
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine -.
The 1997 Cadillac Catera Owner’s Manual
1-1
2-1
3-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains \
the air bag system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Catera.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adiust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate \
your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the Roaa
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1
6- 1
7-1
8-1
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Catera running properly and looking good.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Cadillac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 7- 12.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag.
Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
A child in a rearfacing child restraint can De
seriously injured
if the right front passenger’s air
bag inflates. This is because the back of a
rearfacing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rearfacing
child restraint in the rear seat.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
“Seats” in the Index.)
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
Pick
up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show
you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
1-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loading Your Vehicle
(@I OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING
INFORMATION
I FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSUKPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER‘S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver’s door tells
you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that
can be in your vehicle and
the total weight that you can
carry.
This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
options not installed at the factory.
f
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE
GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE
U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
I
The other label is the certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes
the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
for either the front
or rear axle.
If you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Don’t carry more than
176 lbs. (80 kg) in the trunk.
4-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
After you’ve put the spare tire on your vehicle, you’ll
need to store the flat tire in the trunk.
Use the following
procedure to secure the flat tire in the trunk.
I LEFT SIDE OF TRUNK:
I
Put the flat tire in the trunk
where the spare is stored
(driver’s side wheel well).
Secure the flat tire with the
straps that are used to hold
the spare in place.
RIGHT SIDE OF TRUNK:
A JACK
/
The jacking tools are stored on the passenger’s side of
the trunk behind the panel with the red pull handle. Make sure these tools are properly secured when
not in use.
5-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electrmic Level Control ......................... 4-32
Emergency
Trunk Release ........................ 2-10
Compartment Relay Center
..................... 6-61
Caolant Heater
............................... 2- 17
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-68
Coolant Temperature Warning
Light .............. 2-68
Identification
................................ 6-55
Overheating ................................. 5-14
Running
While Parked ......................... 2-29
Spscificatio
ns ................................ 6-62
Smg YOU ................................ 2-16
Engine
......................................... 6-9
..................................... CoOltUlt
6-19
Exh~
st ..................................... 2-29
Engine Oil
.................................... 6-10
Adding 6-11
Additives 6- 13
Checking
................................... 6- 11
Used 6-14
.....................................
...................................
.......................................
When to Change .............................. 6-13
Engine
Speed Limiter ............................ 2-61
FmglishMetric Display
........................... 3-3
Ethan01
........................................ 6-4
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-29
Exteri~ Frat Bulbs ............................. 6-30
Exterior
Lamps ................................. 2-38
Exterior
RW Bulbs ............................. 6-34
Fabric
cleaning .......................... 6.46. 6.47
Fan Button. Climate Control System
................. 3-2
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air 6-15 .....................................
Filter Replacement. Passenger Compartment Air ...... 6- 17
Finish Care 6-51 ....................................
Fish Damage ................................. 6-52
First Gear. Automatic Transmission ................ 2-21
Flashers.
Hazard Warning ......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-23
Fog Latsps .................................... 2-42
Folding the Rear Seat
............................. 1-10
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
French Language Manual
........................... ii
Front Turn Signal Lamp. Bulb Replacement .......... 6-30
Filling
Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage .................................. . ., ... 2-75
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ....................... 6-57
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 2-63
Flash-To-PassFeature
........................... 2-33
Floor Mats 2-51
....................................
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
DoorLock ................................... 6-6
....................................... Fuel 2-75 OilPressure
................................. 2-72
GarmentHooks
................................ 2-51
GAM 4-30
Glove Box 2-48
.......................................
Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission ............. 2-19
Gold
Key Courtesy Transportation .................. 7-8
Gross Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-30
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-30
....................................
8-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Guide en FranGais 11 .. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-30
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-29
Handles. Assist
................................. 2-51
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-8
Head Restraints. Removable ....................... 1-8
Headlamps .................................... 2-39
Aiming
..................................... 6-35
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-32
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-33
OnReminder
................................ 2-40
Wiper Activated
.............................. 2-40
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 7-4
Heated Backlite Antenna
......................... 3-24
Heated Seats
............................... 1.6. 1. I1
Heating ........................................ 3-6
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-33
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-24
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-35
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Ho~ ......................................... 2-31
Hydraulic Brake Warning Lights
................... 2-64
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-19
Wiring
..................................... 6-56
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 15 Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-44
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirror
.................... 2-50
Immobilizer
................................... 2-13
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-38
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-58
Brightness Control
............................ 2-44
Cleaning
.................................... 6-48
Cluster
..................................... 2-60
FuseBlock
............................. 6-57. 6-60
Interior Lamps ................................. 2-44
Jack. Tire
............................... 5.25. 5.26
Jump Starting
................................... 5-3
Keyless Entry. Remote
.......................... 2-6
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels Certification
................................. 4-30
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-55
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-30
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-55
Exterior
.................................... 2-38
Interior
..................................... 2-44
Panel
....................................... 2-44
Lamps On Reminder
............................ 2-40
Leaving
Your Vehicle ............................. 2-6
Leveling Indicator Light
......................... 2-76
Light Sensor. Twilight Sentinel
.................... 2-44
Lamps
Leaving
Your Vehicle with
the Engine Running ....... 2-26
8-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tires ......................................... 6-38
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-43
Buying New
................................. 6-41
Chains
..................................... 6-45
ChangingaFlat
.............................. 5-23
Cleaning
.................................... 6-52
Inflation
.................................... 6-38
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-40
Loading Information Label
..................... 4-30
Pressure
.................................... 6-38
Temperature
................................. 6-43
Traction
.................................... 6-42
Treadwe ar
................................... 6-42
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-42
Wear Indicators .............................. 6-41
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-43
When It's Time for New
....................... 6-41
TopStrap
..................................... 1-38
TorqueLock
................................... 2-2 6
Torque, Wheel Bolt
........................ 5-31, 6-63
Towing a Trailer
................................ 4-32
Towing Your Catera
.............................. 5-8
Control System ................................ 4-9
Control System Warning Light
.............. 2-67. 4-9
Traction Engaged
............................... 2-67
Brakes
..................................... 4- 36
Driving on Grades ............................ 4-37
Traction
Trailer Driving with
................................. 4-36
Hitches
..................................... 4-35
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-38
Parking
on Hills .............................. 4-38
Safety Chains
................................ 4-36
Tongueweight
............................... 4-34
Total Weight
on Tires .......................... 4-35
Towing
..................................... 4-32
Turnsignals
................................. 4-37
Weight
..................................... 4-34
Transmission Fluid. Automatic
.................... 6-18
Transmitter. Universal
........................... 2-54
Transportation. Gold Key Courtesy
.................. 7-8
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-61
Ajar Light ................................... 2-74
Mounted CD Changer
......................... 3-17
Release
..................................... 2-10
TTYUsers
..................................... 7-4
Turn and Lane Change Signals
.................... 2-32
Turn SignaUMultifunction Lever ................... 2-32
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-37
Twilight Sentinel
............................... 2-43
Transmitters. Remote Keyless Entry System
........... 2-6
Trunk
Underbody Maintenance
........................ 6-53
Understanding
Radio Reception ................... 3-21
Universal Transmitter
............................ 2-54
8-10