brakes CADILLAC SEVILLE 1997 4.G User Guide

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STOP ENGINE LOW OIL PRESSURE - 35: If this
message appears while the engine is running, stop the
engine and do
!lot operate it until the cause of low oil
pressure
is corrected. Severe damage to the engine can
result.
A nlultiple chime will also sound when this
message is displayed.
THEFT SYSTEM YROBLEWCAR MAY NOT
RESTART
- 34: This message means there is a problem
in the Personalized Automotive Security System
(PASS-Key 11). A fault has been detected in the system
which means thzt the PASS-Key
I1 system is disabled
and is
not protecring the vehicle. The vehicle usually
restarts. however,
you may want to take your vehicle to
a proper service center before turning off the engine.
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF - 111: This message
will appear when the PCM senses that the maximum
speed
for your Cadillac has been reached. The speed
of your vehicle will decrease several mph as the fuel
supply is cutoff. This allows your vehicle
to stay in a
stable operating range.
TRACTION ENGAGED - 91: When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message is displayed,
so
adjust your driving accordingly. This message. will stay
on
for a few seconds after the traction control system
stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF - 89: This message will be displayed
after the traction control has been turned off.
TRACTION READY - 91: This message informs the
driver that the traction control system is available. This
occurs when
the traction doff button in the glove box
has been returned to an on position (pressing the button
once turns the traction control system
off pressing the
button again turns the system back on). This message
also self cancels after five seconds.
TRACTION SUSPENDED - 56: This message
displays when the traction control system has been
temporarily shut off because your vehicle’s brakes
have overheated. This message
does not indicate a
problem with your vehicle’s traction control system.
After a few minutes, the traction control system will
be available again and
the TRACTION READY
message will appear.
TRANS FLUID RESET - 48: With the engine not
running and the ignition on, press and hold the OFF
and rear defog buttons until the TRANS FLUID
RESET message appears
on the DIC (between five
and 20 seconds).
TRANSMISSION HOT .. 112: This messages indicates
that the transaxle fluid in your vehicle is too hot. Stop
and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools down or
until this message is removed.

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You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have
to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road. Braking action involves
perceptim the and rcaction time.
First, you have
to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s
perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and
do it. That’s renctiorr timc.
Average reaction time is about 314 ot’ a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or, three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alettncss. coo~-dination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol. drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second. a vehicle
moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 In).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough spacebetween your vehicle and others
is important.
And,
of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement
or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition
of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s
easy
to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot
of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate
a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push. Your
vehicle has anti-lock brakes
(ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a brakmg skid.
When you start
your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system
will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor
or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and
you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
ANTI -
LOCK
If there‘s ;I problem with the
anti-lock
brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in
the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps
out in
front
of you.
You slam
on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling. the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rcar wheels.
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You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop. even though
you have
anti-lock brakes.
thg AnJ:i=f,.ciick
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you.
You may hear the
anti-lock pump or motor operate. and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. but this is normal.
Your vehicle
has a traction control system that limits wheel
spin.
This is especially useful in slippely road conditions.
The system operates only
if it senses that one or both of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When
this happens, the system works the front brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel
spin.
The TRACTION ENGAGED message will display on
the Driver Information Center when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. See “Driver Information
Center Messages”
in the Index. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in
the Index.)
This warning light will
come
on to let you know if
there’s
a problem with your
traction control system.
TRACTION
CONTROL
See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will
not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin.
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But
you can turn the
traction control system off
if you ever need to. (You
should turn
the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come
over a hill and
find
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out fr~1-11 nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right
in front of you. You can
avoid these problems
by braking -- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t roonl.
That‘s
the time for evasive action -- steering around
the problem.
Your Cadillac can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking
in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision.
Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it
a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But
you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just
as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
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.
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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 lane. 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 fined 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
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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
folIowing driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
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 ttying
to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.

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Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But
if you can't, try to slow down before you hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't work
as well in a quick
stop and ma?. cause pulling to
one side. You could lose controi of the \.chicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or
a car wash, apply your Ilrake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.

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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard
on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this:
let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go
down a steep or long hill.
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do
all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when
you go downhill.
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If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have
poor braking or even none going down a hill.
I’ou could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
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Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to 0
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a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and
transaxle, and you can chb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane. like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples
are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be
alert to these and take appropriate action.

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
you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want
to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock”
in the Index.
0 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:
0 Turn on your hazard flashers.
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