
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine -.
The 1997 Cadillac Catera Owner’s Manual
1-1
2-1
3-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains \
the air bag system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Catera.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adiust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate \
your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the Roaa
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1
6- 1
7-1
8-1
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Catera running properly and looking good.
Customer Assistance Information
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- 12.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Storage Compartments
Glove Box
The glove box is located in front of the passenger’s seat.
To lock the glove box door, insert the key into the lock
cylinder and turn it clockwise. Turn
the key
counterclockwise to unlock the door.
Note that the glove box is
air conditioned. This helps
to keep snack items cool while traveling. Use the slide
control inside
of the glove box to turn the air conditioning
on and off. Moving the slide control over the small hole
turns the air conditioning off and moving the control away
from the hole turns the air conditioning on.
Map Pockets
The mapktorage pockets are located on each front
door as well as on the passenger’s and driver’s front
seatbacks. Also located on the driver’s door map pocket
is a coin holder. The
front storage area comes with a small storage bin
and a dual cupholder that unfolds for use.
2-48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered
by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction
in one
of two ways:
0 Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may
be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains
on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following,
If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
2-70

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take
a few driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by
the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to
turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to
fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
2-71

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your Catera.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehcle.
3-2
3-6
3-6 3-7
3-8
3-9
3-9
3-
10
Comfort Controls
Air Conditioning
Heating
Ventilation System
Defrosting
Rear Window Defogger
Setting the Clock
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Optional Compact Disc Player
3-13
3-17
3-20
3-20
3-21
3-21
3-22
3-23
3-24
Bose" AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
and Compact Disc Player
Trunk Mounted CD Changer
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Heated Backlite Antenna
3-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Outside Temperature Display
The outside temperature is always displayed when your
vehicle's ignition is on. If the outside temperature
display begins to flash, this means that icy road
conditions are possible. Adjust your driving if needed.
The display will flash for about
30 seconds and then
remain
on steady.
Mode Button
Press this button to deliver air through the floor, middle,
side or windshield outlets. The climate control system
will stay in the selected ECC mode until the MODE
button is pressed again or until the TEMP/AUTO knob
is pressed. Press the up or down arrow to see the
available modes.
EnglisWetric Display
You can change the temperature display from English
(degrees Fahrenheit) to metric (degrees Celsius) by
pressing and holding the driver's side TEMP/AUTO
knob for approximately three seconds. Repeat the
process to change back to English from metric.
Automatic Operation
Pressing the driver's side TEMP/AUTO knob sets the
system for automatic operation. Once the system
is set,
sensors will control the air delivery mode. Air will come
from the floor, middle, side
or windshield outlets. The
fan speed will vary as the system maintains the selected
temperature setting. (All previous manually set mode
settings will change back to a fully automatic mode
when the climate control system is turned on this way.)
Be careful not to put anything over the solar sensor
located in
the middle of the instrument panel near the
windshield. This sensor
is used by the automatic system
to regulate temperature.
To find your comfort zone, start with the
75 OF (24" C j
setting and allow about 20 minutes for the system to
regulate. Adjust the temperature if necessary. If you
choose
60°F (1 6"C), the system will remain at that
maximum cooling setting and will not regulate
fan
speed. If you choose the temperature of 90°F (32°C)'
the system will remain at that maximum heating setting
and will not regulate fan speed. Choosing either
maximum setting will not cause the system to heat or
cool any faster.
3-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In cold weather, when the system senses the need for
heat, airflow will be directed out of the floor outlets.
As
the interior temperature approaches a desired setting, the
blower speed will decrease.
To maintain interior
comfort, the airflow may move to the instrument panel
air outlets and floor outlets (bi-level mode). On bright
sunny days in cold weather, the airflow may come out of
the air conditioning outlets
(AC mode) to maintain
comfort and prevent stuffiness.
If your vehicle is sitting out on a hot day and you have it
set for automatic operation, the
air will first flow out of the
floor
air outlets during cool down. That is normal. This is
to expel hot
air from the air outlets. As the air is cooled,
the airflow will move through the
air conditioning outlets.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system will
delay turning on
the fan until warm air is available. The
length of delay depends on the outside
air temperature,
engine coolant temperature
or the time since the engine
was last started.
As the coolant warms up, the blower fan
speed will gradually increase and air will flow from the
heater outlets, with some airflow to the windshield to prevent fogging under most normal conditions.
If you leave your vehicle, the system will remember the
control setting the next time you start your engine,
except for recirculation and defrost. Each ignition cycle
cancels recirculation.
Manual Operation
You may manually adjust the air delivery mode or
fan speed.
'# HEATERDEFROST: This setting directs air to
the floor outlets and toward the windshield.
3 AC: This setting directs airflow through the middle
instrument
panel outlets.
'!! BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air into your
vehicle in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper
portion
of your body through the middle instrument
panel outlets while warmed air is directed to the floor.
w.
HEATER: This setting directs warmed air through
the floor outlets. Some warm air is diverted to the
windshield to minimize fogging.
DEFROST: Press this button to quickly remove
fog or frost from the windshield. This setting sends most
of the airflow to the windshield with only a small
amount
to the floor outlets.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine * FAN SPEEDS: Press the driver’s side
TEMP/AUTO knob to set the fan speed for automatic
operation. At this setting, the fan speed is automatically
controlled. If it is cold outside, the blower may not run
in the maximum high fan speed right away. The system
checks the temperature of the engine coolant to assure it
is warm enough to provide heat. When the engine
coolant is warm, the controller allows the fan to
gradually increase to a higher speed. This prevents cold
air from blowing into the passenger compartment. If you
want the blower fan at a high speed, press the up arrow
button until you reach the highest position of the display.
If you want the blower fan at a low speed, press the
down arrow button until the lowest position is displayed.
ON/OFF: Press this button to turn the system off.
Press this button again to turn the system back on.
Turning the climate control system on in this way
will recall all previous manually set mode settings.
If the system is turned on by pushing the driver’s
TEMP/AUTO knob for automatic operation, all
of the
previous manually set mode settings will be changed
back to the fully automatic mode.
AC: Press this button to turn the air conditioning on and
off. The system will cool and dehumidify the air inside
the vehicle. In the automatic operation
mode, the display
will show
AC OFF when the air conditioning has been
turned
off.
RECIRCULATION: Press this button to limit the
amount of fresh air entering your vehicle. This is helpful
when you are trying to cool the air quickly or limit
odors
entering your vehicle. In the automatic operation mode,
the system will use recirculation as necessary to cool the
air. Pressing the recirculation button will change the
operation to a manual mode and the air will recirculate
non-stop. Press this button again to turn
off the
recirculation feature.
If you notice the windows fogging, press the
recirculation button to exit the recirculation mode.
3-5