lights CADILLAC DEVILLE 1993 7.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to
turn.
0 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 Cadillac’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 and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow-
or ice-covered road), ease your foot off the accelerator pedal as
soon as
you feel the vehicle start to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will
straighten out.
As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is
on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles. It’s hard to tell how fast the
vehicle ahead is going just by looking at its taillights.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older
these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice
as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For
example, if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear
sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot
of things invisible that
should remain visible
- such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or
even trains blocking railway crossings. You may want to put
on your
sunglasses after you have pulled into a brightly-lighted service or
refreshment area. Eyes shielded from that glare may adjust more quickly
to darkness back
on the road. But be sure to remove your sunglasses
before you leave the service area.
IOU can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a
second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the
dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t
lower the high beams, or
a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down
a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights.
If there is a line
of opposing traffic, make occasional glances over the line of headlights to
make certain that one
of the vehicles isn’t starting to move into your lane.
Once you are past the bright lights, give your eyes time to readjust before
resuming speed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - High Beams
If the vehicle approaching you has its high beams on, signal by flicking
yours to high and then back to low beam. This is the usual signal to
lower
the headlight beams. If the other driver still doesn’t lower the beams,
resist the temptation to put your high beams on. This only makes
two
half-blinded drivers.
7
On a freeway, use your high beams only in remote areas where you won’t
impair approaching drivers. In some places, like cities, using high beams
is illegal.
When you follow another vehicle on
a freeway or highway, use low
beams. True, most vehicles now have day-night mirrors that enable the
__ driver to reduce glare. But outside mirrors are not of this type and high
beams from behind can bother the driver ahead.
A Few More Night Driving Suggestions
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and
out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the
inside
of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Tobacco smoke also
makes inside glass surfaces very filmy and can be a vision hazard if it’s left
there.
Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly. You might even want
to keep a cloth and some glass cleaner
in your vehicle if you need to clean
- your glass frequently.
Remember that your headlights light up far less
of a roadway when you
are in a turn or curve.
Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted
objects.
Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim,
so
should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You could find out the hard way: when you have to slow, turn, move out
to pass
-- or if you get hit by a gust of wind. You could suddenly find
yourself out of control.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much
tread
or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of
water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t
a hard
and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it
is raining, and be careful.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
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Turn on your headlights -- not just your parking lights -- to help make
you more visible to others.
Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming from behind. You may want to
use your headlights even in daytime if it’s raining hard.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by
road spray.
If the road spray is so heavy you are actually blinded, drop
back. Don’t pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better
than having an accident.
Use your defogger if it helps.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires”
in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine DRZWNG IN FOG, MISTAND HAZE
d
. ..
Fog can occur with high humidity or heavy frost. It can be so mild that
you
can see through it for several hundred feet (meters). Or it might be
so thick that you can see only a few feet (meters) ahead. It may come
suddenly to an otherwise clear road. And it can be
a major hazard.
When you drive into a fog patch, your visibility will be reduced quickly.
The biggest dangers are striking the vehicle ahead or being struck by the
one behind.
Try to “read” the fog density down the road. If the vehicle
ahead starts to become less clear or, at night,
if the taillights are harder to
see, the fog is probably thickening. Slow down to give traffic behind you a
chance to slow down. Everybody then has a better chance to avoid hitting
the vehicle ahead.
A patch of dense fog may extend only for a few feet (meters) or for miles
(kilometers);
you can’t really tell while you’re in it. You can only treat the
situation with extreme care.
One common fog condition
-- sometimes called mist or ground fog -- can
happen
in weather that seems perfect, especially at night or in the early
morning in valley and low, marshy areas. You can be suddenly enveloped
in thick, wet haze that may even coat your windshield. You can often spot
these
fog patches or mist layers with your headlights. But sometimes they
can be waiting for you
as you come over a hill or dip into a shallow valley.

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Start your windshield wipers and washer, to help clear accumulated road
dirt. Slow down carefully.
Tips on Driving in Fog
If you get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low beam, even in
daytime. You’ll see -- and be seen -- better.
Don’t use your high beams. The light will bounce off the water droplets
that make up fog and reflect back at you.
Use your defogger.
In high humidity, even a light buildup of moisture on
the inside
of the glass will cut down on your already limited visibility. Run
your windshield wipers and washer occasionally. Moisture can build up
on the outside glass, and what seems to be fog may actually be moisture
on the outside of your windshield.
Treat dense fog as an emergency.
Try to find a place to pull off the road.
Of course you want to respect another’s property, but you might need to
put something between you and moving vehicles
-- space, trees, telephone
poles, a private driveway, anything that removes you from other traffic.
If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are unsure whether you are
away from the road, turn your lights on, start your hazard warning
flashers, and sound your horn at intervals or when you hear approaching
traffic.
Pass other vehicles in fog only if you can see far enough ahead to pass
safely. Even then, be prepared to delay your pass if you suspect the fog is
worse up ahead.
If other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.

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 kmh) might seem like only 20 mph
(30 krn/h). Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp
designed
for 20 mph (30 km/h)!
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 LEAWNG ONA LONG TMP
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?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
c
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 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?
0 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.
HIGHFKAY HIPNOSIS
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
a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
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A CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause
deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can’t see it or smell it,
so you
might not know it is in your vehicle. Clear
away snow from
around the base of your vehicle
, especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around again from time to time to
be sure snow doesn’t collect there.
Open a window just
a little on the side of the vehicle that’s away
from the wind. This will help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you
run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it
keeps the battery charged. You
will need a well-charged battery to restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlights. Let
the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to
preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so
until help comes.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see
“Carbon Monoxide’’ in the Index). Dirt and water can, too.
e Don’t let the steel in a hitch contact the aluminum on your bumper. If
you do, the two will corrode. You can use something like paint or
plastic tape to separate the steel and aluminum. The same steel to
aluminum problem can happen with fasteners, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue
will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always leave just enough
slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag
on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to
tap into your vehicle’s brake system.
If you do, both brake systems won’t
work well,
or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road,’you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel
of handling and braking with the added weight of
the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is
now
a good deal longer and not nearly so responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
L
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