CADILLAC ELDORADO 1993 10.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Obey all posted speed limits. But remember that they are for ideal
road, weather and visibility conditions.
You may need to drive below
the posted limit
in bad weather or when visibility is especially poor.
Pull to the right (with care) and stop clear of intersections when you
see or hear emergency vehicles.
FREEWAYDIWTNG
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.
The
most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and
keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are
driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a
smooth traffic flow. Treat
the left lane
on a freeway as a passing lane.
Entering the Freeway
At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you
have a clear view
of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp,
you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow.
If traffic is light, you may have no problem. But if it is
heavy, find a gap as you move along the entering lane and time
your
approach. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
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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 quicklyover your shoulder to make
sure there isn’t another 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

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra
warning that you are about
to slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed
is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might seem like only 20 mph
(30 kmih). Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp
designed for
20 mph (30 kmih)!
DMNG A LONG DISTANCE
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still
many made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in
some ways.
The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you
drive at higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the
wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle are in good
shape. Here are some tips for a successful long trip.
BEFORE LEAVTNG ONA LONG TRIP
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when
you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too
many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and
shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and
maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs service, have it done before
starting out.
Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Cadillac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and
willing
to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel. Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels‘?
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Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important
to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the
tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are
the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure‘?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid
a major storm
system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
ON THE ROAD
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel
to about 100 miles (160 km) or two
hours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some
refreshment like
coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to
make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want
to watch for some situations not usually
found on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access to the highway,
no passing zones and school zones,
vehicles turning left and right
off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked
vehicles, and even animals.
HIGWAY mPlVOSIS
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just
plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack
of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum
of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and
the rush
of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than
What
can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen. and
you could crash and be injured.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
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Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan
the road ahead and to the sides. Check
your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time
to
time. This can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness. But
don’t wear sunglasses at night.
They will drastically reduce your
overall vision at the very time you need all the seeing power
you have.
If you get sleepy, pull
off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
HILL AND MOUNTMN ROADS
J
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
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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 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.
<
A CAUTION: .r S<*.
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
engine assist your brakes on
a stef downhil’ lope.
- - i. .*$
Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral) or with the ignition off is
dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle
in gear when you
go downhill.
0 Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can
climb the hill better.
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.
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It takes longer to pass anothcr vehicle when you're going uphill. You'll
want to le.ave extra room to pass. If a vehicle is passing you and
doesn't have enough room, slow down to make
it easier for the other
vehicle to get
by.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in
your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs
on mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades, passing
or no-passing zone.s, a
falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Winter driving can present special problems. See "Winter Driving"
in
the Index.
Parking on Hills
203
Hills and mountains mean spectacular scenery. But please be careful
where you stop
if you decide to look at the view or take pictures. Look for
pull-offs or parking areas provided for scenic viewing.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Another part of this manual tells how to use your parking brake (see
“Parking Brake” in the Index). But
on a mountain or steep hill, you can
do one more thing. You can turn your front wheels to keep your vehicle
from rolling downhill or out into traffic.
Here’s how:
Parking Downhill
I
Turn your wheels to
the right.
You don’t have to jam
your tires against the
curb,
if there is a curb.
A gentle contact is all
you need.
Parking Uphill
If there is a curb, turn
your wheels to the left
if the curb is at the
right side
of your
vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If there is no curb
when you’re parking
uphill, turn the wheels
to the right.
If there
is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left side of a
one-way street, your wheels should be turned to the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transaxle into “P”
(Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out
of “P” (Park). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque
lock, always be sure
to shift into “P” (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “ Shifting Into ’P’ (Park)” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some
of the pressure from the transaxle, so
you can pull the shift lever out of “P” (Park).
WINTER DRZVTNG
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your Cadillac in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine
0 Snow tires can help in loose snow, but they may give you less traction
on ice than regular tires.
If you do not expect to be driving in deep
snow, but may have to travel over ice, you may not want
to switch to
snow tires at all.
coolant
mix is correct.
0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your trunk.