Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it
stops flame if the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with it off,
and be carefbl working on the engine with the air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
__ the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a damaging engine
fire. And, dirt can easily get into your engine, which will damage
LC. Always have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLUID
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to change your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can
be a little difficult, you may choose to have
this done at a Cadillac dealership Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you
could get a false reading on the dipstick.
276
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at the Tire-Loading
Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a Tire
Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec) number on each tire’s
sidewall. When you
get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec
number. That way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are
designed to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride
and other things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires have
an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be followed by a
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number,
make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and
construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
A CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. If you
mix tires of different sizes or types (radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not handle properly, and you could have
a
crash. Be sure to use the same size and type tires on all four
wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare, though. It was
developed
for use on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system developed by the United
States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires
by treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only
to vehicles sold in the United States.)
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one
and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They
represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering \
(turning)
traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation,
or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded
on the sidewalls of passenger car tires.
31 I
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SHEETMETL DAIMAGE
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material
to the parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection. \
FOREIGNMATERIAL
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree
sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, and other
foreign matter can damage your vehicle’s finish
if they remain on painted
surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces for these
stains.
FINISH DAiUAGE
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be
repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop
into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up materials
available from your dealer or other service outlets. Larger areas
of finish
damage can be corrected in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
UNDERBODYMMNTENANCE
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on
the underbody.
If these are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can
occur on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least
every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain
water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect. Dirt
packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being
flushed. Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system can do this
for
you.
322
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This is the legal identifier for your Cadillac. It appears on a plate in the
front corner of the instrument panel, on the driver’s side. You can see it if
you look through the windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts labels and the
certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identificution
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code for your GM engine.
This code will help you identify your engine, specifications, and
replacement parts in this section.
SERWCE PARTS IDENTIFICATION LABEL
You’ll find this label on the spare tire cover. It’s very helpful if you ever
need to order parts. On
this label is:
Your VIN.
Its model designation.
A list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
ADD-ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
-
NOT1
Don’t add ythlllg electrical to your Cadillac unless you chec’-
with
your aealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage
your vehicle and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some of it can just keep other things from working as
they should.
326
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Compartment Fuse Block
I
To gain access, lift the
cover.
Maxi FuseslRelay Center
The maxi fuse and relays are located next to the engine compartment fuse
block.
If a maxi fuse should blow, have your vehicle serviced by your
Cadillac dealer immediately.
328
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The Northstar engine is designed to require less maintenance than many
other
DOHC V-8 engines. Engine systems are designed to remind the
driver when service is required. An oil life index indicator monitors
ongoing operating conditions and reminds the driver when
an oil change
is needed. A low coolant warning message keeps track
of the level of this
vital fluid. Direct acting hydraulic tappets provide maintenance free zero
lash operation
of the 32 valves from idle to the 6500 rpm redline. The
camshafts are driven by a
two stage roller chain assembly which is
designed to provide quiet maintenance free operation. Platinum tipped
spark plugs increase the replacement interval to
100,000 miles.
The four valve per cylinder design provides more
efficient engine
breathing which results
in higher power than comparable two valve
engines. The central location
of each spark plug ensures a fast and
complete burning
of the fuel/air mixture. The induction system uses
smooth thermoplastic tubes to channel air into the cylinders. The
smoothness
of the tubes is equivalent to the elaborate port polishing
methods used for race car engines. Careful design using the shape and
length
of the tubes boosts horsepower by using sonic pressure waves
created by the motion
of the inlet valves to increase the amount of air
entering each cylinder.
The Northstar engine
is also designed to be very durable. The aluminum
block has cast-in-place iron cylinder liners for greater wear resistance.
High strength forged steel connecting rods support the free floating \
piston pins
in bronze bushings for superior high speed performance. The
fillits
of the nodular iron crankshaft undergo a high pressure compression
rolling operation to improve their resistance to fatigue.
Quiet operation
is enhanced by the use of special materials and designs.
The front cover of the engine is stamped from laminated steel which
damps
out noise. Special cam cover gasket seals isolate valve train
operation. The
fuel injectors are placed inside the induction system
housing
to eliminate the clicking noise which is common to other fuel
injected engines.
The Northstar engine is designed
to provide years of efficient, reliable,
satisfying operation. We think
it is also just plain fun to drive.
337
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ShortlLong Arm Suspension (SLA)
I'
Your vehicle uses an independent short/long arm rear suspension. All the
rear suspension components are mounted
on a suspension support which
is attached
to the body at four points and is fully isolated with bushings
and insulators to minimize road noise. Each rear wheel
is connected to
the suspension support through the suspension knuckle using an upper
and lower control arm and toe
link.
The control arms and toe link are attached to the suspension support on
the inboard side, and to a suspension knuckle on the outboard side. The
hub and bearing assembly is mounted
to the knuckle and is a single, non-
serviceable unit which eliminates the need for wheel bearing adjustment.
The load leveling
(ELC) shock absorbers are attached to the lower
control arm, with the upper end
of the shock attached to the suspension
support.
The springs are held in position between the lower control arms
and
a pocket in the suspension support.
The suspension system also incorporates
a new damping system now as
Road Sensing Suspension on the ETC or (Sport Coupe) and Speed
343