Battery CADILLAC ELDORADO 2000 10.G User Guide

2-16
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition, you can turn the
switch to five different positions.
ACCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio, windshield wipers, power windows and
sunroof (option) when the engine is off. To get into
ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn it toward you.
The steering wheel will remain locked, just as it was
before you inserted the key. Once you turn the key to
ACCESSORY, be sure to then turn it to LOCK. If you
leave your key in ACCESSORY when the engine is
turned off, your battery will discharge prematurely.LOCK (B): Before you put the key in, the ignition will
be in LOCK. This is the only position from which you
can remove the key. This position locks the ignition,
steering wheel and transaxle. It's a theft
-deterrent feature.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the steering
wheel like LOCK does. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle in motion while the engine is off (for example,
if your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN (D): This is the position for driving.
START (E): This position starts the engine.

2-17 Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories on your vehicle may be used
for up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned from
RUN to OFF, and then to LOCK:

Radio

Power Windows

Sunroof
Power to these accessories stops after 10 minutes or if
either door is opened. If you want power for another
10 minutes, turn the ignition key to RUN, to OFF and
then to LOCK.
NOTICE:
When using RAP, always leave your key in LOCK.
If you leave your key in any other position than
LOCK, your battery will discharge prematurely.
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
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. Without pushing 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.

2-18
2. If it doesn't start right away, hold your key in
START for about three seconds at a time until your
engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between each
try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging
your starter.
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.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed,
see the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
A. Engine Oil Dipstick Location
B. Engine Coolant Heater Cord
C. Transaxle Dipstick/Fluid Fill Location
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.

2-40
If it's dark enough outside and the Twilight Sentinel
control is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended (it's become dark
enough outside to require the headlamps and/or other
exterior lamps). Turning on the Twilight Sentinel,
the headlamps or the fog lamps will remove the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message.
Light SensorThe light sensor for the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the Twilight Sentinel is located in the center of the
front defogger grille. If you cover the sensor, it will read
ªdarkº and the lamps will come on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual parking lamp control has been left on, the
exterior lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned to LOCK or ACCESSORY.
This protects draining the battery in case you have
accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps on.
If you need to purposely leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes with the ignition in LOCK or
ACCESSORY, turn the exterior lamps control knob
off and then back on. To delay the lamps from turning
off, see ªTwilight Sentinelº in the Index.

2-42 Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp, cigarette lighters or the garage door
opener. When the ignition is turned off, the power
to these features will automatically turn off after
10 minutes (three minutes if a new car has 15 miles
(24 km) or less). Power will be restored for an additional
10 minutes if either door is opened, the trunk is opened
or the courtesy lamps are turned on.
Storage Mode Personalization
This feature is for long-term use and must be
programmed through the Driver Information Center
(DIC) while the ignition is in RUN. Storage mode
personalization protects the battery by placing your
vehicle in a storage mode so that the radio, amplifiers,
instrument panel cluster and remote keyless entry
will not drain the battery over a long period of time.
For programming information, see ªMemory and
Personalization Featuresº in the Index.
Mirrors
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass
Your vehicle has an electrochromic inside rearview
mirror with a compass.
When set in the MIRROR position, this mirror
automatically changes to reduce glare from headlamps
behind you.

2-48
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
NOTICE:
Don't put papers or other flammable items
into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging fire.
Front Ashtray
The front ashtray is located below the climate control
system. To open, press on the lower edge of the cover.
Rear Ashtray
The rear ashtray is located on the armrest; to use,
lift the lid.
Cigarette Lighter
The cigarette lighter is located near the ashtray. Press it
all the way in and release. It will pop back out by itself
when it's ready to light. You may also have a lighter
located at the rear seat air outlet.
Power to the cigarette lighter will shut off 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned off. This helps to prevent
battery drainage. For more information, see ªInadvertent
Power Battery Saverº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.

2-60
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System Indicator Light
When you turn the ignition
key to RUN, this light will
come on briefly to show
that the generator and
battery charging systems
are working.
If this light stays on, you need service and you should
take your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save your
battery until you get there, turn off all accessories.
Brake System Warning and Park Brake
Indicator Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.

2-66
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not
working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on
-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This may take several days of routine
driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does
not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system
readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
The light goes on when you turn your key to RUN or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That's a
check to be sure the light works. If it doesn't come on,
be sure to have it fixed so it will be there to warn you if
something goes wrong.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn't flowing through your engine properly. You could
be low on oil and you might have some other
system problem.

2-68 Fuel Data Display
Everything you need to know about the fuel economy
and how far you can travel with your vehicle's
remaining fuel is displayed. Fuel data can be obtained
by pressing the INFO (SKIP) button. See ªDIC Controls
and Displaysº later in this section.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
This display gives you the status of many of your
vehicle's systems. The DIC is also used to display driver
personalization features and warning/status messages.
DIC Controls and Displays
TRIP RESET (YES): By using this button, you can tell
how far you've gone since you last set the YES TRIP
RESET back to zero. To reset, press and hold this
button until zeros appear. If your vehicle is domestic,
the trip odometer will return to zero after 999.9 miles
(1 609 km). If your vehicle is Canadian, the
trip odometer will return to zero after
1 999.9 km (1,242 miles).
INFO RESET (NO): Pressing this button will reset the
MPG AVG, GAL FUEL USED, AVG MPH, TIMER,
OIL LIFE LEFT and ENGLISH/METRIC RESET.
Pressing NO INFO RESET when a non
-resettable
display appears will cause a ªrecallº mode to occur.
When this happens, all Driver Information Center (DIC)
warning messages that have been displayed since the
ignition key was turned to RUN will redisplay. If no
messages were displayed, a MONITORED SYSTEMS
OK message will appear.
INFO (SKIP): Pressing this button repeatedly will
display the RANGE, MPG AVG, MPG INST, GAL
FUEL USED, AVG MPH, TIMER, BATTERY VOLTS,
OIL LIFE LEFT, PHONE (if equipped) and
ENGLISH/METRIC RESET.

2-70 DIC Messages
These messages will appear if there is a problem sensed
in one of your vehicle's systems. Vehicles that are first
sold in Canada will have a number after each message.
This number helps to identify the message which is only
displayed in English.
Pressing the INFO or INFO RESET button (s) will
remove most of the following messages from the
DIC display:
APPLY BRAKE TO SHIFT
- 46: This message
will appear if your vehicle is in PARK (P) for about
15 seconds and the brake is not pressed. On the climate
control panel, press the OFF button (next to the MODE
button) and the down arrow on the PASS TEMP button
for about five seconds. Hold the same two buttons to
display the message again.
BATTERY NOT CHARGING
- 7: This message will
appear if the battery is not being charged. Have the
electrical system checked by your dealership at your
earliest convenience.BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH
- 8: This message
shows that the electrical charging system is
overcharging (more than 16 volts). To avoid being
stranded, have the electrical system checked by your
dealership. You can reduce the charging overload by
using the accessories. Turn on the lamps and radio, set
the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed on HI,
and turn the rear window defogger on. You can monitor
battery voltage on the DIC by pressing the INFO (SKIP)
button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts when the
engine is running.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
- 6: This message will
appear when the electrical system is charging less than
10 volts or if the battery has been drained. If this
message appears immediately after starting, it is possible
that the generator can still recharge the battery. The
battery should recharge and may take a few hours to do
so. Consider using an auxiliary charger to boost the
battery after returning home or to a final destination.
(Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when
using a battery charger.)