engine overheat CADILLAC DEVILLE 2003 8.G Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a ®re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
won't reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
The automatic transaxle may have a shift lever located
either on the steering column or on the console
between the seats.
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
Console Shifter
2-27

Here are examples for using THIRD (3) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X).
·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):This position gives you more power. You
can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
Notice:Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put in FIRST
(1), the transaxle won't shift into ®rst gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.)
Notice:If your front wheels won't turn, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle. Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don't hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your
brakes to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Performance Shifting (DTS Only)
When your vehicle detects a change in driving
conditions, it will automatically initiate the appropriate
performance shift mode. When this occurs, the
gear display on the instrument panel cluster will change
to indicate that the transaxle has shifted to a different
gear. For example, the gear display on the cluster may
indicate 3 or 2 even though the gearshift is still in
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X). Once the performance
shift mode ends, the gear display on the instrument
panel cluster will return to normal.
Shift Lock Release
This vehicle is equipped with an electric shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to do
the following:
·Prevent the ignition key from being removed unless
the shift lever is in PARK (P), and
·prevent movement of the console shift lever
(DTS only) out of PARK (P) unless the ignition is in
a position other than OFF. The shift lock release
is always functional except in the case of a
dead battery or low voltage (less than 9 V) battery.
The following procedure allows the ignition to be turned
to OFF and for ignition key removal in case of a
dead battery or low voltage battery for vehicles equipped
with a column shift lever.
2-30

Before releasing the manual parking brake, be sure to
put the vehicle in PARK (P) and turn the ignition to OFF.
Reach under the driver's side of the instrument panel
and pull down on the manual release lever, which
is located behind the parking brake pedal. Pull down on
the yellow tab as shown by the arrow in the illustration.
If the parking brake does not release, you should
have your vehicle towed to your dealer for service.Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-34.
Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won't
move, even when you're on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you're pulling a
trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
2-34

Console Shift Lever
If your vehicle is equipped with a console shift lever,
use the following procedure to shift the vehicle into
PARK (P):
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the
lever all the way toward the front of your vehicle
and then to the left.
3. With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake.4. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Don't leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it.
2-36

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
·If there's a brake system problem that is speci®cally
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.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine has
overheated. As a check,
the light should come
on for a few seconds when
you start your engine.
If this light comes on and stays on, you should stop
your vehicle and turn the engine off as soon as possible.
A warning chime should also sound if this light comes on.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-27.
3-49

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into
the shaded area, the
engine is too hot.That reading means the same thing as the warning
light ± the engine coolant has overheated. See
Engine
Overheating on page 5-27.
.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States or Check Engine Light in
Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems. United States (Analog
Only)
Canada (Analog Only)
Digital Cluster
United StatesCanada
3-50

ENGINE COOLANT HOT, IDLE ENGINE ± 44:This
message will appear when the engine coolant
temperature is over 262ÉF (128ÉC). Stop and allow your
vehicle to idle in PARK (P) until it cools down and the
message is removed. Do not increase engine speed
above a normal idle. If it does not cool down, turn off the
engine and have it serviced before driving it again.
Severe engine damage can result from an overheated
engine. See
Engine Overheating on page 5-27.
ENGINE HOT±AC OFF ± 16:This message displays
when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal
operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning compressor is automatically
turned off. When the coolant temperature returns to
normal, the A/C operation will automatically resume. You
can continue to drive your vehicle. If this message
continues to appear, have the system repaired as soon
as possible to avoid compressor damage.
ENGINE OVERHEATED, STOP ENGINE ± 42:This
message will appear when the engine has overheated.
Stop and turn the engine off immediately to avoid severe
engine damage. See
Engine Overheating on page 5-27.
A multiple chime will also sound when this message is
displayed.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED ± 41:This message
informs you that the vehicle is reducing engine power
because the transaxle is being placed in gear under
conditions that may cause damage to the vehicle's
engine, transaxle or ability to accelerate.FUEL LEVEL LOW ± 11:This message serves as a
warning that the fuel level in the tank is critically
low. Stop for fuel soon. A single chime will sound when
this message is displayed.
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED ± 23:If it's dark enough
outside and the headlamps and Twilight Sentinel
ž
controls are off, this message will display on the DIC.
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL
are still illuminated. It has become dark enough outside
to require the headlamps and/or other exterior lamps.
This message will also appear if the optional
RainsenseŸ wiping feature is on and the Twilight
Sentinel
žis off.
ICE POSSIBLE ± 13:This message appears when the
outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy
road conditions.
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR ± 142:The left rear door is
open or ajar when this message appears. The ignition
must be in ON and the transaxle not in PARK (P) for this
message to display. A chime will sound if the vehicle's
speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE ± 35:If this
message appears while the engine is running, stop the
engine and do not operate it until the cause of low oil
pressure is corrected. Severe damage to the engine can
result. A multiple chime will sound when this message is
displayed.
3-63

THEFT ATTEMPTED ± 40:This message is displayed
if the theft system has detected a break-in attempt
while you were away from your vehicle.
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF ± 111:This message will
appear when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
detects that the maximum speed for your vehicle has
been reached. The speed of your vehicle will surge
as the fuel supply is cut off. Your vehicle's top speed is
based on the top speed rating of the tires. This
ensures that your vehicle stays in a safe operating
range for the tires.
TRACTION ENGAGED ± 91:When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery
road conditions may exist if this message is displayed,
so adjust your driving accordingly. This message
will stay on for a few seconds after the traction control
system stops limited wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF ± 89:This message will be displayed
after the traction control system has been turned off using
the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center console.
TRACTION READY ± 90:This message informs the
driver that the traction control system is available.
Pressing the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center console
once turns the traction control system off; pressing the
button again turns the system back on. This message will
automatically disappear from the display after ®ve
seconds.TRACTION SUSPENDED ± 56:This message displays
when the traction control system has been temporarily
shut off because your vehicle's brakes have overheated.
This message does not indicate a problem with your
vehicle's traction control system. After a few minutes,
the traction control system will be available again
and the TRACTION READY message will appear.
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE ± 112:This message
indicates that the transaxle ¯uid in your vehicle is too
hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools
down or until this message is removed.
TRUNK OPEN ± 24:This message indicates that the
trunk is open when the ignition is on.
TURN SIGNAL ON ± 20:If you drive your vehicle for
more than a mile with a turn signal on, this message will
appear as a reminder to turn off the turn signal. A
multiple chime will sound when this message is
displayed.
VEHICLE OVERSPEED ± 52:This message is
displayed when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain
limit as required by some export countries. A continuous
chime will sound when this message is displayed.
3-66

If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don't want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as ªrockingº can
help you get out when you're stuck, but you must
use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment ®re or other damage.
When you're stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don't spin the wheels above 35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
ªRocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out.º
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see
Tire Chains on page 5-70.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should turn
your traction control system off. See
Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-9. Then shift back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may
free your vehicle. If that doesn't get you out after a few
tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need
to be towed out, see ªTowing Your Vehicleº following.
4-30

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal ¯asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
¯ash, telling other drivers you're about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ¯ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It's
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On long uphill grades, reduce speed to 45 to 50 mph
(70 to 90 km/h) and avoid prolonged use of SECOND (2)
gear and engine speeds above 3800 rpm.
Climbing grades steeper than four percent at
temperatures above 90É F (32É C) with a loaded vehicle
and trailer is not recommended. The cooling system
may temporarily overheat. See
Engine Overheating on
page 5-27.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
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 your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P).
2. Have someone place chocks behind 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) ®rmly and apply your parking brake.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-39