traction control CADILLAC DEVILLE 1998 7.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The electronics and computerization which were
pioneered by Cadillac in the
’70s came of age in the
’80s with Digital Fuel Injection and On-Board
Diagnostics in 1980, four wheel Anti-lock Brakes on
1986..models and Traction Control in the fall
of 1989.
The 1992 Seville
STS was the first car ever to win all
three major automotive awards: Car of the Year, Motor
Trend; Ten Best List, Car
& Driver; Car of the Year,
Automobile Magazine.
The year 1993 saw the introduction of the Northstar
system. The state
of the art system includes the 32 valve,
dual overhead camshaft, Northstar 4.6 liter
V8 engine,
4T80-E electronically controlled automatic transaxle,
road sensing suspension, speed sensitive steering, anti-lock brakes and traction control.
X
I
For more than nine decades Cadillac has been a leader in
quality and technical innovation.
Now more than ever,
Cadillac is “Creating a Higher Standard.”

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad mud splash can block your vision and you
could hit another vehicle or go
off the road.
Check the washer fluid level often.
Cruise Control
A CAIJTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See “Traction Control System” in
the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back
on.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25
mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator.
This can help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below
25 mph (40 M).
Cruise control shuts off when you apply your brakes.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Traction Control System Warning Light
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
ready to warn you if there’s TRACT^ 0 N
CONTROL have it fixed so it will be
I’ a problem.
i If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
i may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
1 If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will
turn off and the warning light will come on.
I 1 0 ‘If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn
off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and
stays on for an extended period of time when the
system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
This light tells you that your
engine has overheated. You
should stop your vehicle
’ ‘3
and.turn the engine off as
soon as’possible.
A warning
chime should
also sound if
this light comes on.
As a check,
the light should come on for a few seconds
when you start your engine.
Ih the section “Problems on
the Road,” this manual explains what to do. See “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.

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 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 To turn the system off, press
RAC
OFF button
.; . located inside of the glove
:. : :
The TRACTION OFF message will display on the
Driver Information Center. If the system is limiting
wheel spin when you press the button, the TRACTION
OFF message will display -- but the system won’t turn
off right away.
It will wait until there’s no longer a
current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The TRACTION READY message should display briefly on the Driver Information Center.
Braking in Emergencies
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.
Steering
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.
Magnas tec ~-
This system conrmuously adjusts the effort you feel
when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a
firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
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.
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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.
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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 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.
If you have Stabilitrak, you may see the STABILITY
ENGAGED message on the Driver Information Center. See “Stability Engaged Message” in the Index.
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.
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 brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or
“grip” and will need to be
very careful. What’s the worst time
for this? “Wet ice.’’ Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to
drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about
freezing
(32 OF; 0 O C) and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there.
Whatever the condition
-- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow
-- drive with caution.
c
Keep your traction control system on. It improves your
ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road.
Even though your vehicle has a traction control system,
you’ll want to slow down
and adjust your driving to the
road conditions. See “Traction Control System” in
the Index.
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