towing CADILLAC DEVILLE 1996 7.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine key immediately. See your Cadillac dealer or a
locksmith for
key service.
If the STARTING DISABLED DUE TO THEFT
SYSTEM, REMOVE IGNITION KEY and WAIT
3 MINUTES messages are displayed, the key should
be cleaned and dried. After three minutes,
try again.
A START CAR message will appear at this time. If
the engine still does not start, wait 3 minutes and try a
duplicate key.
At this time, fuses should be checked (see
“Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index). If the engine
does not start with the duplicate key, your vehicle needs
service. See your Cadillac dealer
for service.
If the THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEM message is
displayed during vehicle operation,
your vehicle needs
servicing. Your vehicle will restart
if you turn it off;
however, your vehicle may be unprotected. See your
Cadillac dealer for service.
If an ignition key is lost or damaged, see your Cadillac
dealer
or a locksmith to have a new key made.
New Vehicle CLBreak-In’’
NOTICE:
Your modern Cadillac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it
will perform better in the long
run if
you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
0 Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing
a ’Ilrailer” in the Index for more
information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
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NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment; check
with your dealer. If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
(Canada
Only)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged
in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle Operation
The automatic transaxle has a shift lever located on the
steering column.
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
c PARK (P): This locks the front wheels. It’s the best
position to
use when you start the engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) 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 have 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 and
move the
shift lever to PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine THIRD (3): This position is also used for noma1
driving however,
it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
OVERDRIVE (0).
Here are examples for using THIRD (3) instead of
OVERDRIVE (@):
0 When driving on hilly, winding roads.
0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between
gears.
0 When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power. You
can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your
speed
as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want
to use your brakes off and on.
I NOTICE:
~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~
Don’t shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 rnph (105 kdh), or you can
damage your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
than
SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills,
or
in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (l), the transaxle won’t shift into first gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.)
I NOTICE:
~~
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object,
You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and damage
the transaxle. Use your brakes
to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
If your hand or arm is in the way of the pedal,
you could be hurt. The pedal springs back
quickly. Keep your hand and arm
away when you
use the manual’release lever.
I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer”
in the Index. This section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If
you have 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, use the steps
that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine p
I A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) 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 after
you move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
c
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If
you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
Power Windows
The controls are located near each window. Press the
control forward
to raise the window and press rearward
to lower.
c

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine P
P-
Charging System Indicator Light
I-el
When you turn the key to
RUN, this red light will
come
on briefly to show
that the alternator and
battery charging systems are working.
If this light stays on, you need service and you should
take your Cadillac
to the dealer at once. To save your
battery until you get there, turn off all accessories.
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 comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key
to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you
if there’s a
problem.
If
the light comes on while you are 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.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the Light Is Flashing’
The following may prevent more senous damage to
your vehicle:
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
e Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
0 If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as
it is possible. Did you
just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine
may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition.
Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to
turn the light off.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. FW your vehicle in PARK (P). Turn the
key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On
Steady” following.
If the light is still flashing follow the
previous steps, and drive
the vehicle to your dealer or
qualified service center for service.
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A CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and
injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash.
Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Wy to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the
seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing a Trailer
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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. Ask your Cadillac dealer for
advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly car! damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not .covered
by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Cadillac
dealer for important information
about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
proper towing equipment.
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 part. 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
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
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, including speed limit
restrictions, 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 if your trailer will
weigh
2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1 ,OOO miles
(1
600 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 kmh) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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