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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
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:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain. regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 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 change
until the message CHANGE
TRANS FLUID appears on
the Driver Information Center.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done
at your Cadillac dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
1 NOTICE: - -1
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C
to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F ( 10°C), you may have
to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
a
0
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift
lever
in PARK (P).
With your
foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK
(P).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle fluid cap is
located next to the radiator
hose and below the air cleaner assembly on the
driver's side
of the engine.
Remove the
air cleaner assembly so you can reach the
transaxle
fluid cap. Turn the cap to the left to remove.
Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
2. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
3. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push
the dipstick back in all the way. Replace the air
cleaner assembly. level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched area.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole
to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfill.
I NOTICE: I
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially
for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under
“How to Check.”
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Reset tk I ’I’ - ~- -- 3 Change
Indicator
After the transaxle fluid has been changed, display the
TRANS FLUID LIFE message by pressing the
INFO
button. Then press and hold the INFO RESET button
until the display shows
“loo.” This resets the transaxle
fluid life index. The message will remain off until the next transaxle fluid change is needed. The percentage
of
transaxle fluid life remaining may be checked at any
time by pressing the
INFO button several times until the
TRANS FLUID LIFE message appears.
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 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL’ extended life coolant.
B
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:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 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.
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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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located on the driver's side of
the engine.
The cooling system
is under a lot of pressure when it is
hot. If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message
appears on the Driver Information Center,
you will need
to add coolant.
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 FULL COLD
mark, which is at or above the fill
mark at the edge of the surge tank.
Mffl
If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message comes on,
it means you're low on engine coolant.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Steering Fluid
The power steering
fluid reservoir is located
next to the fuse relay
center on the passenger’s
side of the engine.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there
is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and
the top of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the
FULL COLD mark. If
necessary, add only enough fluid
to bring the level up
to the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet. Always use the proper
fluid, Failure
to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
If you will be
operating your vehicle
in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Headlamp Aiming
Your vehicle has the composite headlamp system.
These headlamps have horizontal and vertical aim indicators. The aim has been pre-set at the factory
and should need no further adjustment.
If your vehicle is damaged
in an accident and the
headlamp aim seems to be affected, see your dealer. Headlamps on damaged vehicles may require recalibration of the horizontal aim by your dealer.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to it.
0
0
0
0
The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.
There should not be any cargo or loading
of the
vehicle, except it should have a full tank of fuel and
one person or
160 lbs. (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
Tires should be properly inflated.
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspension.
NOTICE:
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before
beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.