instrument panel CADILLAC CATERA 1999 1.G Owners Manual

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or the instrument panel ...or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why
safety belts make such good sense.

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There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air
bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See ªAir Bag Readiness Lightº in the Index
for more information.How the Air Bag Systems Work
Where are the air bags?
The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.

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The right front passenger's frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger's side.The driver's side impact air bag is in the side of the
driver's seatback closest to the door.
The right front passenger's side impact air bag is in the
side of the passenger's seatback closest to the door.

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What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates
the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware
are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering
wheel, instrument panel and the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air
bags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in
many types of collisions, including frontal or nearfrontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because an occupant's motion is not toward those air
bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything
more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in
moderate to severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions for
the driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags,
and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the
driver's and right front passenger's side impact air bags.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inflated. Some components of the air bag module
-- the
steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the driver and
right front passenger's side impact air bags
-- will be
hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.
There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't
prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.

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CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you'll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag
system won't be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the frontal air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system, when
the system commands air bag inflation and driver's
safety belt usage at deployment.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, or the air bag
covering on the driver's and right front
passenger's seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger's air bag, or both the air bag
module and seatback for the driver's and right
front passenger's side impact air bag. Do not
open or break the air bag coverings.

2-
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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 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-7 Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE)
2
-11 Trunk
2
-12 Theft
2
-13 Theft-Deterrent System
2
-15 Immobilizer
2
-16 New VehicleªBreak-Inº
2
-16 Ignition Positions
2
-18 Starting Your Engine
2
-19 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-21 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-26 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-28 Shifting Out of PARK (P)2
-30 Parking Over Things that Burn
2
-30 Engine Exhaust
2
-31 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-32 Windows
2
-33 Horn
2
-34 Tilt Wheel
2
-34 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-40 Exterior Lamps
2
-46 Interior Lamps
2
-47 Mirrors
2
-49 Storage Compartments
2
-52 Sunroof (Option)
2
-56 Universal Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-60 Instrument Panel
2
-63 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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Trunk
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can't see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on AUTO and the temperature between
65F (18C) and 85F (29C). That will
force outside air into your vehicle. See
ªComfort Controlsº in the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Trunk Release
To use this feature,
your vehicle must be in
PARK (P). Press the trunk
release button located on the
center console next to the
radio to open the trunk.
You can also press the trunk button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter to access the trunk
compartment. Your vehicle doesn't have a trunk key
lock cylinder.

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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.
A telltale light on the
instrument panel 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.
Third-Gear Start
Press this button to provide
more traction when you are
starting on ice or other
slippery surfaces. It only
operates when the shift
lever is in DRIVE (D). The
button is located next to the
shift lever on the console.
The transmission will be in THIRD (3) when the vehicle
begins to move. After starting in THIRD (3), the vehicle
will upshift normally.

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Tilt Wheel
Tilt steering allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you begin driving. Raising the steering wheel to
the highest level gives your legs more room when you
enter and exit your vehicle.
Hold the steering wheel and pull the lever toward you to
tilt the wheel. Adjust the steering wheel to a comfortable
position and then release the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Turn and Lane Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the turn signal/multifunction
lever all the way up or down. The lever returns
automatically when the turn is complete.
This arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.

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Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change
is complete. The lever returns when it is released.
Arrows that flash rapidly when signaling for a turn or
lane change may be caused by a burned
-out front signal
bulb. (This does not occur with a burned
-out rear bulb.)
Other drivers won't see the turn signal. Replace
burned
-out bulbs to help avoid possible accidents.
Check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the
Index) and for burned
-out bulbs if the arrow fails to
work when signaling a turn.
Headlamp High/Low Beam
With the Twilight Sentinel
on or with the lamp control
dial turned to the headlamp position, push the turn
signal lever on the driver's side of the steering wheel
away from you to turn on the high
-beam headlamps.
This light on the instrument
panel will be on, indicating
high
-beam usage.Pull the lever back to the original position to return to
low
-beam headlamps. For more information, see
ªHeadlampsº in the Index.
Flash-To-Pass
This feature uses the high-beam headlamps to signal the
driver in front of you that you want to pass. This feature
will work with either the headlamps on or off.
To use, pull the turn signal lever toward you and release.
Windshield Wipers
WIPER: Move the lever on the passenger's side of the
steering wheel up and down to control the wipers.