1996 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD engine overheat

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The 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
Features and Controls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SIR” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Cadillac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated
engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Cadillac running properly and looking
good.
This section tells you how to contact Cadillac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 7-10.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 7-1
Index ........................................................................\
........ 8-1
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
A CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
couId cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Cadillac dealer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
2-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@): This position
is for normal driving.
If you need more power for
passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
The transmission will shift down to the next gear.
accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
THIRD (D or 3) : This position is also used for normal
driving, however it offers more power and lower fuel
economy that AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (D or 3)
instead of OVERDRIVE (@):
When driving on hilly, winding roads
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill
between gears
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you
go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use
your brakes
off and on.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but
lower fuel economy)
than SECOND (2). You can use it on
very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever
is put in
FIRST (l), the transmission won’t shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand
or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
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It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
~ engine running unless you have to.
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If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK
(P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK
(P)
without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means
that
the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
2-25

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
To remove the rront center ashtray for cleaning, lift it
out by pulling on the snuffer. If it won’t come out, reach
under the drawer and push up on the ashtray bowl and
remove it
.
The rear ashtrays are located on the door armrests. To
remove the ashtrays for cleaning, lift the cover and pull
up on the snuffer.
To reinstall, push down firmly.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers or other flammable things into
your
ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them, causing damage.
Lighters are near the ashtrays. To use a lighter, push it in
all the way. When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.
NOTICE:
If you hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it
is heating, it won’t be able to back away
from the heating element when
it’s ready. That
can make
it overheat, damaging the lighter and
the heating element.
2-46

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
h k -
TEMP
This light should come
on briefly as a bulb check
when you start the engine.
This light tells you that
your engine coolant
has overheated.
Low Coolant Warning Light
LOW
COOLANT
If the coolant level in the
radiator is low, this light
will come on and stay on
until you add coolant.
Continuing
to drive your
vehicle with this warning
light on may result in
damage to your engine.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn the engine
off as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows you what
to do.
See “Engine Overheating” in the Index. See
“Engine Coolant” in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as
soon as you can.
2-59

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring.
Check with your Cadillac dealer.
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if
the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs
are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade,
shift down to a lower gear and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than 2,000 lbs. (900 kg), you
should drive in DRIVE
(D or 3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@). This allows the
torque convertor clutch to engage and the transmission
to run cooler.
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. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the downhill side
PARK
(P) yet.
of the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK (P) and apply the parking brake.
5. Release the regular brakes.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’men 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
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.
Engine Cooling When Trailering
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions such as:
Climbing grades steeper than four percent at
temperatures above
90°F (32°C) with a loaded
vehicle and trailer.
Stopping after high-speed driving.
Idling for long periods in stop-and-go traffic.
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 transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, 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.
4-40