1997 CADILLAC CATERA fuel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electronic Level Control
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle level as the
load changes. It’s automatic
-- you don’t need to
adjust anything.
Towing a Trailer
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example,
if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only
if you have followed all the
steps
in this section. Ask your Catera dealer for
advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
I NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Catera
dealer for important information about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
Your Catera can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight
of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
4-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here you will find information about the care of your Catera. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then
it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Engine Coolant
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery Bulb Replacement
Wiper Blade Replacement Tires
Cleaning the Inside of Your Catera
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Catera
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System Replacement Bulbs Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged
if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before
you attempt any vehicle
maintenance
task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and (‘metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off.
You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your Catera dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle. Use
premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher for best performance. You may use middle grade
or regular unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle may not
accelerate as well.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the United States
and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could
provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least
91 (at least
89 for middle grade and 87 for regular).
If the octane
is 1ess.than 87, you may get a heavy
knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough,
it can damage your engine.
6-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you’re using fuel rated at the recommended octane
or higher and you still hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service. But don’t worry if you hear a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a
hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher
octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant
knock that means you have a problem.
IT your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Catera dealer for diagnosis to determine
the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadlenyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not this fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT are used, spark plug
life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn on. If this occurs, return
to your authorized
Catera dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and
fuel system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to
add anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines
containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that
you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use
of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell
us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Filling Your Tank
The cap is behind a hinged door on the passenger’s side
of your vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
I A CAUTION:
1
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don't smoke if you're near gasoline or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from gasoline.
To use this feature,
your vehicle must be in
PARK (P). Press the fuel
door unlock button located
on the.instrument panel
center console to unlock and
open the fuel door. You can
also press the fuel button on
the
RKE transmitter to
access the fuel cap. While
refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap inside the
fuel door as shown
by the arrow.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the
way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Catera” in the Index.
When
you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap.
Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAC-ION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine
is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
6-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
If the low oil level light on
the instrument panel comes
on, it means you need
to
check your engine oil level
right away. For more
information, see “Low Oil
Level Light” in the Index.
You should check your
engine oil level regularly;
this
is an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil
dipstick is
located behind the radiator
hose on the driver’s side
of the engine.
The yellow
looped handle helps to
identify it.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes
to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might
not show the actual level.
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