vehicles two lanes over and watch for telltale
signs: turn signals flashing, an increase in speed, or moving toward the
edge
of the lane. Be prepared to delay your move.
Once
you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a
reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.
Leaving the Freeway
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in
advance. Dashing across lanes at the last minute is dangerous. If you miss
your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
At each exit point is a deceleration lane. Ideally it should be long enough
for you to enter it at freeway speed (after signaling,
of course) and then
do your braking before moving onto the exit ramp. Unfortunately, not all
deceleration lanes are long enough
-- some are too short for all the
braking. Decide when to start braking. If you must brake
on the through
lane, and if there
is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little extra
203

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .- If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
let your engine do some
of the slowing down. Don’t make your brakes
do it all. Shift to
a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.
That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes.
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A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they
wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking
or even
none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your
enginc ssist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
- A ‘CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral) or with the ignition off is
dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of sllowing
down. They could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle
i :ea when yo1 ,a downhill,
0 Know how to go uphill. Shift down to “3” (Drive). This will help cool
your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.
- 0 Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center
of the road.
Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. That way, you won’t
be surprised by a vehicle coming toward you
in the same lane.
207

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep snow without
damaging it. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.
TOWING A TWLER
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‘ A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive properly, you
can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the
trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not work well -- or even at
all. You and your passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a
trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer.
To identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight
of the Trailer” that appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your
safety and that
of your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight.
The engine is required
to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
217

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
0 Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
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There are many different laws having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be
driving.
A good source for this information can be state or provincial
police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle
is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
1. Weight of the nailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,000 pounds (453 kg). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your
vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also
depend on any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice, or
you can write us at Cadillac.
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