1996 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD maintenance schedule

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low Oil Level Light
11 This light should come on
while you are starting your
engine provided that your
LOW
OIL LEVEL
engine has been off long
enough to let most
of the oil
drain back into the oil pan.
During frequent stopping and starting, the light will
not always come on as you
start the engine.
If it doesn’t come on, have it repaired. If the light comes
on and stays on, the engine oil level is too low. Check the
oil level and add enough oil to bring the engine oil level
up to the proper level.
See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
Change Oil Light t
CHANGE OIL
The CHANGE OIL light
should come on briefly as
a bulb check when you
start the engine. If the
light doesn’t come on,
have it serviced.
If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on for
20 seconds after you start the engine, have the oil
changed. The light may indicate to change the oil sooner
than suggested in your maintenance schedule, depending
on your driving patterns. The light is activated by the
Oil Life Inlcator which determines the condition of the
oil but doesn’t sense heavy dust in the air or check the
oil level. Therefore, you should change your oil at the
intervals recommended in your maintenance schedule or
when the CHANGE OIL light comes on, whichever
comes first. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.

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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remove the air filter. Be sure to inspect both sides of the
filter and replace it as necessary.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
/!A CAUTION:
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 careful working on the engine with
the
air cleaner off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And,
dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage
it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~~
~ Automatic Transmission -Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission 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
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 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 Index.
regularly reaches
90°F (32"
C) or higher.
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
transmission.
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
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission 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.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180 OF to 200 OF
(82°C to 93°C).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid Rear Axle
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid
only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for a hot
check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint
(OSL). Don ’t overfiill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-III, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-111 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; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Use Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 1052271) or
SAE 8OW-90 GL-5 gear lubricant.
6-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Steering Fluid How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the
C mark. Add enough fluid to
bring the level up to the mark.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
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I f

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid
wiIl burn if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. Checking Brake Fluid
I
Refer to
the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
check your brake fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” in the Index.
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the windows on the brake fluid reservoir.
The fluid levels should be above
MIN. If they aren’t,
have your brake system checked
to see if there is a leak.
After work is done
on the brake hydraulic system, make
sure the levels are above MIN and below the top of
each window..
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
J.
Q
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use one
of the correct
rotation patterns shown here.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, don’t include it
in your tire rotation.
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