1997 CADILLAC CATERA open hood

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
/ CA-‘TIC’J:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If
you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Catera dealer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
2-18

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ventilation Tips
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0
0
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work far better, reducing the
chance of fogging the inside of the windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
fan to the highest speed for a few moments before
driving
off. This helps clear the intake outlets of
snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of
fogging the inside of the windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps circulate air throughout
your vehicle.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
This ventilation system includes an air filter that helps to
remove dust, pollen, etc. from the air flowing into your
vehicle. A restriction in the airflow coming into the
passenger compartment could be the result of dirt
in the filter. For information about changing the filter,
see “Passenger Compartment Air Filter Replacement”
in
the Index. See the Maintenance Schedule booklet for
when to change the filter.
Defrosting
Use defrost to remove fog or ice from the windshield
quickly in extremely humid or cold conditions.
Press the defrost button on the control panel and adjust
the fan speed
to the highest position. Make sure that the
side air vents are opened. Rotate both TEMP/AUTO
knobs clockwise as needed to adjust the temperature.
To warm the foot area while in defrost, press the
MODE button until the heateddefrost symbol appears
(see “Manual Operation” earlier in this section).
Note that recirculation is not available in the
defrost mode.
3-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2.
3.
Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection
you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Catera and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as the radios. This will avoid sparks and help save
both batteries. In addition, it could save the radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. On the Catera.
you’ll
also need to open the “use box cover to
access the positive
(+) terminal on the battery.
I ’ A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you.
Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Overheating
You will find the warning light about a hot engine on the
instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
1.
4 CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from
it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign
of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
I NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
5-14

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).
5-15

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 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 Hood Release
Pull the lever inside the
vehicle to open the hood.
It
is located on the lower left
side of the instrument panel.
,I .,
Then go to the front of the vehicle and find the
secondary
hood release which is located above the front
grille. Lift up on the release lever as
you raise the hood.