wheel CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 1994 Owner's Manual

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.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge
of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery
should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can turn the steering wheel up to 114 turn until the right front tire
contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight
down the roadway.
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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 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.
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
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r 0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm
system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps !
HIGHVKAY HIPNOSIS
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just
plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and
the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen to you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than
a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
interior.
your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
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TOWING A TRAILER
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result\
in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this section.
Your Cadillac is a passenger vehicle. Trailer towing can change the way
your vehicle performs on the road. The loads and forces created when
trailering subject the vehicle
to significant levels of stress.
Load pulling components such as the engine, transmission, rear axle,
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, which generates extra heat. Trailer
towing adds considerably to wind resistance which increases pulling
requirements.
All this means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel Economy
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Trailer Hitching Procedure Using A Weight
Distributing (Equalizing) Hitch
(Recommended for loaded trailers weighing 3,000 lbs. to 7,000 lbs.)
Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Level Control (ELC) feature.
When hooking up a trailer using a weight distributing hitch, always use
the following procedure:
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Place the vehicle on a level surface without the trailer hitched. With
the ignition off, and all doors closed, allow the vehicle to level
automatically.
Disable the Electronic Level Control (ELC) by pulling
MAXI@
fuse #9 (30 AMP) from the underhood electrical center located on
the passenger side wheel housing in the engine compartment. Remove
the cover to gain access.
Attach the trailer to the vehicle. The trailer tongue should weight
12%
of the total loaded trailer weight.
Level the vehicle with the load leveling spring bars (equalizers).
Leave the fuse out while towing your trailer.
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NOTICE:
Adjusting an equalizing hitch with the Electronic Level Control \
(ELC) system engaged will defeat the function of the load
equalizing hitch and may cause unsatisfactory handling.
Once you have completed towing your trailer, be sure to reinstall the
Electronic Level Control (ELC) fuse.
In Addition
Use two friction sway controls if your trailer is over 5,000 lbs. .(2270
kg) loaded weight, and/or is. over 24'. long..
0 Use at least one friction sway control if your trailer is over 2,000 lbs.
(908 kg) loaded weight, and consider using one for trailers under
2,000 lbs. (908 kg).
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Passing
You’ll need more passing distance ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
Because you’re 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.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do
this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will
flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lights 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 behind you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes
so much that they get hot and no longer work well.
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On a long uphill grade, shift down to a lower gear and reduce your speed
and reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than
2,000 pounds (908 kg), you should drive
in “D or 3” instead of Overdrive. This allows the torque convertor clutch
to engage and allowing the transmission to run cooler.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, and trailer on a hill. If something
goes wrong your rig could start to move. People can be injured and both
I your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
If you eve1 have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into “P7, (Park) yet.
I Have someone place chocks (tapered triangular blocks) under the
downhill side the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until
Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into “P” (Park) and apply the
Release the regular brakes.
the
chocks absorb the load.
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. Release the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
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4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.

When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this
manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The
operator may want to see them.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key off. 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 transmission should be in Neutral and the
parking brake released.
Don't have your vehicle towed on the rear wheels, unless you must. If the
vehicle must be towed
on the rear wheels, don't go more than 35 mph (56
km/h) or farther than 50 des (80 km) or your transmission will be damaged.
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If these limits must be exceeded, then the rear wheels have to be supported
on
a dolly.
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NOTICE:
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension
components when using car carrier equipment. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots.
Front Sling-Type Hook-Ups
No 4x4 wood beam is required. Position the cross bar just behind the rear
edge of the front bumper.
, , ,, Attach “T” hook chains
into the bottom slots
on both frame rails.
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Attach a separate
safety chain around the
outboard end
of each
lower control arm.
Rear SliinpType Hook- Ups
No 4x4 wood beam is required. Position the cross bar directly under the
rear bumper.
Attach
“T” hook chains
to
the slots in frame
rails just ahead
of the
rear wheels.
Attach a separate
safety chain around
each side of the axle
inboard of the springs
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