headlamp CADILLAC CATERA 1998 1.G User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Driving at Night
................. ". .- .I ............ "" ." ................. 7% ".
".
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers
are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue. Here are
some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively.
Don't drink and drive.
Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only
so much road ahead.
0 In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see
the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do
in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you're
driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they
also make a lot
of things invisible.
4-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take
a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn't lower the high beams, or
a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build
up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light
up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren't even aware
of it.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can't stop, accelerate or turn as well because
your tire-to-road traction isn't as good as on dry roads.
And, if your tires don't have much tread left, you'll get
even less traction. It's always wise
to go slower and be
cautious if rain
starts to fall while you are driving. The
surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes
are
tuned for driving on dry pavement.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do
it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
cm OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
*
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING
& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT
XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSVKPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
, INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures
for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight of
all occupants, cargo and all
options not installed at the factory.
4-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If none of them is true, use the long triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter at the
first
5,000 miles (8 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs first. Then, change the oil and filter every
10,000 miles (16 000 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don't let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and
nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer's warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Air Cleaner
The air cleaner is located behind the headlamps on
the passenger's side
of the engine. Be sure the engine
has cooled before following these steps to replace the
air filter.
Used
oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don't ever dispose of oil
by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing
of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
6-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Bulb Replacement
I
~ For bulb types, see “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index.
1 Halogen Bulbs
I I
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst
if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
1. With a screwdriver, unscrew the fastener on the
headlamp cover and then remove the cover to gain access to the headlamps. Note that the inner bulb
is
for the low-beam headlamp and the outer bulb is for
the high-beam headlamp.
6-30

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.
0
0
0
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.
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.
0
0
0
I 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.
For the vertical adjustment, state inspection stations
generally will allow a reading of plus
0.76 degrees or
minus
0.76 degrees from the center of the bubble.
1 6-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It is recommended that the upper limit not exceed plus
0.4 degrees from the center of the bubble. Other drivers
may flash their high beams at you
if your adjustment is
much above plus
0.4 degrees.
If you find that the headlamp aiming needs adjustment,
follow these steps:
1. With a screwdriver, unscrew the fastener on the
headlamp cover and then remove the cover to be able
to see the back of the headlamp assembly.
2. Check the vertical aim for each headlamp and adjust
it as necessary. The vertical aim adjustment screw is
located on the outboard side
of the headlamp
assembly. You can see the level through the
headlamp assembly.
Turn the vertical aiming screw
until the bubble in the level
is centered at 0 (zero).
3. If the horizontal aim needs adjusting, see
your dealer.
Adjustment screws can be turned with an
E8 Tom@
socket
or a T15 Torx screwdriver.
6-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front %rn Signal Lamp
1. With a screwdriver, unscrew the fastener on the headlamp cover and then remove
it to access the turn
signal lamps (see Step
1 under “Headlamps”).
3. Pull the bulb out to replace and then reassemble.
2. On the outboard side of each low-beam headlamp,
you
will find the turn signal bulbs. Turn the lamp
assembly to the left to remove.
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
The CHMSL is equipped with high durability
illumination.
If a bulb problem does occur, see your
dealer for assistance.
6-35

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
If you need to replace any of your wheels or wheel
bolts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel and wheel bolts for your Catera model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels and wheel
bolts on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of your vehicle,
make your tires lose
air and make you lose
control. You could have a collision in which you
or others could
be injured. Always use the correct
wheel and wheel bolts for reolacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See “Changing a Flat Tire”
in the Index for
more information.
I A CAUTIO1 I
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how
far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.
6-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
I NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring has several fuses which are
powered by a MaxiFuse@. An electrical overload will
cause the lamps to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain
off. If this happens, have the headlamp wiring
checked right away.
MaxiFuse is a registered trademark of Little Fuse
Incorporated.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
If the windshield wiper motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wipers will stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem, be
sure to have it fixed.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is
too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.