1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 237

1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette Manual

Page 237 highlights

Steering Power Steering If you lose power steeringassist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Easeup on the accelerator pedal, steerthe 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 conditionsyou'll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speedas 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. 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.

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Steering
Power
Steering
If
you lose
power
steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, 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. Both control systems
--
steering and
acceleration
--
have to do their
work
where
the
tires
meet
the
road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much
of those places.
You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever
happens?
Ease 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
conditionsyou’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.