1998 CADILLAC CATERA engine overheat

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The 1998 Cadillac Catera Owner’s Manual
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8-1 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 vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfo\
rt controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while dr\
iving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle 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” o\
n page 7- 12.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in th\
is manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
ENGINE COOLANT
HEATER ELEC
AIR CLEANER
ASSEMBLY
HEADLAMP
COVER
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The electrical cord for the engine coolant heater
is in
front of the air cleaner filter and under the headlamp
cover, on the passenger’s side
of the engine.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet.
A CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine DRIVE (D): Use this for normal driving. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to the next gear.
THIRD (3): This position is not used for normal
driving. It offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD
(3)
instead of DRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): Driving in this position gives you more
power than driving in THIRD
(3). Use it on hills. It can
help control your speed as you
go down steep mountain
roads, but then you would also want to use the brakes
off and on.
FIRST (1): This position gives you more power (Dut
lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it
on very steep hills.
If the shift lever is put in FIRST (l),
the transmission won’t shift into first gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If the rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or you were up against
a solid
object. You could damage the transmission.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with
only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use the brakes to hold your vehicle
in position on
a hill.

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).
L
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 Convenience Net
The convenience net is on the floor of the trunk. Put
small loads, like grocery bags, under the net. It can help
keep them from moving around during sharp turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net is not for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can. When not using the net,
hook it to the metal loops, securing it to the floor.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The front ashtray is located below the radio. Press on the
cover to access it. To clean the ashtray, press the black
tab to the right of the tray to release it. Now pull up on
the tray to remove and clean it.
To replace the tray after cleaning, follow these steps.
1. Hold the cover (flap) on top of the tray down so it is
not in the way.
2. Insert the tray downward and forward into the
3. Press down on the tray t6 ‘slidp it into place.
To use the rear ashtray, lift the lid.
ashtray holder.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers or other flammable items
into the ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a
damaging fire.
The cigarette lighter is located next to the ashtray. Press
it all the way in and release. It will pop back by itself
when it’s ready to light.
You also have a lighter on the
back of the center console near the rear seat air outlet.
These lighters (receptacles) work at all times, even when
your vehicle’s ignition has been turned off.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If
you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that the
engine has overheated. If
this light comes on, you
should stop the vehicle and
turn the engine
off as soon
as possible.
A warning
chime should
also sound if
this light comes on.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
C gH
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, the engine is
too hot!
As a check, the light should come on for a few seconds
when
you start the engine. In the section “Problems on
the Road,” this manual explains what to do. See “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index. This
reading means the same thing as the warning
light
-- the engine coolant has overheated. You should
stop the car and turn the engine off as soon as possible.
The section “Problems on the
Road” in this manual
explains what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re
a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then,
to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand
to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making mrns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Catera dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about
to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs
are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 km/h) or less to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
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