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the “TRACTION OFF” warning light is on can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tir If you spin your wheels too fast while shifting your transaxlf back and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. when you’rt -tuck, spin the wheels as little as possible.


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- Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light


This light tells you that your engine coolant has overheated or your radiator cooling fans are not working. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn -1 the engine off as soon


as possible.


HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY! In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. Engine Temperature Warning Light


This light tells you that your engine has overheated.


If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop the car and turn the engine off as soon as possible. A warning chime should also sound if you drive with this light on. The chime will continue to sound until the ignition is turned “off” or the light goes out. As a check, the light should come on for a few seconds when you start your engine.


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HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY! In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. Charge Light


When you turn the key to “Run,” this light will come on briefly, to show that your alternator and battery charging systems are working.


If a light stays on, you need service, and you should take your Cadillac to the dealer at once. To save your battery until you get there, turn off all accessories, and set your Electronic Climate Control system to “OFF.” Service Engine SoonlService Vehicle Soon Lights


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ZVICE VEHICLE So(


A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission control systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working..


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If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes on while you are driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for service soon.


Oil Light


This light tells you if there could be a problem with your engine oil pressure.


The light goes on when you turn your key to “Run” or “START” It goes off once you have started your engine. That’s just a check to be sure the light works. If it doesn’t, be sure to have it fixed so it will be there to warn you if something goes wrong. When this light comes on and stavs on, it means oil isn’t going through your engine properly. You could be low on oil, or you might have some other oil problem.


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A CAUTION:


Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.


JOTICE: Damage to your engin %om ne! costly and is not covered by your warranty.


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Change Oil Soon Light


This light will come on for a few seconds as a bulb check when you first start your engine.


The light will also come on following engine start up for 20 seconds when either the oil life percentage is less the 10% or 7500 miles (12500 km) have been driven. This is a reminder that it is time to change your oil. See - the Index under “Oil Life Indicator” for more information on this system.


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- Service Air Cond Light


You’ll find this light here:


FORMATION CENTE


iERVICE


__


If it ever stays on for 29 seconds or more, you need service. It comes on for a few seconds, just as a bulb check whenever you turn your ignition to “ Run. ”


__ SERWCE SSS Light


bRMATION CEP


When you first start your car, the “SERVICE SSS” light will come on as a bulb check and a system self-check for a few seconds.


If this light comes on and stays while driving, you have a problem with the Speed Sensitive Suspension or the Speed Sensitive Steering system. See your Cadillac dealer for the proper service of this system.


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Fuel Datu Center


Your Fuel Data Center tells you all you want to know about your rue1 situation. Here’s how it works:


This shows how much fuel you have in your tank. “F” means “Full.” “E” means you’re almost empty. FLASHING “E” means: stop for fuel immediately or you’ll run out.


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Your Fuel Data Center has five buttons. Here’s what they do:


INST (Instantaneous Fuel Economy),


Push this and you’ll see what your fuel economy is at that instant. The computer takes a new reading twice every second. It will show economy up to 70 miles per gallon (or, in metric, 2 litres per 100 kilometers).


AVG (Average Fuel Economy), -


This reading is your average fuel economy since the last time you reset the system. “Avg” shows total distance divided by the total fuel used.


RANGE


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ , . - ~ , ~ - ~ ~ . ~ ‘ ~ - - ~ ~ , ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ . . , - , ~ - ~


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This shows how far the computer thinks you can go with the fuel that’s in your tank. When you get down to 40 miles to go (or, in metric, 64 km) it just says “L,” which means “LOW.” You should then get fuel right away.


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Your computer needs enough data for the RANGE reading to work, however, so it will read L for a while when your Cadillac is brand new (under 25 miles). Also, it will show L for a while if your battery has been disconnected.


FUEL USED


This reading shows how much fuel you’ve used since you last reset the system. It returns to zero after 99.9 gallons (or, in metric, 379 liters).


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“Fuel Used” can tell you the least costly way to make a familiar trip. Here’s how you might use it for your commute to work:


EXPRESSWAY ROUTE


34 MILES 20.1 MPG


1.7 GALLONS USED


24 MILE! 7 8.5 MPG


1.3 GALLONS USED


Using FUEL USED, you would find that you would save money in fuel costs by taking the direct route to work, even though fuel economy was better on the freeway route. RESET


Push this to return “Avg” and “Fuel Used” to zero.


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Oil Life Indicator Your Cadillac has an Oil Life Indicator feature. This tells you when you need to change your engine oil. It’s based upon the engine oil temperatures and your driving patterns.


Fwc- ta Center


Press and hold the Range and Fuel Used buttons to display the oil life percentage.


You’ll see how much oil life you have left, as a percentage. So if you see “94” for example, that means that the way you’re driving your vehicle, 94% of your current oil life is still left. The “CHANGE OIL SOON” light will come on for a few seconds as a bulb check when you start your engine. The light will also come on for 20 seconds following engine start-up when either the oil life percentage is less the 10% or 7,500 miles (12500 km) have been driven. The system probably will say to change the oil between 3000 miles (5000 km) and 7500 miles (12500 km), but it may even say to change it before 3000 miles under severe conditions. It all depends on your driving patterns. (If it doesn’t, or if it doesn’t even light up, then something is wrong. You will need to have it serviced.) There are two things the system won’t do: It can’t sense heavy dust in the places where you drive. If you drive in a dusty area, you should change your oil every 3000 miles (5000 km) or 3 months (whichever comes first), unless the “CHANGE OIL SOON” light comes on sooner. It doesn’t check how much oil you have so you will still have to check for that. To check it, see the Index under “Engine Oil.” When You’ve Changed the Oil When new oil is put in, you’ll need to reset your system. To do that, press and hold the “Range” and “Reset” buttons between 5 and 60 seconds.


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Once the buttons are released the “CHANGE OIL SOON” light will flash 4 times to indicate it has reset to 100. If the “CHANGE OIL SOON” light comes on and stays on for 5 seconds, it did not reset. You’ll need to reset the system again. SPEED SENSITIVE SUSPENSION (SSS SYSTEM) The Speed Sensitive Suspension System (SSS) automatically controls the firmness of your Cadillac’s ride. The vehicle is controlled by an actuator in each of the four struts to increase ride firmness depending on vehicle speed and other driving conditions. There are three dampening modes: COMFORT, NORMAL, and FIRM. As the vehicle speed increases, the firmness of the suspension increases. The system is in COMFORT for speeds less than 28 mph, NORMAL for speeds between 28 and 65 mph, and FIRM for speeds greater than 65 mph. The system also stiffens damping during hard acceleration, braking and cornering ,for increased control. The SSS controller is a computer used to control and monitor the system. The computer receives speed, acceleration and determines optimum mode strut valving (or suspension stiffness) for your current operating conditions. The computer also receives feedback from the struts to determine proper system operation. If the computer receives an incorrect feedback from the system, an error code will be set in memory and a “SERVICE SSS” light will come on and stay on until the problem is corrected. If this light should appear, have your vehicle serviced at your earliest convenience. SPEED S E N S I T m STEERING This system varies the amount of steering effort proportionate to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier at a lower speed for increased maneuverability and parking ease. As your vehicle speed increases, the steering effort is also increased proportionately. At highway speeds the amount of steering effort is greatly increased to provide a manual like steering feel for maximum control and enhanced vehicle stability.


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TRACTION CONTROL (OPTION) If you have this feature, this brake only Traction Control complements your anti-lock braking system. Traction Control regulates tire spin during low-speed acceleration and steady driving. The Traction Control Brake-Only System uses the same wheel speed sensors used by your Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS). When wheel slip is detected by the wheel sensors, the electronic control module sends a signal to the brake pressure modulator to apply pressure pulses to the brakes. Traction is then maximized and your vehicle is enabled to accelerate or continue driving with a controlled amount of tire slip. This low-speed system controls tire slippage and is fully functional until you reach a speed of 24 mph and then the traction control is gradually phased out as your vehicle reaches 30 mph. To keep you informed of changing road conditions the “TRACTION ACTIVE” telltale light will illuminate when the system is activated. Because this is a brake only Traction Control system, it is designed to protect your vehicles powertrain components. The system will temporarily by disabled should the brakes or transaxle reach excessively high temperatures and prolonged use of traction control. The “TRACTION OFF” telltale light in the instrument panel informs you when this system is not in operation. ELECTRONIC LEVEL CONTROL This keeps your vehicle level. The ignition does not have to be “ON” for the level control to work. The system consists of an electronic height sensor, a small electric air compressor, and air adjustable shock absorbers mounted on the rear of the vehicle. If the system has a slight leak, the air compressor will run frequently for a few seconds each time. For a massive air leak, the air compressor will stay on for approximately 7 minutes. You should see your dealer for service, but you can keep driving your Cadillac.


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COMFORT CONTROLS AND AUDIO SYSTEMS In this section you'll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Cadillac. Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle. YOUR CADILLAC AIR SYSTEM This part tells you how to make your Electronic Climate Control work for you. Outside Air Outside air always flows through your Cadillac when the car is moving. Even if the car is not moving, you can always get outside air to flow through by selecting any air choice (except the rear window defogger). Air Outlets Here's how to adjust the instrument panel air outlets:


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Move the center lever to direct air flow from side to side. Move the side lever down to stop the air flow.


Here's how to adjust the rear seating air outlets:


Turn the center dial to direct the air flow through the vents or at the floor.


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Electronic Climate Control Here’s how your system works:


OfF


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Outside Temp. Push the “Outside Temp” button to get the the outside temperature (unless the system is off). Push it again to the regular system display.


CoolerlWarmer


To choose the temperature you want inside the car, push the cooler or warmer button.


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You can choose from 65 F (18 ’ C) to 85 F (29 ’ C). And, at each end, you may choose 60 F (16 ’ C), for maximum cooling, and 90 F (33 ’ C), for maximum heating. Then, you have these choices: Off Nothing is on, but air will flow rnrough your vehicle if you are moving. The system will attempt to maintain the chosen temperature, but may never reach it, because the blower motor will not operate. Econ Use “Econ” in cold or cool weather, because it saves fuel by not allowing the A/C compressor to run. But it doesn’t remove humidity from the air. If it’s so warm outside that you need to cool the air, use the next choice. Auto In “Auto” its all automatic. If your car is sitting out on a hot day and you have it set on “Auto”, the air LJ will first flow out the floor air ducts for a few seconds. That’s normal. This is to prevent a blast of hot air hitting you.


Fan Speeds m Th e speed of the


blower fan is usually controlled I automatically if you have the fan on “Auto Fan”. However, if you want the blower fan to run only at high speed, push the “Hi” button until you see “Hi Fan” on the display.


If you want the blower to run only at low speed, push the “Lo7’ button until you see “Lo Fan” on the display. If you want the system to be automatic, but you like the fan speed a little higher than the “Auto Fan”


speed, push the “LO” or “Hi” button until you see the “Hi Fan Auto Fan” u


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on the display. To get a fan speed that is a little lower than the “Auto Fan” speed, push the “Lo” or “Hi” button until you see the “Auto Fan Lo Fan” on the display. When first starting your vehicle with a cold engine, the fan speed will gradually increase as the temperature of the engine coolant increases.


Defiost


To get fog or ice off the windshield, push the Defrost button.


It will help a lot if you first clear any ice and snow from the hood and the air inlet (it’s between the hood and the windshield). The fan speed operation is delayed if the engine is not at its normal operating temperature. Heated Windshield (Option) Front De-Ice Here’s how to use your heated windshield in cold weather to remove ice or frost quickly: 1. If any snow is piled up on the windshield, brush it away. 2. Start your Cadillac and leave it in P (“Park”).


3. Push the switch. A light will come on to tell you it is working.


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The system will go off after a four minute heating cycle (two minutes if you shift out of “P” (Park) within the first two minutes of the cycle). If you want it to cycle again, push the switch. It will go on for two minute cycles after that. If it has cleared your windshield before the cycle is over, you can turn it off by just pushing the switch again. In warm weather the heated windshield system helps keep the vehicle’s interior cool by blocking much of the sun’s heat producing radiation. The system’s solar control properties also help reduce interior fading. There is a metal film in the windshield which will block out some radio or microwave signals. Therefore, the heated windshield will reduce the useful range of devices such as garage door openers and radar detectors. (In certain states radar detectors are legal.) Rear Window Defogger


To get fog or ice off the rear window, push the Rear Defogger button.


With it, your rear window and both outside rearview mirrors are warmed. To turn it off, push the button again. After 10 minutes, it will go off by itself. To make it go longer, just push the button again.


Electronic Solar Sensor The Electronic Solar Sensor is part of the Electronic Climate Control System. It is located on top of your instrument panel speaker grill.


The sensor monitors the sun's solar radiation by telling the Electronic Climate Control system what angle and the intensity the sun is at. The Electronic Climate Control then can automatically make the necessary temperature adjustments.


AUDIO SYSTEMS Your Dekoa sound system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delcoa system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.


A CAUTION:


Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it. To help avoid hearing loss or damage:


Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.


NOTILL: -,fore you add any 3ound cyuipmcllt tt, =our vCllicle -- like cI :ape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it's very importan ;o do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with t ,peration of your vehicle's engine, Delcos radio or other systems, and even damage them. And, your vehicle's system ay interfere with the operation of sound equipment that h


been ad( 1 improper


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FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). And, tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go.


AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.


This means your radio can produce quality AM sound comparable to FM stereo. AMAX3 reduces noise without reducing the high frequencies you need for the best sound. In addition to improved sound quality, AMAX8 includes more station on the AM band. You don’t have to do anything in your radio because AMAX@ is automatic. AM Stereo This means the Delco@ system can receive C-QUAM8 stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country use C-QUAM3 to produce stereo, though some do not. (C-QUAM@ is a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.) If your Delco@ system can get C-QUAMa, your “STEREO” light will come on when you’re receiving it. How To Operate Your Sound System Does your Cadillac have the Compact Disc Music System or an Export Radio? If so, please turn ahead to the part that describes your system. If a, please keep reading.


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Pwr (Power)


The power (or PWR) button turns your system on and off unless you have a Bose system. If you do, rotate the upper knob to turn it on and off.


Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP). When you stop your vehicle and turn the ignition key to “Off”, you can still use your radio. The electrical power to the radio will not shut off until you open a door or 10 minutes has passed. If you want this power for another 10 minutes, just turn the key to “Run” and then back to “Off”. The Upper Knob The upper knob does these three things: 0 It controls the volume. 0 It lets you see what station you have. (When the radio is on, push the


knob to display the station).


0 It tells you the time. (When the ignition is off, push the knob to


display the time.)


Unless you have a Bose system, behind the upper knob is a balance control. It moves the sound between the left and right speakers. Bose systems are already balanced from left to right, so they don’t need that control. The Lower h o b Turn the lower knob to choose radio stations. Push it to get AM or FM.


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The control behind the lower knob moves the sound between your front and rear speakers. SCAN When you push “SCAN”, the radio will find the next station and stay there a few seconds. Then it will go to the next station and pause, and keep doing that. When you want it to stop, just push SCAN again. SEEK When you push “SEEK”, it also chooses stations, but it doesn’t keep moving as SCAN does. When you push SEEK, the radio goes to the next station and stays there. Push Buttons


You can set the push buttons to get up to eight favorite stations (four on AM and four more on FM). Just:


a Tune in the station. 0 Push the SET button. 0 Within 5 seconds, push one of the four push buttons.


Repeat these steps for each station you select.


If you want to, you can pre-set up to three more favorite stations on AM and up to three more on FM. To do that, use the buttons in pairs, like this:


Tune in the station.


0 Push the SET button. 0 Push any two of the push buttons that are next to each other. 0 Repeat these steps for each station you select. Whenever you push


those buttons together, you’ll get the station you selected.


Your Cassette Tape Player Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that use such thin tape that they may not work well in this player. Tu Play A Cassette Tape


Have the radio on. Insert the tape squarely through the tape door.


The longer side with the tape visible goes in first. If you hear nothing or hear just a garbled sound, it may not be in squarely. Push EJECT to remove the tape and start over.


Once the tape is playing, use the upper and lower knobs for volume and balance, just as you do for radio. The arrows show which side of the tape is playing. To go forward to another part of the tape push FWD. To go Wackward, push REV. To stop the tape, push the other button lightly. To go from one side of the tape to the other, push in the upper knob on your radio. To remove or stop the tape, push EJECT


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If you do not have a Bose system, then please keep reading here. If you do have a Bose system, then please skip over to the pages that describe those systems. Your Graphic Equalizer


Your equalizer lets you set the bass, midrange and treble to sound just the way you want. The 60 and 250 controls work the bass side. Midrange is the 1K. The 3.5K and 10K are treble sound controls.


gives you more sound in that range.


Moving one of these controls UJ Moving it down gives you less. We suggest that you start with the midrange (1K) control in the center. Then move the other controls until you get the sound you want. 11 you have the 10K control at or near the top, you may hear a “hiss”. To eliminate it, move the 10K control down until the “hiss” goes away.


Loud (Loudness Button) The loudness button is next to the power button. Push it to get more bass sound. This is especially useful at lower volume levels. AM St (AM Stereo) The AM Stereo button is just below the power button. Push this when you tune to an AM station that broadcasts in stereo. Your “STEREO” light will come on when you’re receiving AM Stereo. (The “STEREO” light also comes on for an FM stereo button for that.) If you push “Am St” and there is more noise, it means the station is weak. You’ll hear that station better if you don’t use “Am St” Just push the “Am St” button again to delete stereo.


station, but you don’t have to push a


Push-Freq (Program) Push the upper knob when playing a tape to switch from one side of the tape to the other. Search When you’re playing a tape, Search lets you jump ahead quickly to the start of the next selection. It makes the tape stop when it gets to the next place with 4 seconds or more of silence. To use Search:


Slide Search to the right, then


0 Push Fwd. If you want to go back and hear a selection you’ve just heard, Search will do that too. Just slide Search to the right and then push REV. The tape will go back to the last silent place and start again from there. Choose the right bias (or “equalization ”) for your tape.


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On your radio, you’ll find a CrOiM button:


Now look at your tape, or on its label or box. It should say whether its bias (“equalization”) is 70 microseconds (70 u) or 120 microseconds (120 u). If it doesn’t say, chrome and metal tapes are 70 ,u sec and standard iron tapes are 120 u sec. For 70, push the Cr02 button in. For 120, it should be out. If you don’t do this, the tape will still play, but the sound will not be as good as your system can provide.


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Delco Bose System Does your Cadillac have this Delco-Bose system?


If it does, then please keep reading here. If not, then please turn ahead to the part that describes your system. Setting the Tone BASS Move this lever up to hear more bass. TREBLE Move this lever up to hear more treble. For the clearest sound, keep both of these all the way up. If a station is


- weak and noisy, you can move TREBLE down to reduce the noise. - leave it pushed in all the time.


DNR@* This is the Dynamic Noise Reduction button. It helps remove background hiss noise from the radio or tape player. You may want to


*DNR@ is a registered trademark of National Semiconductor Corporation.


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To Play a Cassette Tape Have the radio on. Insert the tape into the door marked “AUTO REVERSE”. The longer side with the tape visible goes in first. Once the tape is playing, the Volume, Treble, Bass, DNR@ and speaker balance controls work just as they do for the radio.


Cr02/M (Chromium DioxideIMetal) Choose the right bias (or “equalization”) for your tape. Your tape, on its label or box, should say whether its bias (or “equalization”) is 70 microseconds (70 p) or 120 microseconds (120 p). If it doesn’t say, chrome and metal tapes are 70 1.1 sec and standard iron tapes are 120 p sec. For 70, push the Cr02/M button in. For 120, it should be &. If you don’t do this, the tape will still play, but the sound will not be as good as your system can provide. Arrows Below Tape Door These show which side of the tape is playing. When the lighted arrow points up (A), selections listed on top of the cassette are playing. When the arrow points down (v), selections on the bottom are playing.


Push-Freq (Program) To go from one side of the tape to the other, push in the upper knob. The tape automatically changes sides when tape reaches the end. Fwd (Forward) Press this to move the tape forward; press REV to return to playing speed. Rev (Reverse) Press this to move the tape rapidly backward; press FWD to return to playing speed.


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- Search (Music Search)


This feature makes it easy to play a tape selection again, or to skip to the next selection. To use it, slide Search to the right. You’ll see the Search indicator light go on. To Play A Tape Selection Again: With Search on, press Rev. The tape will go back to the beginning of the selection that is playing. To Play The Next Selection: With Search on, press Fwd. The tape will stop when it gets to the next


- place with 4 seconds or more of silence.


Dolby @ This feature automatically removes noise on Dolby8 encoded tapes (no button is required). - To Eject A Tape


To remove or stop the tape, push Eject.


*Dolby3 is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.


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The Delco43ose Gold Series Compact Disc Music System


To Play the Radio The “Power” button turns the radio on and off. The Volume (or Vol) button adjusts the volume up or down. (Press the center to get a preset level.) am-fm Button Push this to get AM or FM. (The lighted display shows your selection.) Seek Push the Seek button to go to the next station and stay there. Push again and it will find the next station, and so on.


Scan Push to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again when you hear something you like and want to stay there.


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Tune This button tunes while the button is held. Also, push A and then v at the same time to tune up quickly. Push v and then A at the same time to tune down quickly.


Push Buttons


The five push buttons let you return to favorite stations. They are also used when you play a disc.


To set the push buttons for up to ten favorite stations just 0 Tune in the station


(5 AM and 5 FM),


Push SET


0 Within 5 seconds, push one of the push buttons. Whenever you push


that button, the preset station will return.


Rcl (Recall) Press to go between time and frequency on the display. You’ll get stereo by just tuning to any AM or FM station broadcasting in stereo. (“ST” will show on the display). am-st (Am Stereo) Push the “am-st” button if you don’t want AM Stereo, as when the station is weak or noisy. (“ST” will go off the display.)


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to decrease. (Press the center to


To Adjust The Tone (Bass or Treb) Press Bass A to increase bass, or Bass v to decrease. (Press the center to get a recommended setting). Press Treb A to increase treble, or Treb get a recommended setting). To Balance The Front And Rear Speakers (Fade) Press Fade A to increase the sound in the front, or Fade v to increase the sound in the rear. (Pressing in the center balances the sound.) The sound is factory-balanced between the left and right speakers, so there is no button for that.


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To Play a Compact Disc Before you begin, please note: don’t use the mini-discs that are called “singles”. They won’t eject. Use full-size compact discs. If the disc player is very hot, or if you’re driving on a very rough road, a disc may come out, not play or skip. As soon as things get back to normal, the disc should play again. Press Power to turn the system on.


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Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull - it in. Wait a few seconds and the disc should play.


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If the disc comes back out, check whether: 0 The disc is upside down a It is dirty, scratched, or wet


- 0 There’s too much moisture in the air (If there is, wait about one hour


and try again).


Rcl (Recall) Press “Rcl” button to see what track is playing. Press it again within 5 seconds to see how long it has been playing. The track number also appears when you change the volume or when a new track starts to play.


Prev (Previous) Press “Prev” button to play a track again. If you hold this button, or press it more than once, the disc will return to previous tracks.


Press “Next” button to hear the next track now (instead of waiting until the present track is finished). If you hold this button, or press it more than once, the disc will advance further.


Rev (Reverse) Press and hold “Rev” button to return rapidly to a favorite passage. Release it to play the passage. FF (Fast Forward) Press and hold “FF” button to advance quickly within a track. Release it to resume playing. Comp (Compression) Pressing the “Comp” button makes soft and loud passages more nearly equal in volume.


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To stop the disc player:


Press the Dower button or turn the ignition key off. The disc stays in the player and will resume playing at the point where it stopped.


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Press St/Pl (Stop/Play). The disc will stop and the radio will play. Press St/Pl to restart the disc. It will resume playing at the point where it stopped.


OR


OR


Press Ejct. The disc will eject and the radio will play. The disc will start at track 1 when yuu insert it again.


Settiplg T%e Clock (Cussette Player) Have the radio C J ~ ignition on. Then: TO Set the Hour:


Push Set, and within 5 seconds, Push Scan. Hold it in until the clock gets to the correct hour. Then let


ro Set Minutes:


Push Set, and within 5 seconds, Push Seek. Hold it in until the clock gets to the correct minute. Then let go.


Your clock is set.


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Setting The Clock (CD Player) Have the radio or ignition on. Then:


To Set the Hour:


Push Set, and within 5 seconds,


0 Push Seek. Hold it in until the clock gets to the correct hour. Then let


go*


To Set Minutes: e Push Set, and within 5 seconds, 0 Push Scan. Hold it in until the clock gets to the correct minute. Then


let go.


Your clock is set. To Play This Radio (Export Only)


PWR To turn the radio on, press the PWR button.


_-


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The control behind the upper knob allows you to balance the sound between the right and left speakers. The Lower Knob Turn the lower knob to tune radio stations. The tune knob increases and decreases frequency when it is slightly rotated against the spring load. Push it to get AM or FM. The control behind the lower knob fades the sound between your front and rear speakers. RCL It tells you the time. (When the ignition is off, push RCL to display the time.) With the radio on, when the time is displayed, push it to see the frequency. SEEK Pressing the SEEK A or v button will cause the receiver to seek the next higher or lower station and stop.


SCAN When you press SCAN, the radio will go to the next station and pause and keep doing that until you press SCAN again.


- Pushbuttons


The five pushbuttons let you return to favorite stations. You can set the pushbuttons for up to ten favorite stations (5 AM and 5 FM). Just:


Tune in the station you want to listen to. Press the SET pushbutton. (NOTE: The display will show SET for about 5 seconds.) Within the 5 seconds, push one of the five pushbuttons. SET will disappear from the display with the station set.


- _


.~


-.


0 Whenever you press that button, the preset station will return. Clock To set the clock, just: 0 Press the SET button. 0 Within 5 seconds, press and hold SCAN until the correct hour appears


on the display.


0 Press and hold SEEK A or until the correct minute appears on the


display.


- To Adjust The Tone


--


c _


Use the levers next to the display to set the bass, midrange, and treble until you get the sound you want. The 60 and 250 levers adjust the bass; 1K is midrange; and 3.5K and 10K control the treble. We suggest you start with the center lever (E) in the midpoint position. Then move the others up or down until you get the amount of bass and treble you like. To Play a Cassette (Export Only) Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. With the radio on, press a tape into the slot marked AUTO REVERSE (tape side goes in first).


161


Once the tape is playing, use the upper and lower knobs for volume, balance, and fade just as you did for radio. The arrow in the graphic display above the word TAPE indicates which side of the tape is being played.


PROG To go from one side of the tape to the other, press the PROG button. CrOt This button sets the tape bias. When playing high bias chrome or metal tapes, press the button to turn the Cr02 on in the graphic display. When playing standard bias tapes, press again to turn the CrO2 off.


REV To rapidly reverse the tape, press REV and the tape will rapidly reverse to the beginning of the tape or until you press the REV button lightly.


To rapidly advance the tape, press FWD and the tape will rapidly go forward to the end of the tape or until you press the FWD button lightly.


PREV To hear a passage on the tape that has just played, press PREV and the tape will back up and stop at either the first 4-second quiet spot in the tape or when you press PREV again. NEXT To go immediately to the next selection on the tape, press NEXT A 4-second quiet interval must be present for the tape to stop. EJECT To remove or stop the tape and switch to radio, press the EJECT button.


ST-PL To immediately switch from tape to radio, press the ST-PL button and the radio will resume playing the station that was tuned in when you inserted a tape. Pressing ST-PL again will allow the tape to resume where it stopped. Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate properly or cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly each month or after every 15 hours of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. Clean your tape player with a wiping-action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, and follow the directions provided with it. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced. Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.


-


??


Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. Power Antenna Mast Care Your power antenna will look its best and work well if it’s cleaned from time to time. To Clean the Antenna Mast: 1. Turn on the ignition and radio to raise the antenna to full mast


extension.


2. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits or equivalent solvent. 3. Wipe cloth over the mast sections, removing any dirt. 4. Wipe dry with clean cloth before retracting. 5. Make the antenna go up and down by turning the radio or ignition on


and off.


6. Then repeat if necessary.


L J


164


make the power antenna go down. This will prevent the mas from possibly getting damaged. If the antenna does not go d


cleaned. In either case, lo pressing the antenna down


If the mast portion of your antenna is damaged, you can easily replace it. See your dealer for a replacement kit and follow the instructions in the kit.


165


YOUR DRIVING AND THE ROAD


Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving. ROAD SIGNS The road signs you see everywhere are coded by color, shape and symbols. It’s a good idea to know these codes so that you can quickly grasp the basic meaning or intent of the sign even before you have a chance to read it.


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Color of Road Signs


[ST0 P


r ‘DO NOT’! ~ N T E R J


WRONG I WAY


- A


RED means STOP It may also indicate that some movement is not allowed. Examples are DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY.


c-


RAILROAD ADVANCE CROSSING


NO PASSING


NO PASSING


ZONE


NARROW BRIDGE


YELLOW indicates a general warning. Slow down and be careful when you see a yellow sign. It may signal a railroad crossing ahead, a no passing


zone, or some other potentially dangerous situation. Likewise, a yellow solid line painted on the road means “Don’t Cross.”


LOW


SHOULDER


WORKERS


AHEAD


FLAGGER AHEAD


ORANGE indicates road construction or maintenance. You’ll want to slow down when you see an orange sign, as part of the road may be closed off or torn up. And there may be workers and maintenance vehicles around, too.


.-


L .


GREEN is used to guide the driver. Green signs may indicate upcoming freeway exits or show the direction you should turn to reach a particular place.


c-


H I


c-


HOSPITAL


INFORMATION


BLUE signs with white letters show motorists’ services.


CANOEING


SWIMMING


BROWN signs point out recreation areas or points of historic or cultural interest. Shape of Road Signs The shape of the sign will tell you something, too.


169


/


An OCTAGONAL (eight-sided) sign means STOP. It is always red with white letters.


A DIAMOND-shaped sign is a warning of something ahead - for example, a curve, steep hill, soft shoulder, or a narrow bridge.


A TRIANGLE, pointed downward, indicates YIELD. It assigns the right-of-way to traffic on certain approaches to an intersection.


A TRIANGULAR sign also is used on two-lane roads to indicate a NO PASSING ZONE. This sign will be on the left side of the roadway.


KEEP RIGHT


ONLY


LEFT OR THROUGH


RIGHT TURN


RECTANGULAR (square or oblong) signs show speed limits, parking regulations, give directions, and such information as distances to cities.


Symbols on Road Signs


t-


i .


There are many international road signs in use today. The basic message of many of these signs is in pictures or graphic symbols. A picture within a circle with a diagonal line across it shows what not to do.


I'


TRAFFIC LIGHTS


m - 1


We’re all familiar with traffic lights or stop lights. Often green arrows are - being used in the lights for improved traffic control. On some multilane roads, green arrows light up, indicating that traffic in one or more lanes can move or make a turn. Green arrows don’t mean “go no matter what.’’ You’ll still need to proceed with caution, yielding the right of way to pedestrians and sometimes to other vehicles. Some traffic lights also use red arrows to signify that you must stop before turning on red.


L


- -- VERSIBLE LANE ON MU LTI- LANE


ROADWAY


Many city roads and expressways, and even bridges, use reversible-lane traffic control during rush hours. A red X light above a lane means no driving in that lane at that time. A green arrow means you may drive in that lane. Look for the signs posted to warn drivers what hours and days these systems are in effect. PAVEMENT M W N G S


Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals. They give information to drivers without taking attention from the roadway. A solid yellow line on your side of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”


- YOUR OWN SIGNALS


Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only more polite, it’s safer to let


- other drivers know what you are doing. And in some places the law


requires driver signals. Turn and lane change signals. Always signal when you plan to turn or change lanes. If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window: Left arm straight out for a left turn, down for slow or about-to-stop, and up for a right turn. Slowing down. If time allows, tap the brake pedal once or twice in advance of slowing or stopping. This warns the driver behind you. Disabled. Your four-way flashers signal that your vehicle is disabled or is a hazard. See “Hazard Warning Flashers” in the Index.


- TRAFFIC OFFICER


The traffic police officer is also a source of important information. The officer’s signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights or other signs say. The next section discusses some of the road conditions you may encounter. DEFENSIKE D m N G The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Cadillac: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Expect children to dash out from behind parked cars, often followed by other children. Expect occupants in parked cars to open doors into traffic. Watch for movement in parked cars -- someone may be about to open a door.


- .


175


Expect other drivers to run stop signs when you are on a through street. Be ready to brake if necessary as you go through intersections. You may not have to use the brake, but if you do, you will be ready. If you’re driving through a shopping center parking lot where there are well-marked lanes, directional arrows, and designated parking areas, expect some drivers to ignore all these markings and dash straight toward one part of the lot. Pedestrians can be careless. Watch for them. In general, you must give way to pedestrians even if you know you have the right of way. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Here’s a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most dangerous time for driving in the U.S. is very early on Sunday morning. In fact, GM Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous times for driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday. The most dangerous time is Sunday from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday at 3 a.m. isn’t just a little more dangerous than it is at 10 a.m. It’s about 134 times more dangerous! That leads to the next section. DRUNKEN DRMNG Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:


L . 4


Judgment


0 Muscular Coordination


Vision


Police records show that half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol - a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian, had been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone


176


who was drinking and driving. Over 25,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur each year because of alcohol, and thousands of people are injured. Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no one should drink alcohol and then drive. But if one does, then what’s “too much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:


How much alcohol is in the drink.


0 The drinker’s body weight. a The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking. 0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.


According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three


177


mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka. It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level.


RESULT IN A BAC OF .05°/o


DRINKING THAT WILL IN THE TIME SHOWN


L - r


NUMBER OF DRINKS IS In picture)


3 HOURS


2 HOURS


1 HOUR


100 120 140 160 BODY WEIQHT IN POUNDS


180 200 220 240


The law in most US. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than that. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive .is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance of having an


178


~.


- accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chances are twenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a


-_ need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A


person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.


--


-~ . There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spinal cord and heart injuries. That means that if anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, the chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking. And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for drinking drivers.


* Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, amount of alcohol. You could have a serious -- or even fatal -- perceptions, and judgment will be affected by even a small


accident if you drive after drinking. Please don’t drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home’in a cab; or if you’re with a p u p , designate a driver who will not drink


- CONTROL OF A WHICLE --


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.


179


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. BRAKING Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. - time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception Average reaction time is about 3/4 of 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, alertness, coordination, 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 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between 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; and the condition of your brakes. Most drivers treat their brakes with care. Some, however, overwork the braking system with poor driving habits.


Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace


180


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.


a Don’t “ride” the brakes by letting your left foot rest lightly on the


brake pedal while driving.


CAUTION:


“Riding” your braws can cause them to overheat to the point that they won’t work well. You might not be able to stop your vehicle in time to avoid an accident. If you “ride” your brakes, they will get so hot they will require a lot of pedal force to slow you down. Avoid “riding” the brakes.


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.


Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your Cadillac has an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent skidding.


This light on the instrument panel will go on when you start your vehicle.


See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.


-


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 A B S . A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. The computer separately works the brakes at each front wheel and at the rear wheels. The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions.


-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.


A CAUTION:


Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal. 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 t- lug


~ O U have anti-lock brakes.


..


To Use Anti-Lock: Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. When you start your vehicle and begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS system testing itself. You may also hear this during a hard stop. Traction Control System (Option) Your vehicle may have a traction control system that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The traction control system works at low speeds only, such as when you accelerate from a stop. It applies brake pressure to an individual wheel that the system senses is about to spin.


ITER


The “TRACTION ACTIVE’’ light will appear in your information center when your traction control system is working.


184


r


You may feel the system working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.


The “TRACTION OFF” warning light lets you know if your traction control system is not working. See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the Index.


-1


, ,


,,


.-


Disc Brake Wear Indicators Your Cadillac has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).


A CAUTION


The brake wear waming sound means thgt sooner or later your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to an accident. when you hear the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.


5- .,


185


-


VOTICE: Cmtinuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in costly brake repair


Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes. Rear Drum Brakes Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation or changing. When you have the front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too. Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets. Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble. Brake Adjustment Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate or heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way, then -- very carefully -- make a few moderate brake stops about every 1000 miles (1600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly. Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.


186


__


Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system fails to function, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems -- steering and acceleration -- can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Let up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.


Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. When you drive into a curve at night, it’s harder to see the road ahead of you because it bends away from the straight beams of your lights. This is one good reason to drive slower. Steering in Emergencies 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 from 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 room. 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. 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. You must then be prepared to steer back to your original lane and then brake to a controlled stop. Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for an unprepared driver. This is one of the reasons driving experts recommend that you use your safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel.


- ‘ I -


-.


)--r


L L


188


The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times. 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 1/4 turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.


189


QCe ROAD RECOVER)


*-


7,


If the shoulder appears to be about four inches (100 mm) or more below the pavement, this difference can cause problems. If there is not enough room to pull entirely onto the shoulder and stop, then follow the same procedures. But if the right front tire scrubs against the side of the pavement, do NOT steer more sharply. With too much steering angle, the vehicle may jump back onto the road with so much steering input that it crosses over into the oncoming traffic before you can bring it back under control. Instead, ease off again on the accelerator and steering input, straddle the pavement once more, then try again. PASSING The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision.


_.


So here are some tips for passing:


“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. If you suspect that the driver of the vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware of your presence, tap the horn a couple of times before passing. 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 lined up 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 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.)


to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But


191


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 lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn.


0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get


ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.


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 and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn a corner on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your foot off the accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will straighten out. As it does, straighten the front wheels. 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


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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 slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock braking system ( A B S ) helps avoid only the braking skid. Steer the way you want to go. DRIPTNG AT NIGHT


Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving. 0 Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most dangerous time. 0 Don’t drink and drive. (See “Drunken Driving” in the Index for more


on this problem.)


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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. It’s hard to tell how fast the vehicle ahead is going just by looking at its taillights. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals.


0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest. Night Vision No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things invisible that should remain visible - such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or even trains blocking railway crossings. You may want to put on your sunglasses after you have pulled into a brightly-lighted service or refreshment area. Eyes shielded from that glare may adjust more quickly to darkness back on the road. But be sure to remove your sunglasses before you leave the service area. IOU can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. If there is a line of opposing traffic, make occasional glances over the line of headlights to make certain that one of the vehicles isn’t starting to move into your lane. Once you are past the bright lights, give your eyes time to readjust before resuming speed.


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- High Beams


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If the vehicle approaching you has its high beams on, signal by flicking yours to high and then back to low beam. This is the usual signal to lower the headlight beams. If the other driver still doesn’t lower the beams, resist the temptation to put your high beams on. This only makes two half-blinded drivers. On a freeway, use your high beams only in remote areas where you won’t impair approaching drivers. In some places, like cities, using high beams is illegal. When you follow another vehicle on a freeway or highway, use low beams. True, most vehicles now have day-night mirrors that enable the driver to reduce glare. But outside mirrors are not of this type and high beams from behind can bother the driver ahead. A Few More Night Driving Suggestions Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Tobacco smoke also makes inside glass surfaces very filmy and can be a vision hazard if it’s left there. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. You might even want to keep a cloth and some glass cleaner in your vehicle if you need to clean


- your glass frequently.


Remember that your headlights light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.


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D M N G IN THE RAlN


- - I . .


Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can't stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn't as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don't have much tread left, you'll get even less traction. It's always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. Road spray can often be worse for vision than rain, especially if it comes from a dirty road. So it is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.


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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.


I A CAUTION:


Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water Or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally.


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. You might not be aware of hydroplaning. You could drive along for some time without realizing your tires aren’t in constant contact with the road.


You could find out the hard way: when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass -- or if you get hit by a gust of wind. You could suddenly find yourself out of control. 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, and be careful. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips


Turn on your headlights -- not just your parking lights -- to help make you more visible to others. Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming from behind. You may want to use your headlights even in daytime if it’s raining hard. 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. If the road spray is so heavy you are actually blinded, drop back. Don’t pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better than having an accident. Use your defogger if it helps. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)


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DRZWNG IN FOG, MISTAND HAZE


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Fog can occur with high humidity or heavy frost. It can be so mild that you can see through it for several hundred feet (meters). Or it might be so thick that you can see only a few feet (meters) ahead. It may come suddenly to an otherwise clear road. And it can be a major hazard. When you drive into a fog patch, your visibility will be reduced quickly. The biggest dangers are striking the vehicle ahead or being struck by the one behind. Try to “read” the fog density down the road. If the vehicle ahead starts to become less clear or, at night, if the taillights are harder to see, the fog is probably thickening. Slow down to give traffic behind you a chance to slow down. Everybody then has a better chance to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead. A patch of dense fog may extend only for a few feet (meters) or for miles (kilometers); you can’t really tell while you’re in it. You can only treat the situation with extreme care. One common fog condition -- sometimes called mist or ground fog -- can happen in weather that seems perfect, especially at night or in the early morning in valley and low, marshy areas. You can be suddenly enveloped in thick, wet haze that may even coat your windshield. You can often spot these fog patches or mist layers with your headlights. But sometimes they can be waiting for you as you come over a hill or dip into a shallow valley.


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