Cadillac CATERA Owner Manual

The 1999 Cadillac Catera Owner’s Manual

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1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems

This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system.

2-1 Features and Controls

This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.

3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.

4-1 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.

5-1 Problems on the Road

This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.

6-1 Service and Appearance Care

Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.

7-1 Customer Assistance Information

This section tells you how to contact Cadillac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 7

8-1 Index

Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, CADILLAC and the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Cadillac Motor Car Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

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We support voluntary technician certification.

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au:

DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

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How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

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CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

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Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

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For example, these symbols are used on an original battery:

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

INJURY

PROTECT

EYES BY

SHIELDING

CAUSTIC BATTERY

ACID COULD

CAUSE

BURNS

AVOID

SPARKS OR

FLAMES

SPARK OR

FLAME

COULD

EXPLODE

BATTERY

These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven:

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols have to do with your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

These symbols are on some of your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

VENTILATING

FAN

These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

Here are some other symbols you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

SPEAKER

FUEL

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✍

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NOTES

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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-10 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

-15 Here are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

1 1

-16 Driver Position

-23 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

-24 Right Front Passenger Position

1 1

-24 Air Bag Systems

-- and the Answers

-32 Safety Belt Pretensioners

1 1

-32 Rear Seat Passengers

-36 Children

1 1

-39 Child Restraints

-49 Larger Children

1 1

-52 Safety Belt Extender

-52 Checking Your Restraint Systems

-53 Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash

1-1

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Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, and also about reclining front seatbacks, lumbar adjustments, heated seats and head restraints.

Manual Lumbar Support

The lumbar control is located on the side of each front seatback closest to the door. The control provides additional support to your lower back and works independently of other seat controls.

Use the seat controls first to get the proper seating position. Then proceed with the lumbar adjustment.

The upper and lower seatback can be adjusted using the small hand increase support and rearward to decrease support.

-wheel control. Turn the control forward to

Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of the lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.

Power Seats

The power seat controls are located on the side of the front seat cushions closest to the door.

Lift up or push down on the front of the control to adjust the front portion of the cushion up or down.

Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust the rear portion of the cushion.

T o adjust the seat height, lift up or push down on the center of the control.

T o move the seat forward or rearward, slide the control in the desired direction.

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If a failure in the power supply system occurs, the power seats can be manually adjusted by inserting the crank handle into the slot located below the seat cushion, as shown in the above illustration. Turn the crank handle clockwise until you’ve reached your desired seating position.

Note: Manually moving the seat requires turning the crank handle many times.

The crank handle is provided in the tool kit located in the trunk. T o access, pull the red handle on the passenger’s side of the trunk.

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Memory Seat and Mirrors

These buttons are located on the side of the driver’s seat closest to the door. They are used to program and recall your desired memory settings.

T o begin, adjust the driver’s seat to a comfortable position. Also adjust the interior and exterior mirrors. Press memory button “M” and memory button “1” at the same time and hold for five seconds.

Seat and mirror positions may be programmed for two additional drivers by repeating the above steps and pressing memory button “2” or “3” instead of memory button “1.”

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If your vehicle is in PARK (P), you can recall mirror and seating positions by pressing and holding one of the three memory buttons. This will adjust the seat and mirrors to where you have previously programmed them. Seat and mirror movement is immediately stopped if the memory button is released or if a seat or mirror control is moved.

Also note that if you try to adjust the driver’s memory seat and it doesn’t move, try opening and closing the driver’s door. This will re seat as power to the driver’s seat “times out” after 30 seconds. (Power to the passenger’s seat is always present.)

-activate power to the driver’s

Heated Front Seat (Option)

This control is located next to the radio on the center console. Press this button to turn on the heating element in the seat. The seatback and cushion are warmed until they match your body temperature.

A telltale light in the button reminds you that the heating system is in use. The heated seats can only be used when the ignition is turned on. The heating system shuts off automatically when the ignition is turned off.

Reclining Front Seatbacks

The power control is located on the side of each front seatback closest to the door. Press the control forward or rearward to adjust the seatback.

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But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

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CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

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Head Restraints

Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The head restraints tilt forward and rearward also.

Removable Head Restraints

CAUTION:

If a head restraint is not installed on the seatback or stored in the vehicle properly, it could be thrown about the vehicle in a crash or sudden maneuver. People in the vehicle could be injured. Remove the head restraints only when you need to fold the seat, and be sure that the head restraints are stored securely in the trunk. When the seat is returned to the passenger position, be sure the head restraints are installed properly.

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For more cargo space or to fold down the front passenger’s seat, you may need to remove the head restraint. Press both release buttons at the top of the seatback and slide the head restraint out of the height adjust tubes.

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The head restraint should be stored securely on the driver’s side of the trunk as shown.

Replace the head restraint when you have finished carrying cargo or when the passenger’s seat is returned to its normal upright position.

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Rear Seats

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is twisted or not properly attached won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. A person wearing a twisted or not properly attached belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belt is not twisted and is properly attached.

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Folding the Rear Seat

With the rear folding seatbacks, you can carry long cargo by folding down part or all of the rear seat. Before you can fold the rear seat, you need to unlatch the center buckle.

Insert a key or a similar object into the slot as shown to unlatch the buckle. Move the belt to the side so it is not in your way.

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T o unlock the rear seatback, press the pushbutton at the top of the seat and fold the seatback forward. T o return the seat to the passenger position, lift up on the seatback and push it rearward until it latches. After returning the seat to the passenger position, pull forward on the seatback to make sure it is locked into place.

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Return the safety belts to their original positions so they will be available for rear seat passengers to use. T o do so, slide the buckle into the latch as shown.

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The panel behind the rear seat armrest also folds. Turn the knob counterclockwise and pull the panel forward to gain access to the trunk. When finished using the panel, return it to its original position and turn the knob clockwise to secure.

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Heated Rear Seat (Option)

The heated rear seat controls are located on the rear center console under the air outlets. Press the button once to turn on the heating system. Press the button again to turn the system off.

A telltale light in the button indicates the system is in use. The heated seats can only be used when the ignition is turned on. The heating system shuts off automatically when the ignition is turned off.

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.

And it explains the air bag system.

CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

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CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.)

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In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away . Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot!

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Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

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Put someone on it.

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Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

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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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Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts

Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

-- and the Answers

A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety

belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in

most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

-- not instead of them. Every air bag

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an

accident your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and

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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Adults

This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index) so you can sit up straight.

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3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

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4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. T o make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

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The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you.

T o move it down, press down on the arrow symbol and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the bottom of the height adjuster. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it has locked into position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

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