tow CADILLAC DEVILLE 1993 7.G Owner's Manual

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
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.-.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This
lets you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
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
th.e right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
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 has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel
will
flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing
a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will
flash for turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Be sure the parking brake has released.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid
(don’t overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system, and brake
adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TOMNG YOUR mHICLE
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your
Cadillac. The usual towing equipment
is a sling-type, or a wheel-lift, or
car carrier tow truck.
CAR CARRIER
.
SLING-TYPE
WHEEL LIFT
.
J
n
J
V
7
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front with sling-type
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
equipment.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this
manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The
operator may want to see them.
~ A CAUTION:
, To help avoid injury to you or others: .. B c
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
N- . er tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
0
0 Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the
tow truck.
0 Always use separate safety chains on each side when towing a
vehicle.
0 Never use “J” hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
*, 1 J
f
L
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering
wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the vehicle’s steering
column lock for this. The transaxle should be in Neutral and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have
your vehicle towed on the front wheels, unless you must. If
the vehicle must be towed on the front wheels, don’t go more than 55
mph (88 km) or farther than 500 miles (800 km) or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have to
be supported on a dolly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A C UTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t properly secured.
This can cause a collision, serious personal injury and vehicle
damage. The vehicle should be tightly secured with chains
or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps, canvas
etc.) that can be cut by sharp edges underneath the
vehicle. webbing,
towed
Front - -,wing Hook- Ups
Do
not tow wi
Use safety chains and wheel straps.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - ., Rear Towing Hook-Ups
Attach “T” hook chains to the
slots
in bottom of floor pan
No 4x4 wood beam required. Position lower sling cross bar directly under
the rear bumper.
Attach
a separate safety chain
around
each control arm
inboard
of the springs.
235

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine --
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
-- . If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot
when you:
- Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
-
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
- minute or so:
- 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to “N” (Neutral).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
-
-
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right
away.
237
e. If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine for two or three
minutes while you’re parked,
to see if the warning stops. But then, if you
still have the warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 8. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on
the pressure cap
line up like this.
IF A TIRE GOES FLAT
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out
of a tire, it’s much more likely
to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake
to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout,
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under
control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off
the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine c
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened,
can make the wheel nuts become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off' and cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove
any rust or dirt from the places where the wheel
attaches
to the vehicte. In a emergency, you could use a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wipe
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust'or dirt off.
-I
Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or spare
wheel. Place the spare on the wheel mounting surface.
I .Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you do, the nuts
might
come loose. Your wheel could fall off, causing a serious
accident.
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