1998 CADILLAC CATERA Owners Manual

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r- I 1 L
1. Unhook the five clips that attach the air cleaner lid to
the housing (you may need to use a screwdriver to
help
you unhook the clips).
2. With a screwdriver, loosen the retaining clamp on
the air intake tube and then disconnect the tube (as
shown by the arrow above).
the way
so the air cleaner lid can be lifted.
3. Move the hose going to the coolant surge tank out of
4. Lift the lid, take out [ne air filter and remove any
loose debris that may be found lying in the air
cleaner base.
5. Install a new air filter element. See “Normal
Maintenance Replacement
Parts” in the Index.
To reinstall the air cleaner assembly, place the air filter
in the air cleaner lid, then insert the lid and filter
together into the housing. Reattach the five clips, replace
the air intake tube and tighten the clamp. Return the
coolant surge tank hose to its proper position.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet.
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE: I
If the air cleaner is off, a bachfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter Replacement
The passenger compartment air filter traps most of the
pollen from the air entering your vehicle. Like your
vehicle’s air cleaner filter, it may need to be changed periodically. For
how often to change the passenger
compartment air filter, see your Maintenance
Schedule booklet.
B
The access panel for the passenger compartment air
filter
is on the grille, at the base of the windshield, on
the passenger’s side.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. Open the hood of your vehicle.
2. Lift the engine compartment rear seal (see the arrow
in the illustration) and pull it back far enough to be
able to lift open the grille flap.
in place.
pull the filter straight out.
3. Unhook both retaining clips that secure the filter
4. Slide the filter toward the front of the car and then
5. Replace the filter by sliding it back in, reattaching
6. Replace the engine compartment rear seal.
7. Close the engine hood.
both retainer clips and closing the grille flap.
For the type of filter to use, see “Normal Maintenance
Replacement Parts” in the Index.
Automatic Transmissio~ Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only reason for fluid
loss. If a leak occurs, take your Catera to
a Catera
dealership Service Department and have it repaired as
soon as possible. You may
also have your fluid level
checked by your dealer
or service center when you have
your oil changed.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Change both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
regularly
reaches
90” F (32” C) or higher.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-m, because fluid with that label
is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage
caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” and “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Maintenance Schedule booklet.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Maintenance Schedule booklet.
Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant.
This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 krnb whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL extended life coolant.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL’
coolant will:
a Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant
will require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs
first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@
is not
covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
6-20
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts.
If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system
is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
6-21

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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper Dm-COOL@
coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
The surge tank cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating.
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
GM cap is recommended. enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
If the surge tank pressure cap needs to be replaced, a
Thermostat
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is tight.
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
If the thermostat needs to be replaced, a GM thermostat
is recommended.