steering CADILLAC ELDORADO 1997 10.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you’re driving.
LEFT APPRQX. QUARTER TURN
SLOW DOWN
edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly
easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then,
if therc is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can
turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn
until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then
turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
ssi
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes
back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle
on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration
or anger can
suddenly
put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
-- the head-on collision.
SO here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.”
Look down the road, to the sides and
to crossroads for situations that might affect your
passing patterns.
If you have any doubt whatsoever
about
making a successful pass, wait for a better time.
wdtch for traffic
signs, pavement markings and lines.
If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken
center line usually indicates it’s
all right to pass
(providing the road ahead
is clear). Never cross a solid
line on your side of the lane or a double solid line,
even if the
road seems empty of approaching traftk.

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 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 bralung skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering shd, 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. If you
have
the Eldorado ETC, you may see the
STABILITY
SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver
Information Center. See “Stability Engaged Message”
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 “mirrored surface” -- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking
skid.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability
when you make
a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though yonhave the anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want to begin stopping sooner than you would
on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock’’ in the Index.
Allow greater following distance
on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until
you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t reach:
around
clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface
of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are
on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation.
You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help
and
you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers
safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers.
-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. TQ move the trailer to the right, move your
hand
to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible,
have someone guide you. When
you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need
a
different turn signal flasher andor extra wiring. Check
with your Cadillac dealer. The green
arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing
a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
Making very sharp turns while trailerring could
cause
the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
behind you are seeing your signal wheithey are mot. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
-
making very sharp turns while traillering.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
shoulders, curbs, road
signs, trees or other objects. they would get hot and no longer work well.
Avoid jerky
or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance. speed to around
45 mph (70 kdh) or less to reduce the
On
a long
uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ..
CA,U
.. .. . ,
A vehicle ran fall from a car-carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a ccollisiora,
serious
personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should
be tightly secured with chains or
steel cabIes before it is transported.
Donst
use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
2’-hooks inserted in the front T-h~ok slots or
Ha-hooks inserted in the rear R-hook slots. Never
use J-lho~ks~
They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key turned
to the OFF position. The steering wheel
should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with
a clamping device designed for towing service. Do not
use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The
transaxle should be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels,
be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later
in this section or your transaxle will be
damaged. If these limitations must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels
have to be supported on a dolly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ir s
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, and
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.
Hf a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely. If
a tire
goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Spinning yoas wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
~QQ fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth,
you can destroy your transaxle.
For
information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
You should turn
your traction control system off. (See “Traction Control
System”
in the Index.) Then shift back and forth
between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator
pedal when the transaxle
is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you
out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Battery
B. Coolant Fill Location
C. Power Steering Fluid
D. Oil Fill Location
E. Engine Oil Dipstick Location
F. Brake Master Cylinder
G. Transaxle DipsticWill
H. Air Cleaner
I. Windshield Washer Fluid
Before closing
the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The power steering fluid When the engine compartment is cool,
wipe the cap and
the top
of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe
the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten
it. Then remove the cap again and
look
at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at
the FULL COLD mark. If necessary,
add only enough fluid to bring the level up to the mark.
ec
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak
in the system or you hear
an unusual noise. A fluid loss in thls system could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired.
To determine what lund of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet. Always use
the proper
fluid. Failure to use
the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
When
YOU need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will be
operating your vehicle
in an area where the temperature
may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.