1997 CADILLAC CATERA towing

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
I- B +I
1
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Catera
Try to have a Catera dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Catera. See “Roadside Service”
in
the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting or special tires and wheels, these
instructions may not be correct.
Before
you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive.
e The make, model and year of your vehicle.
e Whether you can still move the shift lever.
e If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains towing instructions and
illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front and Rear Towing
-
I k!, CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
being towed.
fully secured. CAUTION: (Continued)
Never get under your vehicle after it has
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
Use only R-hooks. been lifted by
the tow truck.
separate safety chains when towing it.
A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car-carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage.
The vehicle should be tightly secured with chains
or steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut
by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
R-hooks inserted in the front and rear R-hook
slots. Never use J-hooks. They will damage
drivetrain and suspension components.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column
lock for this. The transmission
should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the drive wheels.
Front Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling type or wheel-lift
equipment or fascidfog lamp damage may occur.
Use car-carrier equipment only. Additional
ramping may be required for car-carrier
equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.
Do not attach winch cables, T-hooks or J-hooks
to suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment.
Always use R-hooks inserted into
the R-hook slots.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling type or wheel-lift
equipment or rear bumper valance damage
may occur. Use car-carrier equipment only.
Additional ramping may be required for
carcarrier equipment. Use safety chains and
wheel straps.
Do not attach winch cables, T-hooks or J-hooks
to suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use R-hooks inserted in the
R-hook
slots.
5-12

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too
fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
I
L
If you let your tires spin at hig: ;peed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE: -
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should turn
your traction control system
off. (See “Traction Control
System” in the Index.) Then shift back and forth
between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. If that doesn’t
get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Catera”
in the Index.
5-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Replace the filter by sliding it back in, reattaching
6. Replace the engine compartment rear seal.
7. Close the engine hood.
For the type of filter to use, see “Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts” in the Index. both
retainer clips and closing the grille flap.
Auto-- ’ic Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only reason for fluid
loss. If a leak occurs, take your Catera to a Catera dealership
service department and have it repaired as
soon as possible. You may also have your fluid level
checked by your dealer or service center when
you have
your
oil changed.
Change both the fluid and
filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more of
these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or
higher.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
6-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Roadside Service
TOLL-FREE HOTLINE
1=800=882-1112
Cadillac’s exceptional Roadside Service is more than an
auto club or towing service.
It provides every Catera
owner with the advantage
of contacting a Cadillac
advisor and, when appropriate, a Catera trained dealer
technician who can provide on-site service. Each technician travels
with a specially equipped
service vehicle complete with the necessary Catera parts
and tools required to handle most roadside repairs.
Cadillac Roadside Service can be reached by dialing
1-800-882- 11 12,24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
This service is provided at no charge for any
warranty-covered situation and
for a nominal
charge if the Catera is no longer under warranty.
Roadside Service is available only
in the United
States and Canada.
Cadillac Owner Privileges TM
Roadside Service provides several Cadillac Owner
Privileges
TM at “no charge,” throughout your 1997
Cadillac Warranty Period -- 48 Months/.O,000 miles
(80 000 km).
7-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Emergency Road Service is performed on site for the
following situations:
0 Towing Service
0 Battery Jump Starting
0 Lock Out Assistance
Fuel Delivery
0 Flat Tire Change (Covers change only)
0 Trip Interruption -- If your trip is interrupted due
to a warranty failure, incidental expenses may
be
reimbursed during the 48 months/50,000 miles
(80 000 km) warranty period. Items covered are
hotel, meals and rental car.
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