headlights CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 1994 User Guide

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
0 Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your parking lights -- to
help make you more visible to others.
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.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
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Run- your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you
run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you-get and it
keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later .on with your headlights. Let
the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it aslittle as possible. Preserve the fuel as
long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some
fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes.
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Headlights
The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in the light switch.
An electrical overload will cause the lights to go on and off, or in some
cases to remain
off. If this happens, have your headlight wiring checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit breaker and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until
the motor cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker
opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or goes
away.
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