2001 CADILLAC CATERA light

1-55
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash.
They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or
frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If you ever see a yellow label on the driver's or the
right front passenger's safety belt buckle, that means to
replace the buckle assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the
new buckle assembly will be there to help protect you in
a collision.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn't being used at
the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you'll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system
earlier in this section.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE)
2
-14 Trunk
2
-16 Theft
2
-17 Theft-Deterrent System (Option)
2
-19 Immobilizer
2
-20 New VehicleªBreak-Inº
2
-20 Ignition Positions
2
-22 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-25 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-30 Parking Brake
2
-31 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-33 Shifting Out of PARK (P)2
-35 Parking Over Things that Burn
2
-35 Engine Exhaust
2
-36 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-36 Horn
2
-37 Tilt Wheel
2
-37 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-45 Exterior Lamps
2
-50 Interior Lamps
2
-52 Mirrors
2
-54 Storage Compartments
2
-57 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-60 Sunroof (Option)
2
-64 HomeLink
Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-68 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-72 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-4
Anti-Pinch Feature
If a hand, an arm or another object is above the middle
of the window and is in the way of the power window
express
-closing, the window will stop at the obstruction
and express
-open to a preset factory position.
CAUTION:
Pressing and holding the power window control
button will turn off the anti
-pinch feature.
If this happens, a power window won't stop if
something gets in the way. You or others could be
injured, and your window could be damaged. Be
careful not to press and hold the power window
control button.
Rear Window Lockout
Moving this switch to the
left will disable the rear
passenger window controls.
A red indicator light in the
control will illuminate as
a reminder that the rear
passenger window controls
have been disabled.
Moving the switch back to the right to enable the rear
passenger window controls again. A green indicator
light in the control will illuminate to indicate that the
rear passenger window controls are once again active.

2-16 Trunk Release Handle (If Equipped)
NOTICE:
The trunk release handle was not designed to be
used to tie down the trunk lid or as an anchor
point when securing items in the trunk. Improper
use of the trunk release handle could damage it.
There is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle located
inside the trunk near the latch. This handle will glow
following exposure to light. Pull the release handle up to
open the trunk from the inside.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft
-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a tone reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transmission. And remember to lock
the doors.

2-17 Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still best to lock it up and
take your keys. But what if you have to leave your key?

If possible, park in a busy, well
-lit area.

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.

Close all windows.

Lock the glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.

Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
Theft-Deterrent System (Option)
If the ignition is off
and a door is open, the
SECURITY light will flash
to remind you to activate
the system.
To arm the system do the following:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door using the power door lock or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.
3. Close all the doors. The SECURITY light should go
off within approximately 30 seconds.
The horn will sound and the headlamps will flash for
several minutes when the door or trunk is opened
without the key or remote keyless entry transmitter.
The horn also sounds if the locks are damaged.

2-18
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won't activate if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter.
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.

2-28
Upshifting and downshifting of the transmission is
automatically modified to prevent undesired shifting
when your vehicle is towing a trailer or when you
are driving in hilly or mountainous terrain.
This is also normal.
Sport Mode Button
For a firmer shift and
increased performance, you
may choose the sport mode.
This button lets you change
from a normal driving mode
to a sport driving mode.
It is located on the shift
lever handle.Press the ªSº button once to select the sport feature.
Press it again to return to the normal driving mode.
When you start the engine, your vehicle will be in
normal mode. For general driving conditions, use the
normal mode. It will remain in normal unless you select
the sport feature.This light on the instrument
panel cluster will come
on when the sport mode
is selected.
If this light begins flashing while you are driving,
there may be a fault in the automatic transmission.
Have your vehicle serviced.

2-30
Parking Brake
The parking brake is located on the center console
between the front seats.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your foot and pull up on the parking brake
lever. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on.If you start to drive with the parking brake set, the
BRAKE warning light stays on. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº 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
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. This section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.