2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE overheating

iii
Section
3
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Section
4
Your Driving and the Road
Section
5
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Braking/Anti-lock Brakes
Traction Control System
SteeringDriving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD PlayerRadio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your VehicleEngine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road

2-29
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power. You
can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1), the transaxle won't shift into gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.)
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can't rotate, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and damage
the transaxle. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Performance Shifting (DTS Only)
When your vehicle detects a change in driving
conditions, it will automatically initiate the appropriate
performance shift mode. When this occurs the gear
display on the instrument panel cluster will change to
indicate that the transmission has shifted to a different
gear. For example, the gear display on the cluster may
indicate D, 3, 2, or 1 even though the gearshift is still in
DRIVE (D). Once the performance shift mode ends, the
gear display on the cluster will return to normal.

2-79
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that your
engine has overheated. You
should stop your vehicle
and turn the engine off as
soon as possible. A warning
chime should also sound if
this light comes on.
As a check, the light should come on for a few seconds
when you start your engine. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Analog Cluster Digital Cluster
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, the engine is
too hot.
That reading means the same thing as the warning
light
-- the engine coolant has overheated.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-91
CHECK OIL LEVEL - 36: For correct operation of
the low oil sensing system, your vehicle should be on a
level surface. A false CHECK OIL LEVEL message
may appear if the vehicle is parked on grades. The oil
level sensing system does not check for actual oil level
if the engine has been off for a short period of time, and
the oil level is never sensed while the engine is running.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears, and your
vehicle has been parked on level ground with the engine
off for at least 30 minutes, the oil level should be
checked by observing the oil dipstick. Prior to checking
the oil level, be sure the engine has been off for a few
minutes and your vehicle is on a level surface. Then
check the dipstick and add oil if necessary. See ªEngine
Oilº in the Index.
CHECK WASHER FLUID
- 25: This message will
appear to indicate that the washer solvent container
needs refilling.
DRIVER DOOR AJAR
- 140: This message will
display anytime the key is in ON and the driver's door is
open or ajar. A chime will also sound when the vehicle's
speed is greater than 3 mph (4.8 km/h).DRIVER NO. X (1 OR 2) : This message will be
displayed with the key in ON and while entering Feature
Programming, but only if the vehicle is equipped with
memory seats. The message will show which driver is
activating the personalization feature. It will only stay
on for five seconds. This message can be customized for
you by your dealer.
ENGINE COOLANT HOT, IDLE ENGINE
- 44:
This message will appear when the engine coolant
temperature is over 262
F (128
C). Stop and allow your
vehicle to idle in PARK (P) until it cools down and the
message is removed. Do not increase engine speed
above a normal idle. If it does not cool down, turn off
the engine and have it serviced before driving it again.
Severe engine damage can result from an overheated
engine. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
ENGINE HOT
-AC OFF - 16: This message displays
when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal
operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning compressor is automatically
turned off. When the coolant temperature returns to
normal, the A/C operation will automatically resume.
You can continue to drive your vehicle. If this message
continues to appear, have the system repaired as soon as
possible to avoid compressor damage.

2-92
ENGINE OVERHEATED, STOP ENGINE - 42: This
message will appear when the engine has overheated.
Stop and turn the engine off immediately to avoid severe
engine damage. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
A multiple chime will also sound when this message
is displayed.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED
- 41: This message
informs you that the vehicle is reducing engine power
because the transaxle is being placed in gear under
conditions that may cause damage to the vehicle's
engine, transaxle or ability to accelerate.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
- 11 : This message serves as a
warning that the fuel level in the tank is critically low.
Stop for fuel soon. A single chime will also sound when
this message is displayed.
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
- 23: If it's dark enough
outside and the headlamps and Twilight Sentinel

controls are off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
message will display on the DIC. This message
informs the driver that turning on the exterior lamps is
recommended even though the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) are still illuminated. It has become dark enough
outside to require the headlamps and/or other exterior
lamps. This message will also appear if the optional
Rainsense wiping feature is on and the Twilight
Sentinel

is off.ICE POSSIBLE
- 13: This message appears when the
outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy
road conditions.
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR
- 142: The left rear door
is open or ajar when this message appears. The ignition
must be in ON and the transaxle not in PARK (P) for
this message to display. A chime will also sound when
the vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE
- 35: If this
message appears while the engine is running, stop the
engine and do not operate it until the cause of low oil
pressure is corrected. Severe damage to the engine can
result. A multiple chime will also sound when this
message is displayed.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
- 141: The passenger's
door is open or ajar when this message appears. The
ignition must be in ON and the transaxle not in
PARK (P) for this message to display. A chime will
also sound when the vehicle's speed is greater than
3 mph (4.8 km/h).
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR
- 143: The right rear
door is open or ajar when this message appears. The
ignition must be in ON and the transaxle not in
PARK (P) for this message to display. A chime will also
sound when the vehicle's speed is greater than 3 mph
(4.8 km/h).

4-41 Making Turns
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 dealer. The 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 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.
For some grade conditions, it may be better to drive in
THIRD (3) to lessen transaxle shifting. You may wish to
drive in THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) while towing
a trailer.
On a long uphill grade, reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) or less to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.

4-42 Parking on Hills
CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People can
be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P).
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then shift into
PARK (P) firmly and apply your parking brakes.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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 transaxle fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, 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.

5-
5-1
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5
-3 Other Warning Devices
5
-3 Jump Starting
5
-8 Towing Your Vehicle
5
-9 Engine Overheating5
-12 Cooling System
5
-18 If a Tire Goes Flat
5
-19 Changing a Flat Tire
5
-30 Compact Spare Tire
5
-31 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow