1998 CADILLAC CATERA check engine light

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This
is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do
a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That
means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist
is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake
pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin
to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
ABS
If there’s a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take
a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn't lower the high beams, or
a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build
up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light
up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren't even aware
of it.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can't stop, accelerate or turn as well because
your tire-to-road traction isn't as good as on dry roads.
And, if your tires don't have much tread left, you'll get
even less traction. It's always wise
to go slower and be
cautious if rain
starts to fall while you are driving. The
surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes
are
tuned for driving on dry pavement.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine City Driving
1
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals. Here
are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know
the best way to get to where you are
going. Get
a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy.
(See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough to
need it. When’a light turns green, and just before you
start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your ve-hicle ready for a long trip?
If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Catera dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
a
0
0
0
a
a
a
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine An electric engine cooling fan under the hood 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.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
I
The coolant level should be at or slightly above the
KALTKOLD line (seam). If
it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater
hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run
the engine,
it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I NOTICE: I
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine cooling
fans are running. If the
engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If
they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
If the low oil level light on
the instrument panel comes
on, it means you need to
check your engine oil level
right away. For more information, see “Low Oil
Level Light”
in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be
warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine
oil dipstick is
located behind the radiator
hose on the driver’s side
of
the engine. The yellow
looped handle helps to
identify it.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located behind the air cleaner on the
passenger’s side
of the engine.
The cooling system when hot is under a lot
of pressure.
If the low coolant warning light on the instrument panel
appears, you will need to add coolant.
= I
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the KALTKOLD line (seam).
1
If the light comes on, it
means you’re low on
engine coolant.
]I I I
For more information, see “Low Coolant Light” in
the Index.
6-22
.- - ------

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BBB Auto Line ................................ 7-1 1
Better Business Bureau Mediation
.................. 7-11
Blizzard
...................................... 4-26
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-26
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-26
Pad Wear Indicator Light
....................... 2-76
Parking
..................................... 2-24
Pedal Travel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-29
System Warning Light
......................... 2-65
To Shift Light
................................ 2-74
Transmission Shift Interlock
.................... 2-27
Wear
....................................... 6-28
Brakes,Anti -Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies
........................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle
.......................... 2-16
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-45
BTSI
......................................... 2-27
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-30
Capacities and Specifications
.................... 6-63
CarbonMonoxide
.............................. 4-27
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player .................. 3-28
Care
of Your Compact Disc Player ................. 3-30 Care
of
Your Compact Discs ...................... 3-30
Cassette Tape Player
Errors .................. 3.11. 3. 18
CD Adapter Kits ............................... 3-25
CD Changer
................................... 3-22
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-48
Bulb Replacement
............................. 6-35
Central Door Unlocking System
.................... 2-5
CertificationLabel
.............................. 4-29
Chains, Safety
................................. 4-34
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-21
Charging System Indicator Light
................... 2-65
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-70
Check Oil Light
................................ 2-74
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-56
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-52
Child Restraints
................................ 1-43
Securing in a Rear Seat Position
................. 1-48
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-51
Top Strap ................................... 1-48
Chrome Wheels, Cleaning
........................ 6-50
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-49
CellularTelephone
.............................. 2-50
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp,
Chains, Tire
................................... 6-45
Wheretoht
.........,...................... l-47
CHMSL ...................................... 6-35
Cleaner, Air
................................... 6-15