1998 CADILLAC CATERA Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components
Use only a mild soap and water solution on a soft
cloth or sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect the
surface finish.
Cleaning Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently, so that the
speaker won’t be damaged. Clean spots with just water
and mild soap.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean safety belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films
on
interior glass.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped
off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
6-48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or
if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax,
sap or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon Ami@ Powder (non-scratching
glass cleaning powder), GM Part
No. 1050011. The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form when you rinse
it with water.
Grime fkom
the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by wiping
vigorously with a cloth
soaked in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply silicone
grease with a clean cloth at least every
six months. During
very cold, damp weather more fiquent application may be
required.
(See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in
the Maintenance Schedule booklet.)
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The ‘best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing
it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your
dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials” in the
Index.) Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum
based, or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to
dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish
with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior LampsLenses
Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a liquid
hand, dish or car washing
(mild detergent) soap to clean
exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions under
“Washing Your Vehicle.”

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoatlclearcoat
paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoaticlearcoat paint finish
may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather and chemical fallout that can take their toll over
a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome
Wheels
(If Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel.
A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your Catera. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners
or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage the surface. You may use chrome polish on
chrome wheels, but avoid any painted surface of the
wheel, and buff off immediately after application.
Don’t take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint finish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the
parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into
a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control
can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur
on the underbody
system even though they have corrosion protection.
1 parts such as fuel lines, fiame, floor pan and exhaust
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer
or an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two
forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Cadillac
will repair, at no charge
to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 0oO km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Appearance Care Materials Chart
~
PART NUMBER USAGE DESCRIPTION SIZE
994954 Exterior polishing cloth
Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated 23 in. x 25
in.
1050172
Cleans and lightly waxes Wash Wax Concentrate
16
oz. (0.473 L) 1052870 Removes dirt, grime, smoke and fingerprints
Glass Cleaner
23
oz. (0.680 L) 1050427 Cleans vinyl tops, upholstery and convertible tops
Vinyl Cleaner
32
oz. (0.946 L) 1050214 Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls White Sidewall Tir\
e Cleaner 16
oz. (0.473 L) 1050174 Use on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass Chrome\
Cleaner and Polish
16 oz. (0.473 L) 1050173
Removes tar, road oil and asphalt
Tar and Road Oil Remover 16
oz. (0.473 L)
1052918**
Armor All TM Protectant 8 oz. (0.237 L) Protects leather, wood, acrylics, Plexiglas TM, plastic,
rubber and vinyl
1052925 16
oz. (0.473 L) Multi-Purpose Interior Cleans carpets, seats, interior trim, door\
panels
Cleaner and floor mats
1052929
Cleans and shines a variety of surface types Armor All
TM Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 L) 12345002 Attracts, absorbs and removes soils
Capture
Dry Spot Remover 8 oz. (0.237 L) 1052930 Wheel Cleaner 16
oz. (0.473 L)
~ ~~
Spray on and rinse with water
1234572 1 12
oz. (0.354 L) 12345725 Shines vehicle without scratching Synthetic Chamois
2.5
sq. ft.
See your General Motors Parts Department for these products. **Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
Removes contaminants, blemishes and swirl marks Surface Cleaner \
16
oz. (0.473 L) 12377984
Removes light scratches and oxidation and protects finish
Cleaner
Wax
16
oz. (0.473 L) 12377966 Removes dust, fingerprints and surface contaminants
Finish Enhancer
16 oz. (0.473 L) 12377964 Spray on tire shine Silicone Tire Shine
See “Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications and replacement parts.
m AD A Service Parts Identification Label
ENGlNEbL + ASSEMBLY You’ll find this label behind the passenger’s side access
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT panel in the trunk (the panel that covers the
trunk-mounted
CD changer). It’s very helpful if you
ever need to order
parts. On this label is:
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The
VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service
Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
- your VIN,
0 the model designation,
paint information and
0 a list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
6-54

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
I NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring has several fuses which are
powered by a MaxiFuse@. An electrical overload will
cause the lamps to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain
off. If this happens, have the headlamp wiring
checked right away.
MaxiFuse is a registered trademark of Little Fuse
Incorporated.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
If the windshield wiper motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wipers will stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem, be
sure to have it fixed.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is
too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.