1999 CADILLAC CATERA service

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The 1999 Cadillac Catera Owner's Manual
1-1 Seats and Restraint SystemsThis section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system.
2-1 Features and ControlsThis section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio SystemsThis section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the RoadHere you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1 Problems on the RoadThis section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
6-1 Service and Appearance CareHere the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
7-1 Customer Assistance InformationThis section tells you how to contact Cadillac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on ªReporting Safety Defectsº on page 7-10.
8-1 IndexHere's an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
CADILLAC and the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
ªGeneral Motors of Canada Limitedº for Cadillac Motor
Car Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propri‡taires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en fran†ais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9
Litho in U.S.A.

Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998
Part No. 10407711 B First Edition All Rights Reserved

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CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you'll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag
system won't be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the frontal air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system, when
the system commands air bag inflation and driver's
safety belt usage at deployment.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, or the air bag
covering on the driver's and right front
passenger's seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger's air bag, or both the air bag
module and seatback for the driver's and right
front passenger's side impact air bag. Do not
open or break the air bag coverings.

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1-32 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the
air bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see
ªService and Owner Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow felt,
wires wrapped with yellow tape or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air bag
systems. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners. You'll find
them on the buckle end of the safety belts for the driver
and right front passenger. They help the safety belts
reduce a person's forward movement in a moderate to
severe crash in which the front of the vehicle
hits something.
Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash,
you'll need to get new ones, and probably other new
parts for your safety belt system. See ªReplacing
Restraint System Parts After a Crashº in the Index.
Rear Seat Passengers
It's very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up!
Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear
seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren't safety belted can be thrown
out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

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This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
The range of this system is about 10 feet (3 m). At times
you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for
any remote keyless entry transmitter. If the transmitter
does not work or if you have to stand closer to your
vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

Check to determine if battery replacement or
resynchronization is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
When you press this symbol to unlock the driver's
door, the parking lamps on your vehicle will blink twice.
The parking lamps and headlamps will remain on for
about 20 seconds. Pressing this button again within five
seconds will unlock the other doors. Pressing this button
will also disarm the optional theft
-deterrent system and
turn on the interior lamps (for approximately 20 seconds).
When you press this symbol to lock the doors
(including the fuel door), the parking lamps will blink
once. This also arms the optional theft
-deterrent system.
Press this symbol to open the trunk.
Press this button to unlock the fuel door.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Once your dealer has
coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not
unlock your vehicle. Your vehicle may be equipped with
either a two or four fob capability and is only able to
have the same number of transmitters matched to it.
Since all vehicles come with only two fobs, you need to
check with your dealer to see which system you have.

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2. Remove the battery and replace it with a CR2032
battery. Using the wrong size battery can damage the
transmitter. Make sure the battery is positioned with
the ªplusº (+) facing down.
3. Align the internal pieces of the transmitter, including
the cover. Snap together to reinstall.
Resynchronization
Pressing the transmitter buttons numerous times
(approximately 250 times) out of the vehicles operating
range may cause the transmitter not to work. Replacing
the battery and pressing the transmitter buttons 10 or
more times out of range will also cause the transmitter
not to work.
For vehicles with two transmitters:
To resynchronize the transmitter, you must be within the
vehicle's operating range. Press and hold the trunk
button and within one second press the lock button.
For vehicles with four transmitters:
To resynchronize the transmitter, you must be within the
vehicle's operating range. Press and hold the lock and
unlock buttons for approximately 5 to 10 seconds.
See your dealer for service if your transmitter still
doesn't work properly.

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To avoid activating the alarm by accident:

The vehicle should be locked with the key after the
doors are closed if you don't want to activate the
theft
-deterrent system.

Always unlock a door with a key or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. (Pressing the unlock button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter disables the
theft
-deterrent system.) Unlocking a door any other
way will activate the alarm. Cycling the ignition
without disarming the theft
-deterrent system will
also activate the alarm.
If you activate the alarm by accident, unlock the driver's
door with your key. You can also turn off the alarm by
using the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm
won't stop if you try to unlock a door in any other way.
Testing the Alarm
1. From inside the vehicle, roll down the window, then
get out of the vehicle, keeping the door open.
2. From outside the vehicle, with the door open, lock
the vehicle using the power door lock or the remote
keyless entry transmitter and close the door. Wait
30 seconds until the SECURITY light stops flashing.
3. Reach in and unlock the door using the manual lock
and open the door. The horn will sound and the
headlamps will flash.
If the alarm does not sound when it should, check to see
if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To
replace the fuse, see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the
Index. If the fuse does not need to be replaced, you may
need to have your vehicle serviced.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always activate the
optional theft
-deterrent system when leaving
your vehicle.

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Immobilizer
Your vehicle is equipped
with a passive
theft
-deterrent system.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
The system works when you turn the key to ON (II). The key
uses a transponder that matches an immobilizer control unit
in your vehicle. The correct key will start the vehicle.
When the system senses that someone is using the wrong
key, it may start but it will not continue to run. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key during
this time, the shutdown will start over again. This
discourages someone from randomly trying different keys
with different transponders in an attempt to make a match.
If the engine cannot be started, turn the key in the
ignition to ON (II). Wait approximately two seconds;
then start your vehicle again.
If the engine still won't start, try another key. You may
also want to check the fuses (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index). If the engine won't start with
the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle
does start, the first key may be faulty. See your dealer.
If you lose or damage a key or you cannot start the
engine, see your dealer. If a key is lost, bring all
remaining keys to your dealer for re
-programming.
In an emergency, call the Cadillac Roadside Assistance
Center at 1
-800-882-1112.