1997 CADILLAC CATERA Owners Manual

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Oil Pressure LighVGage
J
80
2
This light and gage tell you if there could be a problem
with the engine oil pressure.
The gage shows the engine oil pressure in pounds per
square inch (psi). Canadian vehicles show pressure in
kilopascals (kPa).
The oil light goes on when
you turn the key to RUN or
START. It goes off once you start the engine. That’s a
check
to be sure the light works. If it doesn’t come on,
be sure to have it fixed
so it will be there to warn you if
something goes wrong. When
the light
comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn’t flowing through the engine properly. You could be
low on oil and you might have
some other system
problem.
I
Don’t 1 :p driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become
so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check Oil Light Brake To Shift Light
This light shoula come on
briefly while you are
starting the engine. If the
light doesn’t come on,
have it repaired.
If the light
comes
on while starting and
stays on, the engine oil level
should be checked.
Prior to checking the oil level, be sure your vehicle has
been shut off for several minutes and
is on a level
surface. Check the oil level and bring it to the proper
level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
Note:
A false check oil light may be generated when
parking
on steep grades.
The oil level monitoring system only checks the oil
during the brief period between turning the key on and
engine start. It does not monitor the engine oil level
while the engine is running. Additionally,
an oil level
check is only performed
if the engine has been turned
off for a considerable amount of time allowing the oil
normally
in circulation to drain back into the oil pan. This
light will come on to
remind
you that you must
press the brake pedal to
shift out
of PARK (P).
BRAKE TO
SHIFT
I
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set your
vehicle’s cruise control.
CRUISE
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light will come on
when
you turn on the
ignition and the windshield
washer fluid container is
less than one-third full.
Trunk Ajar Light
This light will come on if
your vehicle’s trunk is not
completely closed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel Gage Low Fuel Light
The fuel
gage shows
approximately how much
fuel is in the tank. It works
only when the ignition is in
the
RUN position.
Rere
are a few concerns some owners have had about
the fuel gage. All of these situations are normal and do
not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
At the gas station the gas pump shuts off before the
The gage may change when you turn, stop or
gage reads
E
speed
up. If
the
fuel level is low
(approximately
two gallons
of fuel remain in the fuel
tank),
a light will come on
and stay on until you add
fuel. It will also come on for
a few seconds when you
first turn
on the ignition as a
check to show it’s working.
If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed.
--
--nsmission Warning Light
0
This light comes on briefly
when the ignition is turned
on. If the light remains on
or lights up while driving,
there may be a fault in the
automatic transmission.
Have your vehicle serviced.
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