
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine tire. If the warning light stays on after you replace the compact spare wlrn
a full-size tire, or if it comes on again when you’re driving, your Cadillac
needs service.
Engine Temperature Warning Light (Export Only)
This light tells you that
your engine has
overheated.
You
should stop the car and
turn the engine off as
soon as possible. A
warning chime should
also sound if this light
comes
011. As a check,
the light should come
on for a few seconds
whcn you start your
engine.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the
Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
Service Engine Soon Light
I ENGINE
SOON
126

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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.
Battery Charge Light (Export Only)
.L
When you turn the key
to “Run” or
“START”,
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil Light (Export Only)
I
This light tclls 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 start 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 the light comes
on and stays 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.
I ~~~ I
A CA, TIO, 4:
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
vour vehicle serviced.
128

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A/C OVERHEATED - A/C COMPRESSOR OFF
If the refrigerant system ever reaches an over-pressure condition, this
message
will appear to tell you that the air conditioning compressor has
been turned
off. Air conditioned air will not be delivered to cool your
vehicle. If the pressure returns
to a normal operating range, you must
select “AUTO”, “DEFOG”
, or Defrost to start the compressor. If this
message continues to appear, have the system repaired as soon as
possible to avoid compressor damage.
BATTERY NO CHARGE
This message will appear if your battery is not being charged. Have your
electrical system checked by
your Cadillac dealership at your earliest
convenience.
BATTERY VOLTS HIGH
This message shows that the electrical charging system is overcharging,
(more than
16 volts). To avoid being stranded have the electrical system
checked by your Cadillac dealership at your earliest convenience.
You can
reduce the charging overload
by using the accessories. Turn on the lights,
radio, set the Climate Control on
“AUTO” and the fan speed on “HI”
and turn the rear window defogger on. You can monitor battery voltage
on the Driver Information Center by toggling the “INFORMATION’’
button. When the engine is running, the normal range is
11.5 to 15.5
volts.
BATTERY VOLTS LOW
This message will appear when the electrical system is charging less than
10 volts, or if the battery has been drained. If this message appears
immediately after starting it is possible
that the generator can still
recharge the battery. The battery should recharge after driving a few
miles and the message should go out. If this message appears while
driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked
immediately to determine the cause
of this problem. To help the
generator recharge the battery quickly, you can reduce the load on the
electrical system by turning
off your accessories. You can monitor battery
voltage
on the Driver Information Center by toggling the
“INFORMATION” button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
134

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CHANGE TRANS FLUID (Northstar Only)
This message will appear when it is time to replace the transaxle fluid.
See your maintenance booklet for the proper fluid and change i\
ntervals.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message is displayed to inform the driver that the brake reservoir
fluid level
is low. Check the brake reservoir level and add as needed.
Have the brake system serviced by
a Cadillac technician as soon as
possible.
If the brake warning light is on, follow the directions in that
section.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL (Northstar Only)
This message will appear when there is a low level of engine coolant.
Have the cooling system serviced by a Cadillac technician as soon as
possible.
CHECK FUEL GAGE
This message will appear when your fuel supply is less than 4 gallons and
your display is turned
off.
CHECK OIL LEVEL (Northstar Only)
This message will appear when your engine oil is approximately a quart
low. If this message is displayed, check the oil and add as needed.
CHANGE OIL SOON
This message will appear when your engine oil is less than 10 percent or
the mileage since the last oil change is more than 6750 miles.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
135
This means that the life of your engine oil has expired and it should be
changed immediately. See engine
oil and filter recommendations in the
Maintenance Schedule. After an
oil change, the Oil Life Index must be
reset. See “Oil Life Indicator”
in the index on how to reset it.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SERVICE A/C SYSTEM A/C COMPRESSdR OFF
This message appears when the electronic sensors that control the A/C
and heating system are no longer working.
You mav notice a drop in
heating and A/C efficiency when this message appkars. Have your
Climate Control system serviced
if this message appears.
STARTING DISABLED DUE TO THEFT SYSTEM REMOVE
IGNITION
KEY
This message will appear when the Personalized Automotive Security
System (PASS Key
I1 rM ) senses that an improper ignition key is being
used to try to start the vehicle. Check the ignition key
for damage. If it is
damaged, it may need to be replaced. If you see no damage, clean the
pellet contacts
with a soft cloth or napkin. Remove the ignition key and
wait for the Driver Information Center to display “WAIT
3 MINUTES”.
The Instrument Panel Cluster
will then run a timer and change the
messages to “WAIT 2 MINUTES”, “WAIT 1 MINUTE”, and then
“START CAR”. When the “START CAR” message
is displayed, try again
to start the engine.
SERVICE NOW - REFER TO OWNERS MANUAL
This message appears if you have a problem with the Electronic Control
Module (ECM).
To correct this problem have your vehicle serviced at
your Cadillac dealership.
SERVICE RIDE CONTROL
This message is displayed to indicate that the Suspension System is not
operating properly. To correct this problem have
your vehicle serviced at
your Cadillac dealership at your earliest convenience.
STOP ENGINE ENGINE OVERHEATING
This message will appear when your engine has overheated. Stop and
turn your engine
off immediately to avoid severe engine damage. See
“Engine Overheating” in the Index.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message will appear if there is a problem with your Emission
Control System.
If the “SERVICE ENGINE SOON” light on the
instrument panel and this message appear and then turns off, it
is an
indication that
a temporary problem has cleared itself. Have your vehicle
checked
at your earliest convenience.
137

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0
a
0
a
0
If other cars are lined 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
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 lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to
turn.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
DRn/lNG IN THE RAIN
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 makc 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.
191