1997 CADILLAC CATERA Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Instrument Panel Cluster
United States version shown, Canadian similar
2-60

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(M). The
odometer shows how
far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it. To set it to zero, press the knob located
below the speedometer on the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
This gage indicates the
engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
w RPM x 1000
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area or engine damage may occur.
Engine Speed Limiter
This feature prevents the engine from operating at too
many revolutions per minute (rpm). When the engine’s
rpms
are critically high, the fuel supply to the engine
is shut
off. When the engine speed slows, the fuel
supply will come on again.
This helps prevent damage
to the engine.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
2-61

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving,
or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to
do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about four seconds,
then it will flash for about
60 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the chime nor the
light will come
on.
2-62

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
This light will come on for
a few seconds when you
i start your engine. Then the
light should go out. This
means the system is ready. The
air bag readiness light should come on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
When you turn the key to
START, this light will
come on briefly to show
that the generator and
battery charging systems
are working.
If this light stays on, you need service and you should
take your Catera to the dealer at once.
To save the
battery until you get there, turn
off all accessories.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine
or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
2-63

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake System Warning Light
Your Catera’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need
both
parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If
the light comes
on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder
to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Catera” in
the Index.)
I
/d CAZ
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when
you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If
it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
2-64

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Voltmeter
I6h
VOLTS
You can read battery
voltage on the voltmeter. If
it reads
less than 12 volts or
more than 16 volts while the
engine
is running, and it
stays there, you may have a
problem with the electrical
charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in the lower warning zone could drain
or
damage the battery. Driving with the voltmeter reading
in the upper warning zone could cause bulbs
to burn out
(especially headlamp bulbs), various vehicle modules to
shut down (due to overload protection) and the
possibility of a battery acid leak. If
you idle
the engine for a while, the voltmeter reading
might move into the red zone. If the reading stays in
the
red zone while you are driving, you may have a problem
with the electrical charging system. Have it checked.
While the voltmeter reads in the red zone, the battery
may not be able
to power certain electrical accessories,
like
ABS. (If this happens, the ABS light will come on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in
this section.)
If
you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone, turn
off all the accessories,
including the comfort controls and the audio system.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ABS
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when you
start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again
to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you’re driving,
your Catera needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also on, you
don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with
your regular brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key
to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
2-66

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Traction Engaged
When your traction control system is limiting wheel
spin, the traction control system warning light will flash.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this warning light
is flashing,
so adjust your driving accordingly.
Traction Control System Warning Light
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine. If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there’s
a problem. The warning
light will flash when
the system senses a
traction change.
If it stays on, or comes on and stays on steady when
you’re driving, there may be a problem with your
traction control system and
your vehicle may need
service. When this warning light is
on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. The
traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn
off and the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period
of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.