Page 38 of 338

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I a CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering and don’t let seat covers block the
inflation path of a side impact air bag.
When should an air bag inflate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. The frontal air bags are designed to
inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s
designed “threshold
level.” If your vehicle goes straight
into a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold
level is about
9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The
threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle
design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move
or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will
be higher.
The driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal air bags are not designed to inflate
in rollovers,
side impacts,
or rear impacts, because inflation would
not help the occupant.
The driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air
bags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes involving
a front door. A side impact air bag
will inflate if the crash severity
is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.’’ The threshold level can vary
with specific vehicle design. Side impact air bags are not
designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers
or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
A side impact air bag will only
deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because
of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle
of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and
near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags, inflation
is determined by the location of the impact and how
quickly the side of the vehicle deforms.
Page 42 of 338
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let
it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly.
If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When
the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way,
it
will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and
start again. If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety
Belt Extender” at the end of this section. Make sure
the release button
on the buckle is positioned so you
would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if
you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
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Page 43 of 338

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine n n
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd be less likely
to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should
go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or a crash,
or
if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. Each
position next to the windows has
a shoulder belt
height adjuster. Move the shoulder belt adjuster to the
height that
is right for you.
Press the release button and move the height adjuster to
the desired position. After you move the adjuster to where
you want it,
try to move it down without pressing the
release button to make sure it has locked into position.
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Page 51 of 338
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock. 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it
go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
directions to
be sure it is secure.
1-42
Page 55 of 338
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
6. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
1-46
Page 62 of 338

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.
2-2
2-
3
2-6
2- 10
2-1 1 2-12
2-
13
2- 14
2-15
2-16
2-
17
2-19
2-24 2-25
2-27
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
2-29
2-29
2-30
2-32
2-32
2-39
2-46
2-48
2-50
2-5
1
2-52
2-55
2-5 8
2-6
1
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
Page 64 of 338

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine One key is used for the
ignition, the doors and
all other locks. (Note that
there is
no lock cylinder
for the
trunk or the
passenger’s door.)
If you’ve lost your key or need to have a new one made,
you will have to contact your Catera dealer for the
correct key code.
NOTICE:
Door Locks
Your Catera has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. You can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle
if you ever
lock your keys inside and you
may have to
damage your vehicle to get in. Be sure you
have extra keys. Unlocked
doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door
is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in
a
crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be
far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. This will avoid setting
off the
optional theft deterrent alarm.
2-3
Page 65 of 338

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Slide the lock lever down to
lock the
door from the
inside.
To unlock the door,
slide the lock lever
up.
Central Door Unlocking System
When unlocking the driver's door, you can also unlock
the other doors, including the fuel door,
by holding the
key
in a turned position for several seconds (turn the key
counterclockwise). Pressing the unlock button on the
RKE transmitter twice in a row will also open the
other doors.
Power Door Locks
Press the power door lock switch to lock or unlock all of
the doors at once.
Automatic Door Locks
Close the doors and turn on the ignition. Every time you
move the
shift lever out of PARK (P), all of the doors will
lock. The doors will unlock every time you stop the vehicle
and move the shift lever into PARK (P). If someone needs
to get out while your vehicle is not
in PARK (P), have that
person use the manual
or power lock. When the door is
closed again, it
will not lock automatically. Use the manual
or power lock
to lock the door again.
2-4