
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Symbols 
These are some of the  symbols  you  may find on your  vehicle. 
For example, 
these symbols 
are used  on an 
original battery: 
POSSIBLE A 
CAUTION 
INJURY 
PROTECT  EYES 
BY 
SHIELDING Q 
CAUSTIC 
BURNS AVOID 
SPARKS 
OR 
FLAMES 
SPARK 
OR ,\I/, 
COULD  FLAME 
EXPLODE  BATTERY 
These symbols are important 
for  you  and 
your passengers 
whenever  your 
vehicle 
is 
driven: 
DOOR  LOCK 
UNLOCK 
FASTEN  SEAT 
BELTS 
POWER 
WINDOW 
These symbols  have 
to do with 
your  lamps: 
SIGNALS e 9 
TURN 
WARNING 
A 
HAZARD 
FLASHER 
RUNNING * 0 
DAYTIME - 0 
LAMPS '** 
FOG  LAMPS $0 
These symbols 
are on some 
of 
your controls: 
WINDSHIELD 
WIPER 
WINDSHIELD  DEFROSTER 
WINDOW 
DEFOGGER 
VENTILATING  FAN 
These symbols are  used  on 
warning  and 
indicator lights: 
COOLANT - 
TEMP - 
CHARGING 1-1 
BATTERY 
SYSTEM 
BRAKE 
(a) 
R 
ENGINE  OIL 
PRESSURE 
Wb 
ANTI-LOCK (@) 
BRAKES 
Here are some  other symbols 
you may  see: 
FUSE 
LIGHTER 
m 
HORN )tr 
SPEAKER 
b 
FUEL B 
vii   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ,== -a . 
Section 2 Features  and  Controls 
Here you can learn about the many  standard and optional features  on  your Catera, and information on starting, 
shifting and braking. Also explained  are the instrument panel  and the warning systems  that tell you 
if everything  is 
working properly 
-- and  what  to do  if  you  have a problem. 
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Keys 
Door Locks 
Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE) 
Trunk 
Theft 
Theft-Deterrent  (System) 
Immobilizer 
New  Vehicle  “Break-In” 
Ignition Positions  Starting  Your Engine 
.Engine  Coolant Heater 
Automatic Transmission Operation 
Parking Brake 
Shifting Into  PARK 
(P) 
Shifting Out of PARK (P)  2-28 
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2-5  8 
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Parking Over Things That Burn 
Engine Exhaust 
Running  Your Engine While  You’re Parked 
Windows  Tilt  Wheel 
Turn  Signal/Multifunction Lever 
Lamps  Mirrors 
Storage  Compartments 
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter 
Cellular Telephone 
Sunroof 
Universal Transmitter 
Instrument Panel 
Warning  Lights, Gages and Indicators   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. If your engine  still won’t  start (or starts but  then 
stops),  it could  be flooded  with too much  gasoline. 
Try  pushing your accelerator pedal  all the  way  to the 
floor and  holding  it there as you  hold the  key in 
START for  about  three seconds.  If the Catera starts 
briefly  but then  stops  again, 
do the same  thing. 
I NOTICE: 
Your engine  is  designed  to work  with  the 
electronics  in your  vehicle. 
If you add electrical 
parts  or  accessories,  you  could  change the way 
the  engine  operates.  Before adding electrical 
equipment,  check  with your dealer. 
If you  don’t, 
your  engine  might not perform  properly. 
If you ever  have  to have your  vehicle  towed,  see 
the  part  of this manual  that tells how  to do it 
without damaging your  vehicle. 
See “Towing 
Your  Catera”  in the  Index. 
Engine Coolant  Heater (Option) 
The electrical cord for  the engine  coolant heater  is in 
front  of the  air cleaner  filter  and  under  the headlamp 
cover,  on 
the passenger’s  side of  the  engine. 
ENGINE COOLANT 
HEATER  ELEC  AIR  CLEANER ASSEMBLY 
CORD //// 
HE 
AS 
I 
HEADLAMP 
COVER 
In very cold  weather, 0°F (- 18 “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.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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  110-volt AC outlet. 
/ CA-‘TIC’J: 
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet 
could  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. Before  starting  the  engine,  be  sure to unplug 
and  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 Catera 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 Engine  Coolant  Temperature 
Warning  Light 
This light tells  you  that  the 
engine  has  overheated.  You 
should  stop the 
car and  turn 
the  engine 
off as  soon  as 
possible. 
A warning  chime 
should  also sound  if 
this 
light comes  on. 
As a check, the light  should come on for a few seconds 
when  you 
start the engine. In  the section  “Problems  on 
the  Road,”  this manual explains  what  to  do. See “Engine 
Overheating”  in the  Index. 
Engine  Coolant  Temperature  Gage 
C & 
This  gage  shows the engine 
coolant  temperature. 
If the 
gage  pointer  moves  into 
the  red  area, the engine 
is 
too hot! 
This  reading  means  the same thing  as the warning 
light 
-- the  engine coolant  has  overheated.  You should 
stop  the  car and  turn  the  engine off  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  section  “Problems  on  the Road” in  this manual 
explains  what to do.  See “Engine  Overheating”  in 
the  Index. 
I 2-68   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low  Coolant  Warning  Light 
This warning  light should 
come  on  while  you are 
starting 
the engine.  If the 
light  doesn’t  come on, have 
4 
it repaired. 
Malfunction  Indicator  Lamp 
(Check  Engine  Light) 
Your  Catera  is equipped 
with  a computer  which 
monitors  operation  of the 
fuel, ignition  and  emission 
CHECK 
ENGINE 
control systems. 
Your  Catera is equipped  with a low  coolant level sensor 
(switch  and float)  that is designed 
to detect  when  your 
vehicle’s  coolant level drops below the set limit.  If the 
low  coolant level sensor (under  the coolant  surge  tank) 
detects  that the level drops while  the engine is running, 
the low coolant indicator will light and  remain lit until 
the ignition switch is turned off. Check the coolant level  and  add  coolant as  needed.  The  light should turn 
off as 
soon  as the coolant level 
is at its  proper operating  range. This 
system  is called  OBD 
I1 (On-Board 
Diagnostics-Second  Generation) and is intended 
to  assure  that emissions are  at acceptable  levels for 
the life  of  the vehicle, helping 
to produce  a cleaner 
environment.  (In  Canada, 
OBD I1 is replaced  by 
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The  CHECK 
ENGINE light 
comes on  to indicate that  there is a problem  and  service 
is required. Malfunctions  often  will be indicated  by the 
system  before any  problem  is apparent. This  may 
prevent  more serious damage  to  your vehicle. This 
system 
is also  designed  to  assist your service  technician 
in correctly diagnosing  any malfunction. 
2-69   

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. 
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