brakes CADILLAC DEVILLE 1998 7.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH -’ 8: This message
shows that the electrical charging system is
overcharging (more than 16 volts). To avoid being
stranded, have the electrical system checked by your
dealership. You can reduce the charging overload by
using the accessories. Turn on the lamps and radio, set
the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed on HI,
and turn the rear window defogger on.
You can monitor
battery voltage on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
by pressing the
INFO button. The normal range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts when the engine is running.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW - 6: This message will
appear when the electrical system is charging less than
10 volts or if the battery has been drained. If this
message appears immediately after starting,
it is possible
that the generator can still recharge the battery. The
battery should recharge and may take a few hours to do
so. Consider using an auxiliary charger to boost the
battery after returning home or to a final destination.
(Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when
recharging the battery.)
If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem.
To help the
generator recharge the battery quickly, you can reduce
the load on the electrical system by turning
off the
accessories. You can monitor battery voltage on the Driver Information Center (DIC) by pressing the
INFORMATION
(INFO) button. The normal range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM -108: The circuit in
the brake booster vacuum has shorted or is loose when
this message appears. Your vehicle may lose power
brakes but you will still have the use of manual brakes.
The power brakes will not be affected if the problem
is
caused by a failed sensor. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately at your dealership.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL - 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within
200 miles (322 km). See “Engine Oil” and “Filter
Recommendations’’ in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must be reset. For more information, see “How to Reset the
Oil Life Indicator” in the Index.
CHANGE TRANS FLUID - 47: This message will
appear when it is time to replace the transaxle fluid. See
the Maintenance Schedule booklet for the proper fluid
and change intervals.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID - 37: This message will
display if the ignition is in RUN to inform the driver that
the brake fluid level is low. Check the brake reservoir
level and add fluid as needed. Have the brake system
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TRACTION ENGAGED - 91: When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is displayed,
so
adjust your driving accordingly. This message will stay
on for a few seconds after the traction control system
stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF - 89: This message will be displayed
after the traction control has been turned off.
TRACTION READY - 90: This message informs the
driver that the traction control system
is available. This
occurs when the traction
ordoff button in the glove box
has been returned to an on position (pressing the button
once turns the traction control system off pressing the
button again turns the system back on). This message
also self-cancels after five seconds.
TRACTION SUSPENDED - 56: This message
displays when the traction control system has been
temporarily shut
off because your vehicle’s brakes have
overheated. This message does not indicate a problem
with your vehicle’s traction control system. After a few
minutes, the traction control system will be available
again and the TRACTION READY message
will appear.
TRANS FLUID RESET - 48: With the engine not
running and the ignition on, press and hold the
OFF and
rear defog buttons until the TRANS FLUID RESET message appears on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) (between
five and 20 seconds).
TRANS HOT IDLE ENG - 112: This messages
indicates that the transaxle fluid in your vehicle is too
hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools
down or until this message is removed.
TRUNK OPEN - 24: This message indicates that the
trunk is open when your vehicle’s ignition is in
RUN.
TURN SIGNAL ON - 20: This message is a reminder,
after driving about
1 mile (1.6 km/h), that you have the
turn signal on. A multiple chime will also sound when
this message is displayed.
VEHICLE OVERSPEED - 52: A failure in the
suspension control system has occurred when this
message appears. The PCM determines the speed your
vehicle is limited to. Have your vehicle serviced if this
message appears.
VEHICLE SPEED LIMITED TO XXX MPH
(KM/H) - 113: A failure in the suspension control
system has occurred when this message appears. The
PCM determines the speed your vehicle is limited to.
Have your vehicle serviced if this message appears.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Control of a Vehicle Braking
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. Braking action involves
perception
time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s
reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second: But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver,.
and
as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even
in 3/4‘ of a second, a vehicle
moving at
60 rnph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And,
of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount
,of brake force applied.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more
of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of
your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless’heavy braking. Some people drive in Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.. This is a.
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. ‘Your brakes will wear out much faster
if you Your
vehicle has anti-lock brakes
(ABS). ABS is an
,advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
do a lot of heavy braking.
If you keep pace with the
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,.
traffic and
allow realistic. following distances, you will
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may
eliminate a lot
of unnecessary braking. That means
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
better braking and longer brake life.
is going on, and you ‘may even notice that your brake
If your engine ever stops while,you’re driving, brake pedal moves a
little. This is normal.
no-&mlly but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up,
it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
ANTI -
LOCK
’ If there’s a problem with the
1 anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System -Warning Light” in
the Index. ~
’( 4-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road conditions.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out
in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at
both rear wheels. You
can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear the
anti-lock pump or motor operate, and
1 1 the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Traction Control System
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits wheel
spin.
This is especially useful in slippery road conditions.
The system operates only
if it senses that one or both of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When
this happens, the system works the front brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION
ENGAGED message will display on
the Driver Information Center when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. See “Driver Information
Center Messages” in the Index. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this is normal. If
your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in
the Index.)
TRACTION
CONTROL
This warning light will come on to let you know if
there’s a problem with your
traction control system.
See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the system
on. But you can turn the
traction control system
off if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system
off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See ‘.‘Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 thejr work where the tires meet
the road. Adding
the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control. Refer to
“Traction Control System”
in the Index.
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.
If you have Stabilitrak, you may see the STABILITY
ENGAGED message on the Driver Information Center.
See “Stability Engaged Message’’ in the Index.
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 vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
~ 4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right
lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
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 lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
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 vehicle’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.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.
If your traction control system is
off, then an
acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Wet braKes can cause accidents. They won-r. work
as well in
a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or
a car wash, apply your .brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through
some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes.
Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can’t, try to
slow down before you hit them.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and
also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is
this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down
a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could
get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none going
down
a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope. Coasting downhill
in NEUTRAL (N) or
with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down 0
0
0
0
to a lower gek The lower gearshelp cool your engine
and transaxle, and you
can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving
on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You
may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a
falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
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