stop start CADILLAC CATERA 2001 1.G Owners Manual

2-20
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in the
long run if you follow these guidelines:

Don't drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.

Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.

Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.
Ignition Positions
Keep in mind that you may have to turn the steering
wheel as you turn the key in order to turn the ignition
switch from LOCK to START
-- this is normal. Using
extra effort to remove the key from the ignition switch,
as compared to other GM vehicles that you may have
owned, is also normal.
If your key is stuck in the ignition switch and cannot be
turned back to LOCK, your vehicle will need to be
repaired. See your dealer for service.
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to
four different positions.
LOCK (): This is the only
position from which you
can remove the key. This
position locks the ignition,
steering wheel and
transmission. It's a
theft
-deterrent feature.

2-22
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, hold your key
in START for about 10 seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.

2-23
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.

2-27
DRIVE (D): Use this for normal driving. If you need
more power for passing, and you're:

Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to the next gear.
THIRD (3): This position is not used for normal
driving. It offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of DRIVE (D):

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.

When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): Driving in this position gives you more
power than driving in THIRD (3). Use it on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down steep mountain
roads, but then you would also want to use the brakes
off and on.FIRST (1): This position gives you more power (but
lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it
on very steep hills. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1),
the transmission won't shift into first gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If the rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to drive.
This might happen if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or you were up against a solid
object. You could damage the transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use the brakes to hold your vehicle
in position on a hill.
When you start your vehicle and the engine temperature
is below 86F (30 C), upshifting of the transmission
will be delayed for about one minute. This is normal.
The engine's catalytic converter is warming up during
this time.

2-46 Headlamps
Turn the lamp knob 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, see ªHeadlamp High/Low Beamº in
the Index.
Turn the lamp knob all the way to the left to turn the
headlamps off.
If the headlamps are activated while driving and then
you turn your vehicle's ignition off while the lamp knob
is still turned on, the headlamps will turn off. If,
however, you open the driver's door while the lamp
knob is still turned on, a warning chime will sound
reminding you to turn the lamp knob to OFF. This will
stop the warning chime from sounding. (If you want the
headlamps to remain on, you must manually turn the
lamp knob off and then back on to the headlamp
position. The headlamps will stay on until manually
turned off again.)Your vehicle may be equipped with High Intensity
Discharge (HID) headlamps. Your headlamps come
on at a lower intensity and gradually increase to
full brightness.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the low
-beam headlamps,
parking lamps, sidemarker lamps and taillamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
about 20 seconds.
The wiper
-activated headlamps light the way in poor
weather and also make your vehicle more visible to
other drivers. If the wipers are on and the ignition switch
is turned off, the headlamps will immediately turn off.
The headlamps will also deactivate if the windshield
wipers have been turned off for about 20 seconds.
Perimeter Lighting
This feature turns on the low-beam headlamps, parking
lamps, sidemarker lamps and taillamps for about
20 seconds after the unlock button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed. Perimeter lighting
immediately ends when your vehicle's ignition is turned
to ON or START.

2-54
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
The glove box is located in front of the passenger's seat.
To lock the glove box door, insert the key in the lock
cylinder and turn it counterclockwise. Turn the key
clockwise to unlock the door.
The glove box is air conditioned. This helps to keep
snack items cool while traveling. In order for cool air to
enter the glove box, the air conditioning must be turned
on. Use the slide lever inside and at the rear of the glove
box to turn the air flow on and off. Moving the lever
over the small hole turns the cool air off and moving the
lever away from the hole turns the cool air on.
Map Pockets
The map/storage pockets are located on each door as
well as on the passenger's and driver's front seatbacks.
Also located on the driver's door map pocket is a
coin holder.
Center Console Storage Area
The front storage area comes with a small storage bin
and a cupholder that pulls out for use. To open the lid of
the storage bin, press and hold the button at the front
edge of the storage lid and lift up the lid.
Rear Seat Cupholder
There is a cupholder for rear seat passengers located in
the rear seat center armrest. To access the cupholder,
fold the armrest down.
Convenience Net
The convenience net is on the floor of the trunk. Put
small loads, like grocery bags, under the net. It can help
keep them from moving around during sharp turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net is not meant for larger, heavier loads. Store
those in the trunk as far forward as you can. When not
using the net, hook it to the metal loops, securing it to
the floor.

2-65
Your vehicle's engine should be turned off but the
ignition must be ON (II) while programming the
transmitter. Follow these steps to program up to
three channels:
1. If you have previously programmed a transmitter
channel, proceed to Step 2. Otherwise, hold down
the two outside buttons on the HomeLink transmitter
until the indicator light begins to flash rapidly
(after 20 seconds). Then release the buttons.
This procedure initializes the memory and erases any
previous settings for all three channels.
2. Decide which one of the three channels you want to
program. Hold the end of the hand
-held transmitter
about 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) away from the
surface of the HomeLink transmitter so that you can
still see the indicator light.
3. Using both hands, press the hand
-held transmitter
button and the desired button on the HomeLink
transmitter. Continue to press both buttons
through Step 4.
4. Hold down both buttons until you see the indicator
light on the HomeLink transmitter flash slowly and
then rapidly. The rapid flashing indicates that the
HomeLink transmitter has been programmed.
Release both buttons once the indicator light starts
to flash rapidly.Your Catera may be equipped with a metallic
-coated,
heat reflective windshield to help keep your vehicle
cool. If you experience difficulty when using your
remote control transmitter be sure you have followed the
directions exactly, and that you are pointing the device
through the top center of the windshield in the black
dotted area. Any usage of devices other than in this area
may cause malfunctions to occur. Also, the HomeLink
transmitter may not work with older garage door
openers that do not meet current Federal Consumer
Safety Standards. If you cannot program the transmitter
after repeated attempts, refer to ªRolling Code
Programmingº later in this section or contact the
HomeLink transmitter manufacturer at 1
-800-355-3515.
Be sure to keep the original hand
-held transmitter
in case you need to erase and reprogram the
HomeLink transmitter.
Canadian Owners: During programming, the
hand
-held transmitter may automatically stop
transmitting after one or two seconds. In this case, you
should press and re
-press the button on the hand-held
transmitter every two seconds without ever releasing the
button on the HomeLink transmitter. Release both
buttons when the indicator light on the HomeLink
transmitter begins to flash rapidly.

2-76 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your engine
is started and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System Warning Light
The warning light will flash
when the system senses a
traction change.
If it stays on, or comes on and stays on steady when
you're driving, there may be a problem with your
traction control system and your vehicle may need
service. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.

2-77 Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that the
engine has overheated.
If this light comes on, you
should stop the vehicle and
turn the engine off as soon
as possible.
A warning chime should also sound if this light
comes on.
As a check, the light should come on for a few seconds
when you start the engine. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, the engine is
too hot!
This reading means the same thing as the warning
light
-- the engine coolant has overheated. You should
stop the car and turn the engine off as soon as possible.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-80
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady,
see ªIf the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf the Light
Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine
may not run as efficiently as designed since small
amounts of air are sucked into the fuel line causing a
misfire. The system can detect this. Adding fuel should
correct this condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap
properly. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index.
It will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
See ªFuelº in the Index. Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start
-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration
or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected
by the system and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.