wiper blades CADILLAC DEVILLE 2003 8.G Owners Manual

Windshield Wipers
WIPER:Turn the band on the turn signal lever to
control the wipers.
MIST:Turn the band toward you to MIST and then
release it for a single wiping cycle. For more cycles, hold
the band on MIST longer.
LO or HI:Turn the band away from you to either LO
(low speed) or to HI (high speed), depending on
the wiper speed you want.
Delay:Turn the band to one of the delay positions to
set the wiper speed for a long or a short delay between
wipes. The closer you move it to LO, the shorter the
delay.OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn off the wipers.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Your vehicle is equipped with wiper-activated headlamps.
After the windshield wipers have been on for
approximately six seconds, the headlamps will
automatically turn on. See
Wiper Activated HeadlampsunderExterior Lamps on page 3-15for more information.
RainsenseŸ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior side of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror. It is used to automatically operate the
wipers by monitoring the amount of moisture build-up on
the windshield. Wipes occur as needed to clear the
windshield depending on driving conditions and the
sensitivity setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes will
occur. In heavy rain or snow, wipes will occur more
frequently. The RainsenseŸ wipers operate in a delay
mode as well as a continuous low or high speed as
needed. If the system is left on for long periods of time,
occasional wipes may occur without any moisture on the
windshield. This is normal and indicates that the
RainsenseŸ system is activated.
3-10

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It's wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank ®lled
with washer ¯uid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.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.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't
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.
4-18

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear or cracking. See ªWiper Blade
Checkº under
At Least Twice a Year on page 6-10.
It's a good idea to clean or replace the wiper blade
assembly on a regular basis or when worn. For proper
windshield wiper blade length and type, see
Normal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 5-103.
To replace the wiper blade assembly, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY and turn the
wipers on. Position the wipers on the windshield
in the mid-wipe position. Then with a door
open, turn the ignition to OFF.2. Tip the blade up almost to a T position and push
down on the tab to release the wiper blade
assembly.
3. To install, align the wiper blade with the loop on the
wiper blade assembly, and push up to snap it into
place.
5-59

Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint ®nish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade
or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strength
glass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean if beads do
not form when you rinse it with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels
Your vehicle may be equipped with either aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don't use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
them because you could damage the surface. Do not
use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Use chrome polish only on chrome-plated wheels, but
avoid any painted surface of the wheel, and buff off
immediately after application.
Don't take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner.
Notice:When applying a tire dressing, always take
care to wipe off any overspray or splash from all
painted surfaces on the body or wheels of the
vehicle. Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint ®nish and tires.
5-89

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield. Also see
ªWindshield Wiper and Wiper Bladesº under
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-88.
Weatherstrip Lubrication
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-15.
Automatic Transaxle Check
Check the transaxle ¯uid level; add if needed. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-21. A ¯uid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair if
needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
speci®ed in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hinges and latches, including those for the
hood, rear compartment, interior glove box and
console doors. Part D tells you what to use. More
frequent lubrication may be required when exposed to a
corrosive environment.
6-10

Center Console Storage Area...........................2-51
Center Flex Storage Unit.................................2-52
Center Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts....1-21
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-58
Chains, Tires..................................................5-70
Charging System Light....................................3-46
Checking Coolant............................................5-26
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-60
Check...........................................................3-50
Engine Light...............................................3-50
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-90
Child Restraints..............................................1-35
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-41
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-41
Top Strap...................................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-38Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-28
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.....5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-88
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-85
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-87
Cleaning Leather............................................5-86
Cleaning the Interior Plastic Components...........5-86
Cleaning the Mirror.................................2-40, 2-42
Cleaning the Speaker Covers...........................5-87
Cleaning the Top of the
Instrument Panel.........................................5-86
Cleaning Tires................................................5-89
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-86
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-89
Cleaning Wood Panels....................................5-87
Cleaning........................................................5-84
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-84
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Weatherstrips..............................................5-87
Climate Control System...................................3-36
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-36
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-39
Dual..........................................................3-29
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-33
Rear..........................................................3-34
Steering Wheel Controls...............................3-38
Comfort Controls, DIC Personalization................3-67
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