ESP CADILLAC ELDORADO 1995 10.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 Cadillac’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 casing your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration
skid.
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.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3RIWNG 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.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust
your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well,
you may need to slow down and keep more
space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially
on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can
light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can
if your tires haven’t much
tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of
water is standing
on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple’’ the water’s
surface, there could
be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard
and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it
is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlamps -- not just your parking lamps -- to
help make you more visible to others.
0 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.
0 Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving with a Trailer
n 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 lights 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.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
c
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
5. Release the regular brakes.
your parking
brake.
When You Are Ready to Leave Afier Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .. i
k
5. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be
sure
the arrows on
the pressure cap
line up
like this.
Start the engine and allow
it to warm up. If the ENGINE COOLANT
LOW message does not appear on the Driver Information Center,
coolant
is at the proper fill level. If an ENGINE COOLANT LOW
message does appear, repeat steps 1 to 3 or see your dealer.
IF A TIRE GOES FLAT
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely
to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to
a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout,
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under
control by steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off
the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will help prevent
deposits from forming
in your engine and fuel system. That helps keep
your engine in tune and your emission control system working properly.
It’s good for your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with oxygenates. General Motors
recommends that you use gasolines with these blending materials, such as
MTBE and ethanol. By doing so, you can help clean the air, especially in
those parts
of the country that have high carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing reformulated
gasolines. These gasolines are specially designed to reduce vehicle
emissions. General Motors recommends that
you use reformulated
gasoline. By doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those parts
of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their gasolines contain
deposit control additives and oxygenates, and if they have been
reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
FUELS IN FOmIGN COUNTMES
If you plan on driving in another country outside the U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust system can
corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate quickly. Your vehicle’s
oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All of that means costly repairs that
wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for advice. Just tell
us
where you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
6-4
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales
(NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F (82OC to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km) when
outside temperatures are above
50°F ( 10°C). If it's colder than 50°F
(lO"C), you may have to drive longer.
To check the fluid level
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range,
pausing €or about three seconds in each range. Then,
position the shift lever in PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper fluid to bring the
level
into the cross-hatched area on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick hole to
bring it to the proper level. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint (OSL). Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is made
especially
for your automatic transaxle. Damage caused by fluid other
than DEXRON@-111
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid lcvel as described under “How to
Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
How to Reset Transaxle Fluid Change Indicator:
Your vehicle is equipped with a transaxle fluid change indicator. A
CHANGE TRANS FLUID message will display on the Information
Center when the powertrain computer determines that the transaxle fluid
needs to be changed or at each
100,000 miles (160 000 krn) interval,
whichever occurs first. When
this message appears, change the transaxle
fluid and reset the transaxle fluid life indicator
as follows:
1. Turn the key ON with the engine stopped.
2. Press and hold the OFF and REAR DEFOG buttons on the climate
control simultaneously until
the TRANS FLUID RESET message
appears
in the Information Center (between five and 20 seconds).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact sparc tire.
It should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure. Simply
looking at the tires
will not tell you the pressure, especially ii you have
radial tires
-- which may look properly inflated even if they’re
underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back on. They help
prevent leaks
by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10 000 to ‘13 000 km)
for any signs
of unusual wear. If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires
as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When it’s Time for
New Tires” and “Wheel
Replacement” later in this section
for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires
on the vehicle. The first rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled rotation intervals.
When rotating your
tires, always use
the
correct rotation pattern
shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust
the front and rear inflation
pressures as
shown on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain that
all wheel nuts are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the Index.
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