downloading pdf files in Maverick

It may be a web site problem.

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.

Isolating an issue by using another user account 

Safe Mode - About

There’s usualy a little more information on that error message. Too many redirects, not connected to the internet, can’t find the server, the server stopped responding, etc. What’s the rest of that error message, if there is any more to it?

Depending on which of those or other reasons.... This could be your web browser, or your Mac, your network, or could well be a routing problem somewhere in the path to the target system, or a problem with the target web server and its contents.

Again depending on the reason... Try a different web browser. Try a different network connection. Try a different PDF file.

If the trigger is associated with your local Mac, and if you have add-on anti-malware or anti-virus, or a network firewall add-on, or are using ad or content blocking, disable and remove all of it per the vendors’ instructions, and try again.

only this web site so far.

There are services that can test access, though these services are more commonly used to determine if the entire web site is offline, or if there is a local configuration issue: https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com

If the file is not sensitive and if no login is required, then consider posting the URL here and somebody here can test it.

Contact the web site administrator.

Only this PDF, and only this web site?

Or multiple PDFs you’re attempting to download, and across multiple web sites?