steering CADILLAC CATERA 1999 1.G User Guide

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Parking lamps, front and rear sidemarker
lamps, taillamps, license plate lamps, ashtray lamps,
backlighting to the radio controls and instrument
panel lights.
Headlamps.
Fog lamps.
Twilight Sentinel.
Turns the Twilight Sentinel system off.
Instrument panel brightness control.
Turn the lamp control dial clockwise (to the first
position) to turn on the parking lamps, front and rear
sidemarker lamps, taillamps, license plate lamps, ashtray
lamps, instrument panel lights and backlighting to the
center console controls. Turn the lamp control dial all
the way clockwise (to the second position) to turn on the
low
-beam headlamps.
Turn the lamp control dial counterclockwise to turn the
lamps off.
Headlamps
Turn the lamp control dial all the way to the right to turn
on the low
-beam headlamps.
To turn on the high
-beam headlamps, the low-beam
headlamps must already be on. Push the turn signal lever
on the left side of the steering wheel away from you to
engage the high
-beam headlamps. Pull the lever toward
you to return to the low
-beam headlamps. For more
information, seeªHeadlamp High/Low Beamº in
the Index.
Turn the lamp control dial all the way to the left to turn
the headlamps off.
Note: If the headlamps are activated while driving and
then you turn your vehicle's ignition off while the lamp
dial is still turned on, the headlamps will turn off. If,
however, you open the driver's door while the lamp dial
is still turned on, a warning chime will sound reminding
you to turn the lamp control dial to OFF. This will stop
the warning chime from sounding. (If you want the
headlamps to remain on, you must manually turn the
lamp control dial off and then back on to the headlamp
position. The headlamps will stay on until manually
turned off again.)

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The instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast
you're going, how much fuel you're using and many of the other things you'll need to know to drive safely and
economically. The main components of the instrument panel are:
A. Air Outlets
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Instrument Cluster
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
E. Comfort Controls
F. Lamp Controls
G. Horn
H. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Audio System
I. Hood ReleaseJ. Hazard Warning Flasher Button
K. Fuel Door Release Button
L. Heated Front Seat On/Off Button (Option)
M. Ashtray
N. Radio
O. Trunk Release Button
P. Traction Control On/Off Button
Q. Glove Box

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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Electronic Climate Control (ECC)
3
-3 Automatic Operation
3
-4 Manual Operation
3
-6 Air Conditioning
3
-6 Heating
3
-6 Defrosting
3
-7 Rear Window Defogger
3
-7 Ventilation System
3
-9 Audio Systems
3
-9 Setting the Clock
3
-9AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
3
-13 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Radio Data
Systems (RDS) (If Equipped)3
-22 Radio Data Systems (RDS) Program Type
(PTY) Selections
3
-23 CD Adapter Kits
3
-23 Trunk-Mounted CD Changer (Option)
3
-27 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-27 Audio Steering Wheel Controls
3
-28 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-28 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-29 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-30 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-31 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-31 Heated Backlite Antenna

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3-27 Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. Your vehicle has a ªbuilt
-inº theft-deterrent
feature on each radio that is automatic
-- there is no
programming required. The radio in your vehicle cannot
be used in any other vehicle. When the radio was
originally installed in your vehicle at the factory, it
stored the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Each
time the ignition is turned on, the VIN is verified. If the
vehicle's VIN does not match the VIN stored in the
radio, THEFTLOCK will be activated and the audio
system will not play. If the radio is removed from your
vehicle, the original VIN in the radio can be used to
trace the radio back to your vehicle.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering
wheel. They include the following:

: Press this button to move forward through preset
radio stations or to the next selection on a tape or CD.
: Press this button to move rearward through preset
radio stations or to the previous selection on a tape
or CD.

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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-7 Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
4
-10 Steering
4
-12 Off-Road Recovery
4
-13 Passing
4
-14 Loss of Control
4
-15 Driving at Night4
-17 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-19 City Driving
4
-20 Freeway Driving
4
-21 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-22 Highway Hypnosis
4
-23 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-24 Winter Driving
4
-28 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-29 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-31 Towing a Trailer

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Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

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To turn the system off, press
the TCS OFF button located
next to the radio on the
center console.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Speed Sensitive Steering (SSS)
This system varies the amount of steering effort in relation
to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier at a lower speed
for maneuvering and parking ease. As your vehicle speed
increases, the steering effort also increases. At highway
speeds, the amount of steering effort is increased to
provide manual
-like steering for maximum control and
stability. If your vehicle seems harder to steer than normal
when parking or driving slow, something may be wrong
with the speed sensitive steering system. You will still
have power steering, however, steering will be stiffer than
normal at low speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.

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The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you're in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do their
work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden
acceleration can demand too much of those places. You
can lose control. Refer to ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's
the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See ªBraking in
Emergenciesº earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.

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An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you're driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can turn the steering wheel up to one
-quarter turn
until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down
the roadway.

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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.
If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.