steering CADILLAC DEVILLE 1994 7.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Window Lockout
__ Press the right side of the switch to disable rear passenger window
switches. This is a useful feature when
you have children as passengers.
HORN
To sound the horn, just press a corner of the air bag located in the center
of the steering wheel.
TILT WHEEL
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you
drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room
when you exit and enter the vehicle.
103

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To tilt the wheel, hold
the steering wheel and
pull the lever. Move
the steering wheel to
a
comfortable level, then
release the lever to
lock the wheel in
place.
TURN SIGNA/MULTIFUNCTION LEVER
The lever on the left side of the steering column includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlight High-Low Beam
.-
104

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TURN SIGNAL ON - 20
This message is a reminder, after driving about a mile, that you have your
turn signal on. r- e
r
i
I
i
F
i I
n
TRUNK OPEN - 24
This message indicates that your trunk is open when the ignition is ON.
VERY LOW REFRIGERANT A/C COMPRESSOR OFT - 12
This message means that the Air Conditioning System detects a
refrigerant level that is low enough to cause damage to the A/C
compressor. To avoid damage, the A/C compressor automatically turns
off and the Electronic Climate Control will automatically switch from
“AUTO” to “ECON” and remain there. Have your A/C system serviced
if
this message appears.
Speed Sensitive Steering (SSS)
This system varies the amount of steering effort proportionate to your
vehicle speed. Steering is easier at a lower speed for increased
maneuverability and parking ease.
As your vehicle speed increases, the
steering effort is also increased proportionately. At highway speeds the
amount
of steering effort is greatly increased to provide a manual like
steering feel for maximum control and enhanced vehicle stability.
Speed Sensitive Suspension
The Speed Sensitive Suspension automatically controls the ride of your
vehicle. The system controls damping forces in the shock absorbers and
struts in response to various speed and road conditions. There are three
dampening modes: Comfort, Normal and Firm. As the vehicle speed
increases, the firmness of the suspension increases. The system is in the
Comfort mode, for speeds less than
40 mph (65 km), normal mode for
speeds between 40 mph
(65 km) and’70 mph (110 km/h), and firm for
speeds greater than 70 mph
(1 10 km/h). The system also stiffens damping
during hard acceleration, braking and cornering for increased control.
The Speed Sensing Suspension controller is a computer used to control
and monitor the system. The computer receives inputs from acceleration
and determines optimum mode strut valving
(or suspension stiffness) for
your current operating conditions. The computer also receives feedback
147

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to
avoid the collision.
There’s something else about drinking and drivifig that many people
don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can
make crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spinal cord
and heart injuries. That means that
if anyone who has been drinking --
driver or passenger -- is in a crash, the chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not beendrinking.
And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for
drinking drivers.
CONTROL OFA VEHICLE
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to
go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three
systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road.
180

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you
can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can
help
you more than even the very best braking.
STEEMNG
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is
not functioning, you can steer but it
will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news
happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of us is subject to the same laws of
physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going
in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get
in a curve depends on the condition of your tires
and
the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly
accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration
can demand too much
of those places. You can lose control.
185

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator
pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of
course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road
conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before
you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the
curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For
example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a
car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right
in front of you. You can avoid these problems
by braking
-- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around the problem.
Your Cadillac can perform
very well in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as yowan from a
possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If
you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. r
186

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ........
The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good
reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts
properly. - -.
OFF=ROAD l2ECO’VE.Y
You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge
of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery
should
be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way,
steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can turn the steering wheel up to 114 turn until the right front tire
contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight
down the roadway.
187

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It helps avoid only the
acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, then an acceleration skid is also best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to
go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if
it occurs.
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
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
c-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by
shifting
to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is
skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or
packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface”
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.
DRn/lNG ATNIGHT
ia
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.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
behind
you.
space
between you and other vehicles.
191

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine __ Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot
that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may
appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps
of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a
curve or an overpass may remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear.
If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on
it.
Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You
should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn
on your hazard flashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
around you. If you have
no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats
-- anything you
can wrap .around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
_-_ are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things
- -_ you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
~.
205