change time CADILLAC ELDORADO 1996 10.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
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 Stewing
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.
MAGNASTEER * (ETC Only)
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM MAGNASTEER,
a system that continuously adjusts the effort you feel when
steering at all vehicle speeds.
It provides ease when
parking yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Speed Sensitive Steering (SSS)
(Eldorado Only)
This system varies the amount of steering effort
proportionate to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier at
a lower speed for maneuvering and parking ease.
As
your vehicle speed increases, the steering effort also
increases. At highway speeds, the amount of steering
effort
is increased to provide manual-like steering for
maximum control and stability.
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 l‘ront 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 0 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.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver
to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
’C
s review wnat arlving 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.
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 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
proper towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read
the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears
later in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durdbility and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having
to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
1,000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
SO0 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
SO mph (80 h/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps
your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faste.r than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or
no more than 55 mph (90 km/h)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become
loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need
to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
A CAUTION:
-
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing
a serious accident.
7. Replace the wheel
nuts with the
rounded end
of the
nuts toward the wheel. Tighten
each nut
by hand
until the wheel
is
held against the
hub.
5-31

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Change Engine Oil
Your Cadillac has an Oil Life Indicator. This feature
will let you know when to change your
oil and
filter
-- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
7,500 miles (12 500 km) since your last oil change.
Under severe conditions,
the indicator may come on
before
3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle
more than
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months,
(whichever occurs first) without an
oil change.
The system won’t detect dust in the oil.
So, if you
drive in a dusty area, be sure to change your oil every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or sooner if the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL message comes on. Remember to reset
the Oil Life Indicator when the oil has been changed.
For more information, see “Oil Life Indicator”
in
the Index.
How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator
After the oil has been changed, display the OIL LIFE
LEFT message by pressing the 1NFORMATION button.
Then press and hold the RESET button until the display
shows
“100.” This resets the oil life index. The message
will remain off until the next oil change is needed. The
percentage of oil life remaining may be checked
at any time
by pressing the INFORMATION button several
times
until the OIL LIFE LEFT message appears. For
more information on
the Oil Life feature, see “Oil Life
Indicator” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap
and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used
oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose
of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for
help.
6-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet.
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:
0 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.
0 While pulling a trailer.
6-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 3.
5.
Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in’the cross-hatched area.
If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Replace the
air cleaner assembly.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
ii.1 the Maintenance Schedule booklet.
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
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using along-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
(0.5 ‘L).
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Don’t overfiill. 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-I11
is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level
as
described under “How to Check.”
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 Driver Information Center (DIC) ‘when
the powertrain computer determines that the transaxle
fluid needs to be changed. When
this message appears,
change the transaxle fluid and reset the transaxle fluid
life indicator as follows:
1. Turn the ignition on with the engine stopped.
2. Press and hold the OW and rear defog buttons on the
climate control at the same time until the
TRANS
- FLUID RESET message appears on the DIC.
See your Maintenance Schedule booklet
for
more information.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modem vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Cadillac does when it is new.
When
you replace parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have
to have new ones put in -- be sure you get new
genuine GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Cadillac has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have
to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom@
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
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Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See
“Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around
a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
6-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
I
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can
use
a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
,
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which
will
appear whenb’,your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
6-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Plan Ahead When rossible
Whenever possible, schedule an appointment for your
vehicle's warranty work. Your Cadillac dealer can then
prepare to meet your alternative transportation needs
and minimize inconveniences typically associated with
warranty repairs.
Owner Responsibilities
There are only two things which you will be responsible for
during the use of your courtesy vehicle.
You are required to
provide insurance coverage and replenish the fuel used.
In many cases your own auto insurance policy may
provide primary coverage for the courtesy vehicle,
similar to rental car agreements. Please, check
with your
insurance company to be certain what's covered.
This service is provided
to you under the terms of the New
Vehicle Warranty, therefore, it is imperative that your
vehicle be picked up from the dealership at the completion
of the warranty service. Vehicles not picked up in a timely
fashion may incur rental fees charged to the customer.
Some state insurance regulations make
it impractical to
rent vehicles to people under
21 years of age. If you are
under
21 and have difficulty renting a vehicle, Cadillac
will reimburse you up to $30/day, for any documented
transportation
you receive. Please consult your dealer
for details.
GM Participation in BBB AUTO
LINE - Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program"
*This program may not be available in all states,
depending on state law. Canadian owners refer to your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet.
General Motors reserves the right to change eligibility
limitations and/or to discontinue its participation in this
program.
Both Cadillac and your Cadillac dealer are committed to
making sure you are completely satisfied with your new
vehicle. Our experience has shown that,
if a situation
arises where
you feel your concern has not been
adequately addressed, the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure described earlier in this section is very
successful.
There may be instances where an impartial third party
can assist in arriving at
a solution to a disagreement
regarding vehicle repairs or interpretation of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. To assist in resolving these
disagreements, Cadillac voluntarily participates in
BBB
AUTO LINE.