1996 CADILLAC ELDORADO maintenance

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer for
service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver's air bag,
it
may not work properly. You may have to
replace the
air bag module. Do not open or break
the
air bag cover.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Cadillac
Air bags affect how your Cadillac should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle.
You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
Cadillac dealer and the Cadillac service manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air
bag
system. To purchase a service manual, see "Service and
Owner Publications"
in the Index.
For up
to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service.
You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
1 or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
' performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if
a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you
an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired. Torn or
frayed safety belts may not protect you
in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If
a belt is
tom or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If belts are
cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat
parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn’t being used at
the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier
in
this section.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BATTERY NO CHARGE - 07: This message will
appear if the battery is not being charged. Have the
electrical system checked by your Cadillac dealership at
your earliest convenience.
BATTERY VOLTS HIGH - 08: 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.
You can reduce the charging overload by using the
accessories. Turn on the lamps and 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 DIC by pressing the INFORMATION
button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts when the
engine
is running.
BATTERY VOLTS LOW - 06: 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 the accessories. You can monitor battery
voltage on the DIC by pressing the INFORMATION
button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM - 108: The circuit in
the brake booster vacuum has shorted or is loose when
this message appears. Your vehicle may lose power
brakes but you will still have the use of manual brakes.
The power brakes will not be affected if the problem is
caused by a failed sensor. Have your vehicle serviced
immediately at your Cadillac dealership.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL - 82: This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within
200 miles. See “Engine Oil” and “Filter
Recommendations’’ in the Maintenance Schedule. After
an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must be reset. See
“Oil Life Indicator” in the Index on how to reset it.
CHANGE TRANS FLUID - 47: This message will
appear when
it is time to replace the transaxle fluid
(system has determined that the transaxle fluid has
reached
0%). See the Maintenance Schedule booklet for
the proper fluid and change intervals.
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1 -

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The DIC may display a CHECK OIL LEVEL message.
Always keep a written record of the mileage and date
when you changed your oil. For more information, see
the Cadillac Maintenance Schedule booklet. If you see
CHECK
OIL LEVEL, it means that you have less than
10% of the oil life left and you should consider
changing your engine
oil. If you see CHANGE
ENGINE
OIL, it. means the oil life is gone and you
should change the oil right away.
The system should indicate changing the oil between
3,000 miles (5 000 km) and 7,500 miles (12 500 km).
It may indicate changing the oil before 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) depending on your driving habits. If the
vehicle has been driven
7,500 miles (12 500 km) it will
indicate
to change the oil. If you drive in a dusty area,
you should change your oil every 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or three months (whichever comes first)
unless the display indicates changing it sooner. The
system doesn’t check
how nzuch oil you have, so you’ll
still have to check for that. To see
how, see “Engine Oil”
in the
Index.
When new oil is added, you’ll need to reset the system.
To reset, display the
Oil Life Indicator by pressing the
INFORMATION button. Then press and hold the
RESET button until the display shows 100% OIL
LIFF
T ,EFT.
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle level as the
load changes. It’s automatic
-- you don’t need to
adjust anything.
2-86

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on
a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if
you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P).
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks
are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK
(P) firmly and apply your parking brake.
Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Be sure the parking brake has released.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these
is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’\
s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
4-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ,-/Y -A-,
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your
Cadillac. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important
fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical
information about your vehicle, and
a part devoted to its
appearance care.
Service
Your Cadillac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
dealer for all your service needs. You’il get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine
GM parts have one of these marks:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to get the proper Cadillac service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your Cadillac than
this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see
“Service and Owner Publications” in the Index.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Cadillac” in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and
list the mileage and the date of any service work
you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Maintenance
Schedule booklet.
6-1
1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, and the proper replacement
parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
0 Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English’ and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM
D4,814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
i ~ developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) for. better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the
AAMA
specification could provide improved driveability and
emission control system protection compared
to other
gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91. If
the octane is less than 91, you may get a heavy knocking
2
noise when you drive. (In an emergency, you may be
able to use
a lower octane -- as low as 87 -- if heavy
knocking does not occur.)
If you’re using 91 or higher
octane unleaded gasoline and you still hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction inbcator lamp on
your instrument panel may
turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized Cadillac dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause
of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
6-2

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Unhook both air cleaner cover latches. One latch is
located near the radiator hose (not shown) and the
other latch
is located next to the IAT sensor.
5. Pivot the air cleaner and air duct assembly towards
the front
of the vehicle. Remove the cover.
6. Take out the air filter and remove any loose debris
that may be found laying
in the air cleaner base.
7. Install a new air filter element. See “Normal
Maintenance Replacement Parts”
in the Index.
6-14