towing CADILLAC SEVILLE 1994 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your
vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the
way the fuel injection system operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer.
If you
don’t, your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see the part of this
Manual that tells how to do it without damaging your vehicle.
See “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.
ENGINE COOLANT HEATER (ENGINE
BLOCK HEATER) (CANADA ONLY)
(OPTION)
In very cold weather, 0°F (-18O C) or colder, the engine coolant warmer
can help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine
warm-up. Usually, the coolant warmer should be plugged in a minimum
of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant warmer:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
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t. *

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or if it seems not
to shift gears
as you go faster, something may be wrong with a
transaxle system sensor. If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have your vehicle
serviced right
away. Until then, you can use “2” (Second Gear)
when you
are driving less than 35 mph (56 km/h) and @
(Overdrive) for higher speeds.
3 (Third Gear)
This is like
@, but you never go into Overdrive.
Here are some times
you might choose “3” instead of 0:
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives
you more power but lower fuel economy. You can
use
“2” on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes
off
and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for more than 5 miles (8 km),
or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or you can damage your
transaxle. Use
“@” or “3” as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
“2” unless you are going slower than 65 mph
(105 km/h), or you can damage your engine.
I
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you move out
of “P” (Park) or
“N”
(Neutral), if your
engine is running,
your parking brake
should go
off. 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. Just pull on the manual
release lever, as
shown.
I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause your rear brakes to
overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also
damage other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on Hills” in the Index. That section
shows how to
turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill: See “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index. That section shows what to
do first to keep the
trailer from moving.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine RUNNING YOUR ENGINE WHILE YOU’RE
PARKED
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to,
here are some things
to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting
Into
‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a trailer, also see “Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake System Warning Light
Your Cadillac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one
part isn’t working, 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.
This light should come
on as you start the
vehicle.
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.)
The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your
parking brake, and it 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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5-
LC.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TOWNG A TMLER
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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. It was not designed for many of the
demands that trailer towing can add. Trailer towing can change the way
your vehicle performs on the road. It brings new forces into play and can
add plenty
of strain and stress to your vehicle.
Load pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, 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, generating extra heat. Trailer towing adds considerably to
wind resistance increasing the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel Economy
You may decide not to pull a trailer but meet your load carrying needs in
some other way.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ifyou Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
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There are many different laws having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be
driving.
A good source for this information can be state or provincial
police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
When towing a trailer, close all windows and set the Electronic
Climate Control System to “ECON”,
“AUTO”, “DEFOG” or
Defroster to assure that the fan is running.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
1. Weight of the Fully Loaded nailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
1,000 pounds (450 kg) total,
including the load.
It depends
on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your
vehicle is used
to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also
depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
You can
ask your dealer for information or advice, or you can write
us at Cadillac.
In Canada, write to General Motors
of Canada Limited, Customer
Assistance Center,
1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see
Index under “Carbon Monoxide”). Dirt and water can, too.
NOTICE:
-
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to them. I-
Safety Chains
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. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow
safety chains
to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you’ll
be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly.
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
so responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This
lets you check your electrical connection at the same time.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking,and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer.
And, because you’re a good deal 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.
207

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Cooling When Trailering
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during severe operating
conditions such as;
Climbing grades steeper than 4% at ambient temperatures above
90 Fahrenheit (32O Celsius) with a loaded vehicle and trailer.
I_ Stopping after high-speed driving.
0 Idling for long periods in stop and go traffic.
If “ENGINE HOT A/C COMPRESSOR
OFF” message appears on the
Driver Information Center, do not be alarmed. This is a normal function
designed to reduce the load
on the engine and cooling system. You can
continue to drive your vehicle.
If “ENGINE COOLANT HOT IDLE ENGINE’’ message appears on
the Driver Information Center, pull off to the side of the road as soon as
it is safe to do
so. When the vehicle is at a complete stop, shift the
the engine or increase engine speed above a normal idle. Within
two or
three minutes the system should cool sufficiently to allow A/C operation
normal driving after
10 minutes if the “ENGINE COOLANT HOT
IDLE ENGINE” message is not displayed.
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transaxle selector to P (Park) and allow the engine to idle. Do not turn off
__ to resume. At that time resume driving at a reduced speed. Return to
__
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer.
especially important
in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid
(don’t overfill), engine oil, belts, cooling system, and brake wear 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.
~ See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are
- Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
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