warning CADILLAC DEVILLE 2000 8.G User Guide

2-77
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when you start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.

2-78
Traction Control System Warning Light
United States Canada
This warning light should come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning light doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem. If it
stays on, or comes on when you're driving, there 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:

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.

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.

2-79
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that your
engine has overheated. You
should stop your vehicle
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. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Analog Cluster Digital Cluster
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, the engine is
too hot.
That reading means the same thing as the warning
light
-- the engine coolant has overheated.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-87
The RANGE display shows how far the computer thinks
you can travel with the fuel that is in the tank. The
computer does not know what driving conditions will be
like for the rest of your trip, so the range is estimated
based on the recent fuel economy. Therefore, the range
reading may change as your driving habits change.
Going from city to highway driving may increase the
range reading.
If the range display shows LO, you should stop for fuel
as soon as possible.
On the analog cluster, fuel data can be obtained by
pressing the INFO button. See ªDriver Information
Centerº in the Index.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
This display gives you the status of many of your
vehicle's systems. The DIC is also used to display driver
personalization features and warning/status messages.
DIC Controls and Displays
INFO: Pressing this button up or down will display the
MILES RANGE (Analog Cluster), MPG AVG, MPG
INST, GAL FUEL USED, AVG MPH, TIMER,
BATTERY VOLTS, RPM TACHOMETER (Digital
Cluster), ENGINE OIL LIFE, TRANS FLUID LIFE,
PHONE (If Equipped), FEATURE PROGRAMMING
and Blank Display.

2-90
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 while driving but may take a
few hours to do so. Consider using an auxiliary charger
(be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions) to
boost the battery after returning home or to a final
destination. 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
DIC by pressing the INFO button. The normal range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
- 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within 200 miles. See ªEngine Oilº and ªFilter
Recommendationsº in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must
be reset. See ªOil Life Indicator, How to Resetº 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 ON to inform the driver that
the brake fluid level is low. Have the brake system
serviced by a technician as soon as possible. See ªBrake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
- 2: This message
will appear when there is a low level of engine coolant.
Have the cooling system serviced by a technician as
soon as possible.
CHECK FUEL GAGE
- 50: (Analog Cluster Only)
This message will appear when the fuel supply is less
than 5 gallons (18.9 L) and the display is turned off.
A single chime will also sound when this message
is displayed.
CHECK GAS CAP
- 61: This message will appear if
the gas cap has not been fully tightened. You should
recheck your gas cap to ensure that it's fully tightened.

2-92
ENGINE OVERHEATED, STOP ENGINE - 42: This
message will appear when the engine has overheated.
Stop and turn the engine off immediately to avoid severe
engine damage. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
A multiple chime will also sound when this message
is displayed.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED
- 41: This message
informs you that the vehicle is reducing engine power
because the transaxle is being placed in gear under
conditions that may cause damage to the vehicle's
engine, transaxle or ability to accelerate.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
- 11 : This message serves as a
warning that the fuel level in the tank is critically low.
Stop for fuel soon. A single chime will also sound when
this message is displayed.
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
- 23: If it's dark enough
outside and the headlamps and Twilight Sentinel

controls are off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
message will display on the DIC. This message
informs the driver that turning on the exterior lamps is
recommended even though the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) are still illuminated. It has become dark enough
outside to require the headlamps and/or other exterior
lamps. This message will also appear if the optional
Rainsense wiping feature is on and the Twilight
Sentinel

is off.ICE POSSIBLE
- 13: This message appears when the
outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy
road conditions.
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR
- 142: The left rear door
is open or ajar when this message appears. The ignition
must be in ON and the transaxle not in PARK (P) for
this message to display. A chime will also sound when
the vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE
- 35: If this
message appears while the engine is running, stop the
engine and do not operate it until the cause of low oil
pressure is corrected. Severe damage to the engine can
result. A multiple chime will also sound when this
message is displayed.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
- 141: The passenger's
door is open or ajar when this message appears. The
ignition must be in ON and the transaxle not in
PARK (P) for this message to display. A chime will
also sound when the vehicle's speed is greater than
3 mph (4.8 km/h).
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR
- 143: The right rear
door is open or ajar when this message appears. The
ignition must be in ON and the transaxle not in
PARK (P) for this message to display. A chime will also
sound when the vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph
(4.8 km/h).

4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
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
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally 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 Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there's a problem with the
anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.

4-9
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 feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
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.
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 ªDriver Information
Center Messagesº 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
ªCruise Controlº in the Index.)United States Canada
This warning light will come on to let you know if
there's a problem with your traction control system.
See ªTraction Control System Warning Lightº in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

4-16
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.
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
SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability Sys Engaged Messageº 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 ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

4-22 Driving Through Flowing Water
CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. If
you try to drive through flowing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can be
carried away. As little as six inches of flowing
water can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants could
drown. Don't ignore police warning signs, and
otherwise be very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.

Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See
ªTiresº in the Index.)