1996 CADILLAC ELDORADO change time

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Change Engine Oil
Your Cadillac has an Oil Life Indicator. This feature
will let you know when to change your
oil and
filter
-- usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
7,500 miles (12 500 km) since your last oil change.
Under severe conditions,
the indicator may come on
before
3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your vehicle
more than
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months,
(whichever occurs first) without an
oil change.
The system won’t detect dust in the oil.
So, if you
drive in a dusty area, be sure to change your oil every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or sooner if the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL message comes on. Remember to reset
the Oil Life Indicator when the oil has been changed.
For more information, see “Oil Life Indicator”
in
the Index.
How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator
After the oil has been changed, display the OIL LIFE
LEFT message by pressing the 1NFORMATION button.
Then press and hold the RESET button until the display
shows
“100.” This resets the oil life index. The message
will remain off until the next oil change is needed. The
percentage of oil life remaining may be checked
at any time
by pressing the INFORMATION button several
times
until the OIL LIFE LEFT message appears. For
more information on
the Oil Life feature, see “Oil Life
Indicator” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap
and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used
oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose
of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for
help.
6-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose
to have this done at your 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.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
6-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 3.
5.
Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in’the cross-hatched area.
If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Replace the
air cleaner assembly.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
ii.1 the Maintenance Schedule booklet.
If the fluid level is low, add only,enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick. 1
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using along-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level. It doesn’t
take,much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 ‘L).
0
0
Don’t overfiill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that-label
is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level
as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How to Reset Transaxle Fluid
Change Indicator:
Your vehicle is equipped with a transaxle fluid change
indicator.
A CHANGE TRANS FLUID message will
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC) ‘when
the powertrain computer determines that the transaxle
fluid needs to be changed. When
this message appears,
change the transaxle fluid and reset the transaxle fluid
life indicator as follows:
1. Turn the ignition on with the engine stopped.
2. Press and hold the OW and rear defog buttons on the
climate control at the same time until the
TRANS
- FLUID RESET message appears on the DIC.
See your Maintenance Schedule booklet
for
more information.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modem vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Cadillac does when it is new.
When
you replace parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have
to have new ones put in -- be sure you get new
genuine GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Cadillac has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have
to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom@
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
I
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See
“Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around
a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
6-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
I
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can
use
a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
,
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which
will
appear whenb’,your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
6-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Plan Ahead When rossible
Whenever possible, schedule an appointment for your
vehicle's warranty work. Your Cadillac dealer can then
prepare to meet your alternative transportation needs
and minimize inconveniences typically associated with
warranty repairs.
Owner Responsibilities
There are only two things which you will be responsible for
during the use of your courtesy vehicle.
You are required to
provide insurance coverage and replenish the fuel used.
In many cases your own auto insurance policy may
provide primary coverage for the courtesy vehicle,
similar to rental car agreements. Please, check
with your
insurance company to be certain what's covered.
This service is provided
to you under the terms of the New
Vehicle Warranty, therefore, it is imperative that your
vehicle be picked up from the dealership at the completion
of the warranty service. Vehicles not picked up in a timely
fashion may incur rental fees charged to the customer.
Some state insurance regulations make
it impractical to
rent vehicles to people under
21 years of age. If you are
under
21 and have difficulty renting a vehicle, Cadillac
will reimburse you up to $30/day, for any documented
transportation
you receive. Please consult your dealer
for details.
GM Participation in BBB AUTO
LINE - Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program"
*This program may not be available in all states,
depending on state law. Canadian owners refer to your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet.
General Motors reserves the right to change eligibility
limitations and/or to discontinue its participation in this
program.
Both Cadillac and your Cadillac dealer are committed to
making sure you are completely satisfied with your new
vehicle. Our experience has shown that,
if a situation
arises where
you feel your concern has not been
adequately addressed, the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure described earlier in this section is very
successful.
There may be instances where an impartial third party
can assist in arriving at
a solution to a disagreement
regarding vehicle repairs or interpretation of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. To assist in resolving these
disagreements, Cadillac voluntarily participates in
BBB
AUTO LINE.