trailer CADILLAC DEVILLE 1997 7.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
If you have a DeVille or a DeVille d’Elegance without
the optional trailer towing package, the maximum trailer
weight is
1,000 lbs. (450 kg).
If you have a DeVille Concours, DeVille or a DeVille
d’Elegance with the optional trailer towing package, the
maximum trailer weight should never be more than
3,900 lbs.
(1 773 kg) total including the load. But even
that can be too heavy. The
optional trailer towing package provides the
necessary oil cooler for the DeVille or the DeVille
d’Elegance to tow a trailer heavier than
1,000 lbs.
(450 kg). The DeVille Concours is equipped with this
cooler as standard equipment.
The maximum trailer weight for your vehicle can be
determined from the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight
(GCVW). The GCVW
= curb weight + passenger’s
weight
+ cargo weight + trailer weight. The GCVW
should never weigh more than
8,100 lbs. (3 677 kg) total
loaded vehicle and trailer.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write
us at:
Cadillac Customer Assistance Center
Cadillac Motor
Car Division
30009 Van Dyke
P.O. Box 9025
Warren,
MI 48090-9025
In Canada, write to:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
4-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the
curb weight
of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in
it,
and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue
load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh
12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight
(B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the
Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge of the
driver’s door or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the
Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW
limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the
trailer tongue.
4-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hitches Safety Char I
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 and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here
are
some rules to follow:
e
e
e
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use a
properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and sway control of the proper size. This equipment
is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
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.
Trailer Brakes
Because you have anti-lock brakes, don’t try to tap into
your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system.
If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well,
or at all.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes
so you’ll be able to maintain them properly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Trailer- Wiring Harness
If your vehicle is equipped with the 3,666-&. (1 360 kg)
trailer towing package option, you will have a wiring
harness located under the trunk trim. The harness is a
five wire harness, with connector.
These trailer-wiring harness color codes should be
followed when connecting it to your trailer:
0 WHITE: Direct trailer ground for trailer lamps.
0 BROWN: Parking lamps.
0 YELLOW Left turn and stoplamps.
0 GREEN: Right turn and stoplamps.
BLUE: Auxiliary circuit.
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 as
responsive as your vehicle
is by itself.
Before you
start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
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 lamps 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.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
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 may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Cadillac dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
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 may think drivers
behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) or less to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P).
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK (P) firmly and apply your parking brakes.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
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, belt, 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.
4-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Attach a separate safety chain around the end of each
axle inboard
of the spring.
Engine Overheating
You will find an ENGINE COOLANT HOT-IDLE
ENGINE message or a STOP ENGINE ENGINE
OVERHEATED message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). There is also an engine temperature
warning light and/or gage on the instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light” or
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
Should a low coolant condition exist and the message
STOP ENGINE ENGINE OVERHEATED is displayed,
an overheat protection mode which alternates firing
groups
of four cylinders helps prevent engine damage.
In this mode, you will notice a loss in power and engine
performance. This operating mode allows your vehicle
to be driven to a safe place in
an emergency; you may
drive up to
50 miles (80 km). Towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to
avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will
be severely degraded. Repair
the cause
of coolant loss, change the oil and reset
the oil life indicator. See “Engine Oil, When to
Change” in the Index.
. 5-15

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.
0 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 minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Dial temperature control to the highest heat setting
and open the window, as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- OVERDFUVE (a) or THIRD (3).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 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.
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. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” listed previously in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level
is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83
000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
Use such as limousine service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Cadillac dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions
here,
or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting a
fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
e While pulling a trailer.
6-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Battery ...................................... 6-30
Jump Starting
................................. 5-4
No Charge Message
........................... 2-89
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry
.............. 2- 11
Volts High Message ........................... 2-89
Volts Low Message
........................... 2-89
Warnings
................................ 5.4. 5.6
Battery Guard Storage ........................... 2-52
Battery Saver
.................................. 2-50
Exterior Lighting
............................. 2-50
Inadvertent Power
............................ 2-52
BBB Auto Line ................................ 7-11
Better Business Bureau Mediation
.................. 7- 11
Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-28
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-30
System Warning Light
......................... 2-76
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-33
Wear
....................................... 6-29
Brake Vacuum Problem Message
.................. 2-90
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking
in Emergencies .......................... 4- 10
Break-Iny New Vehicle
.......................... 2-20
Brightness Control .............................. 2-50
Bulb Replacement .............................. 6-3 1
BTSI ......................................... 2-33 Capacities
and Specifications
.................... 6-69
Carbon Monoxide
.................... 2.34.4.29. 4.36
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3.17.3.20. 3.24
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-31
CeUularTelephone
.............................. 2-63
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-60
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp. Bulb Replacement
... 6-37
Central Door Unlocking System
.................... 2-4
Certification Label
.............................. 4-31
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-48
Change Engine Oil Message
...................... 2-90
Change Trans Fluid Message
...................... 2-90
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-25
Charging System Indicator Light
................... 2-75
Check Brake Fluid
Level Message ................. 2-90
Check Coolant Level Message
..................... 2-90
Check Fuel Gage Message
........................ 2-90
Check Oil Level Message
........................ 2-90
Check Washer Fluid Message
..................... 2-91
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-48
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-56
Child Restraints
................................ 1-37
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-39
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-41
Securing in
the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-43
TopStrap
................................... 1-38
Where to Put
................................ 1-37
Chrome Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 6-54
Cassette Tape Player Errors
............. 3.17. 3.20.
3-24
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-30
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
CHMSL
...................................... 6-37