parking brake CADILLAC FLEETWOOD 1996 2.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional
features on your Cadillac, and information on starting,
shifbng and braking.
Also explained are the instrument
panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
Keys
~~~
A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls
or even make the vehicle move. If they
turned the ignition to
ON and moved the shift
lever out
of PARK (P), that would release the
parking brake. Don’t leave the keys in
a vehicle
with young children.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning
light will come on. Pull
on the manual release
lever located near the
parking brake.
When you shift out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), if
your engine is running, your parking brake should
release.
If it doesn’t, you have a parking brake problem
and should have it fixed.
In the meantime, you can still
release your parking brake.
If your hand or arm is in the way of the pedal,
you could be hurt. The pedal springs back
quickly. Keep your hand and arm away when you
use the manual release lever.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
3.
4.
5.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake.
Turn the ignition key to
LOCK.
Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
I I
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
~ engine running unless you have to.
I
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK
(P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK
(P)
without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means
that
the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Toraue Lock
11 you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARR (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission.
You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find
out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some
of the
pressure from the transmission,
so you can pull the shift
lever out of PARK
(P).
Shifting out of PARK (P)
Your Cadillac has a brake-transmission shift interlock. You
have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF. Open and close the driver’s door
to
twn off the Retained Accessory Power feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Cadillac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t worlung, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
when you turn the ignition
key to START. If
it doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to
the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to
an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Chains Trailer Wiring Harness
You
should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your
trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
when loaded,
it needs to be equipped with adequate
brakes. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for
the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to maintain
them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into
your vehicle hydraulic brake system.
If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
If your Fleetwood is equipped with the heavy duty
trailering option, a five-wire trailering harness is
located in the trunk. You may have to have it wired
to your vehicle.
These trailer harness color codes should be followed
when connecting to your trailer:
0 White: Direct Trailer Ground for Trailer Lamps
0 Brown: Parking Lamps
Yellow: Left Turn and Stoplamps
Dark Green: Right Turn and Stoplamps
Dark Blue: Auxiliary Circuit
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for
the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep
in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your Cadillac dealer.
The 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 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 would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade,
shift down to a lower gear 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 lbs. (900 kg), you
should drive in DRIVE
(D or 3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@). This allows the
torque convertor clutch to engage and the transmission
to run cooler.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
’
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do
it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the downhill side
PARK
(P) yet.
of the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK (P) and apply the parking brake.
5. Release the regular brakes.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’men You Are Ready to Leave After
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. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Engine Cooling When Trailering
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions such as:
Climbing grades steeper than four percent at
temperatures above
90°F (32°C) with a loaded
vehicle and trailer.
Stopping after high-speed driving.
Idling for long periods in stop-and-go traffic.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that
are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment. Each of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-40

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Cadillac, and the bad.grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Shift into
PARK (P).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter. Turn off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
Find the positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
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