1998 CADILLAC CATERA brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you start to drive with the parking brake set, the
BRAKE warning light stays on. See “Brake System
Warning Light” in the Index for more information.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
with your
foot and pull the parking brake lever up until
you can press the end release button. Hold the release
button in
as you move the brake lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause the
rear brakes to overheat. You may have to replace
them and you could also damage other parts of
your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. This section shows
what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
I
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
Console Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this: Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
3.
4.
5.
6.
Pull the button on the shift lever handle up and then
push the shift lever all the way toward the front
of
your vehicle into PARK (P). Release the button.
With your right foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the parking brake.
Move the ignition key to
LOCK.
Remove the ignition key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the key
in your hand,
your vehicle is in PARK
(P).
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It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK
(P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then,
see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without pressing the
button on the shift lever handle. If you can, it means that
the shift lever wasn’t fully locked
into PARK (P).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock
(BTSI). You have to fully apply the regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is
in
ON. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out
of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of
PARK
(P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Open and close the
driver’s door to turn off the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 8.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling
in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch
is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake after
you move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
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Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on
a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer,
also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
I 2-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise Control 1
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 kmk) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph
(40 km/h).
Cruise control shuts off when you apply the brakes.
,
a
a Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy trafEc.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See “Traction
Control System” in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you
to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.
2-36
-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Resuming a Set Speed
Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise function. Once
you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can
press the RESUMEDECEL button briefly to reset. This
returns you to your desired preset speed.
Remember,
if you hold the SET/ACCEL button in
longer than half
a second, the vehicle will accelerate
until you release the button or apply the brake.
You
could be startled and even lose control. So unless you
want to
go faster, don’t hold the button in.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.
Push
the SETIACCEL button at the end of the lever
and then release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You’ll now cruise at a higher speed.
0 Press the SET/ACCEL button until the desired speed
is reached. The new speed is maintained when the
button is released.
(To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the SET/ACCEL button
repeatedly. Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you have set the
cruise control speed by pushing the SET/ACCEL button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Press the RESUMEDECEL button at the end of the
lever until you reach
a desired lower speed, then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, tap the
RESUMEDECEL button repeatedly. Each time you
do this, you’ll
go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
2-38

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal.
0 Press the OFF button at the end of the cruise lever.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when you
turn off the cruise control or the ignition.
Exterior Lamps .
These controls on the left side of the instrument panel
operate the following lamp systems:
-g- Lamp control dial (operates all lamps except
twilight sentinel, fog lamps and brightness control). Pull
this dial toward you
to turn on the interior lamps and
push the dial back in to turn the lamps off.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and
it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for
a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
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When you turn the key
to START, this light will
come on briefly to show
that the generator and
battery charging systems are working.
If this light stays on, you need service and you should
take your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save the
battery until you get there, turn
off all accessories.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.