1997 CADILLAC CATERA tow

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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Attach R-hook chains to the R-hook slots in the frame
rails just ahead of the rear wheels on both sides.
These slots
are to be used when loading and securing to
car-carrier equipment. Attach
a separate safety chain around the bumper energy
absorbing shockhnit on the left side
of the vehicle and
another safety chain on the right side tow hook.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
0 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner. If
you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign
of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked,
to see
if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn ofSthe engine and get everyone out
of the vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
2. Dial temperature control to the highest heat setting
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
and open
the window, as necessary.
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap
is tight.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly.
If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the
ground for the spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
5. Remove all wheel bolts and take off the flat tire.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
A CAUTION:
I
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel
bolts
become loose after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust
or
dirt off.
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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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level. NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range, your engine could be damaged.
The oil fill cap is located
behind the engine oil dipstick and next to the
engine block on the driver’s
side of the engine. Turn the
cap counterclockwise to
remove it.
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the MIN mark, then you’ll
need to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use
the right kind. This part explains what kind of oil to use.
For crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and
Specifications” in the Index. Be sure
to fill
it enough to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine As shown in the chart, SAE low-30 is best for your
vehicle. However,
you can use SAE 5W-30 if it’s going
to be colder than
60°F ( 16” C) before your next oil
change. When it’s very cold, you should use
SAE
5W-30. These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils,
such as
SAE 2OW-50.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Catera dealer is
ready to advise if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
“Starburst” symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage
not covered by your warranty.
0
0
0
0
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
-20°F (-29”C), consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an
SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
0
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top
of your Catera.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
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