1999 CADILLAC CATERA brake fluid

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Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.

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4-37 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

Start your engine;

Shift into a gear; and

Be sure the parking brake has released.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule booklet
for more on this. Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belt, cooling
system and brake system. If you're trailering, it's a good
idea to review this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.

6-
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-5 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Engine Oil
6
-15 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-18 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-19 Rear Axle
6
-20 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
-20 Engine Coolant
6
-24 Power Steering Fluid
6
-25 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-26 Brakes
6
-29 Battery
6
-30 Bulb Replacement
6
-36 Wiper Blade Replacement6
-37 Tires
6
-46 Appearance Care
6
-46 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-48 Care of Safety Belts
6
-49 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-51 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-52 Underbody Maintenance
6
-53 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-54 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-54 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-55 Electrical System
6
-62 Replacement Bulbs
6
-62 Capacities and Specifications
6
-63 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6
-63 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

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Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:

Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.

Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.

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6-10
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Coolant Fill Location
B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
C. Passenger Compartment
Air FilterD. Engine Oil Fill Location
E. Engine Oil Dipstick Location
F. Windshield Washer FluidG. Brake Master Cylinder
H. Power Steering Fluid
I. Battery
Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.

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Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is located between
the battery and the brake master cylinder on the driver'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 mark. There are two lines
on the dipstick. The top line is the ªfullº mark and the
bottom line is the ªaddº line (which means that fluid
should be added). If necessary, add only enough fluid to
bring the level up to the full mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet. Always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.

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Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is on the driver's
side of the engine compartment. It is filled with DOT
-3
brake fluid.There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won't work well, or won't work at all.
So, it isn't a good idea to ªtop offº your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won't correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you'll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.

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When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See ªBrake System Warning
Lightº in the Index.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT
-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only.
Refer to ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:

Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops of mineral
-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts so badly that they'll have to be
replaced. Don't let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.

If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See ªAppearance Careº in
the Index.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Your vehicle has electronic wear sensors that let you
know when the front brake pads are significantly worn
and new pads are needed. The brake pad wear indicator
light will come on and stay on when the brake pads are
worn and need to be replaced. (See ªBrake Pad Wear
Indicator Lightº in the Index.)