brake fluid CADILLAC CATERA 1998 1.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are
in good shape, a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge of the road and even
people walking.
It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts. Driving
too fast
through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But
if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.
4-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
~ A CAUTION:
’ If y!! 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. Coasting downhill in
NEUTRAL (N) or
with
the ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will
have
to do all the work of slowing down. They
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. Always have
your engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you
go downhill.
e
0
0
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide
or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or
an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones,
a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
Parking on Hills
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 the 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 the parking brake.
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:
0 Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Be sure the parking brake has released. 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 adjustment. 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 “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
4-36

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 infomation about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-5
6-8 6-8
6-11
6-15
6-18
6- 19
6-20
6-23 6-24
6-25
6-26
6-29
6-30 Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Rear Axle
Engine Coolant
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement 6-36
6-37
6-45
6-46 6-48
6-49
6-50
6-52 6-53
6-54
6-54 6-55
6-63
6-63
6-63
6-64 Wiper
Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Care of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Cleaning Aluminum
or Chrome Wheels
(If Equipped)
Underbody Maintenance
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fillinn 3 Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under the Hood
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:
0 Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
0 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.
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
0 Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
0 Don’t smoke while pumping gasoline. 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.
.
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.
6-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you open the hood, you’ll see:
A. Coolant Fill Location
B. Air Cleaner
C. Passenger’s Compartment
Air Filter D. Engine Oil Fill Location
E. Engine Oil Dipstick Location
E Windshield Washer Fluid
G. 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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 “full” mark and th\
e
bottom line is the “add” mark (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
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the
Maintenance Schedule booklet. Always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
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.
6-24

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake Fluid
s
i“
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. 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 fured, 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 “top off’ 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.
A CAV-ION:
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.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the
Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
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.
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.
1
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 “Appearance Care” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine #-A* ‘JL
Section 8 Index
ABS ......................................... 4-7
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle ...... 6-3
Add-on Electrical Equipment
..................... 6-55
Aiming. Headlamps
............................. 6-33
AirBag ....................................... 1-27
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-33
How the Systems Work
........................ 1-30
Location
.................................... 1-30
Readiness Light ......................... 1.30. 2.65
Servicing
................................... 1-35
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-33
What Will You See After it Inflates
............... 1-34
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-32
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-6
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-63
Alarm. Theft-Deterrent .......................... 2- 13
Alignment
and Balance. Tire ...................... 6-43
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-50
Antenna. Heated Backlite
........................ 3-30
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.68. 4.7
Brakes (ABS)
................................. 4-7 Anti-Lockout Feature
............................ 2-7
Anti-Pinch Feature
......................... 2.32. 2.53
Appearance Care
............................... 6-45
Appearance Care Materials Chart
.................. 6-53
Arbitration Program
............................. 7-11
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
.................... 2-49
Assist Handles
................................. 2-51
Audio Equipment. Adding ........................ 3-28
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
.................... 3-26
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-9
Automatic Door Locks
............................ 2-5
Automatic Operation (Climate Controls)
.............. 3-3
Automatic Transmission Operation
................................... 2-20
Shifting
..................................... 2-20
Warning Light
............................... 2-76
Fluid
....................................... 6-18
Starting Your Engine
.......................... 2-17
Axle. Rear
.................................... 6-19
Battery
...................................... 6-29
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry
............... 2-9
Warnings ............................ 5.3.5.4. 5.5