brakes CADILLAC ELDORADO 1997 10.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
TRACTION
CONTROL
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine. If the warning
i 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:
9 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BATTERY NO CHARGE - 87: Ths message will
appear if the battery is not being charged. Have the
electrical system checked
by your Cadillac dealership at
your earliest convenience.
BATTERY VOLTS HIGH - 08: This message shows
that the electrical charging system is overcharging (more
than 16 volts).
To avoid being stranded, have the
electrical system checked by your Cadillac dealership.
You can reduce
the charging overload by using the
accessories. Turn on the lamps and radio, set the climate
control on
AUTO and the fan speed on HI, and turn the
rear window defogger on.
You can monitor battery
voltage on the DIC by pressing the
INFORMATION
(INFO) button. The normal range is 1 1.5 to 15.5 volts
when the engine is running.
BATTERY VOLTS LOW - 06: 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 after driving
a few miles and the
message should
go out. 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 INFORMATION
(INFO) button. The normal range is 11.5 to
15.5 volts.
BMKE VACUUM PROBLEM -108: The circuit in
the brake booster vacuum has shorted or is loose when
this message appears. Your vehicle may lose power
brakes
but you will ‘still have the use of manual brakes.
The power brakes will not be affected
if the problem is
caused by a failed sensor. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately at your Cadillac dealership.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL - 82: This means that
the life of the engine oil has expired and
it should be
changed within
200 miles. See “Engine Oil” and
“Filter Recommendations’’ in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must
be reset. See “Oil Life Indicator” in the Index on how to
reset it.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1 MINUTE and then START CAR. When the START
CAR message is displayed, try again to start the engine.
message will appear when the engine
has overheated. Stop
and
turn the engine off immediately to avoid severe engine
damage. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index. A multiple
chime
will also sound when this message is displayed.
STOP ENGINE LOW OIL PRESSURE - 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.
THEFT SYSTEM PROBLEWCAR MAY NOT
RESTART - 34: Tbs message means there is a problem
in the Personalized Automotive Security System
(PASS-Key
11). A fault has been detected in the system
which means that
the PASS-Key I1 system is disabled
and is not protecting the vehicle. The vehicle usually
restarts, however, you may want to take your vehicle to
a proper service center before turning off the engine.
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF - Ill: This message
will appear when the PCM senses that
the maximum speed
for your Cadillac has been reached. The speed
of your
vehicle will decrease several mph as
the fuel supply is
STOP ENGINE ENGINE OVERHEATED - 42: This
cutoff. This allows your vehicle to stay in a stable
operating range.
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 dnving accordingly. This message will stay
on for a few seconds after the traction control system
stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTHQN OFF - 89: Ths message wilI be displayed
after the traction control has
been turned off.
TRACTION READY - 91: 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine raking
.You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to
go. They are the brakes, the steering. and
the accelerator. All: three systems have to
do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road. Braking action involves
perception
time and reaction time.
First, you have. to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception’ time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s
reaction time.
Average reaction, time is about 314 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and
as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even
in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot
of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And,
of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition
of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition
of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount
of brake force applied.
Sometimes,
as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road c.an provide. That
means you can lose control
of your vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. 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.
ANTI -
LOCK
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine . . . . . . . . ., ...
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly
an animal jumps out in
front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling,
the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the br&e.pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer isqxogrammed to
make
the most of available &.and road conditions.
..
..
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

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
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.
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
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in
the Index.)
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 liHnit 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

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine teering in
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 bralung
-- if you can stop in
the. But sometimes you can’t; there
isn’t room.
That’s the time
for evasive action -- steering around
the problem.
Your Cadillac can perfonn 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.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But
you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just
as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided
the object.
The fact
that such emergency situations are always
possible is
a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one
thing, following
too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you’re following a larger
vehicle. Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the
vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance
to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes
to move into the
other Bane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up
for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your
pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying
to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember
to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
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.
ss
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
,A 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.