Cadillac 1996 Eldorado User manual

I
i
A
ELDORADO

/r”‘ --.\
The 1996 Cadillac Eldorado Owner’s Manual
Seats and KestraintSystems ............................................................. 1-1
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controlsand Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SIR” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Cadillac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what todoif you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated
engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Cadillac running properly and looking good.
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
7-10.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
Serviceand Appearance Care.. .......................................................... 6-1
CustomerAssistance Information ........................................................ 7-1
Index ................................................................................ 8-1
i

GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Emblem and the name
ELDORADO are registered trademarksof General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time
it
was printed. We reserve the rightto make changes in the
product after that time withoutfurther notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Cadillac Motor
Car Division wheneverit appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in yourCadillac,
so it will be
there if youever need it when you’re
on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leavethis manual
in it so the new
owner can use it.
Litho
in U.S.A.
Part
No. 25637207 B 0 First Edition
(--) We support voluntary
technician certification.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION
THROUGH
Natlonal Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
For Canadian Qwners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer
un exemplaire de ceguide en frangais chez
votre concessionaire
ou au:
DGN MarketingServices Ltd,
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
LST 1C7
“Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995
All Rights Reserved

The
PENALTY OF LEADERSHIP
iii

Henry M. Leland,
founder of
Cadillac,stands
beside tfie
1905
“Osceola” which
was builtto.
evaluate the
feasibility of a
closed bodied car.
iv

Fewautomobilesarefortunateenoughtohavethe richheritage
that isCadillac.The name Cadillac is appropriatelythat of
Antoinede LaMotheCadillac,theFrenchmilitarycommander
who foundedthe city of Detroit in
1701. What better name for
the oldest automobilemanufacturerin Detroit.
Henry M. Leland, known as the master of precision,
initiated his precision manufacturing techniquesat the
founding of Cadillac
in 1902.His exacting standards
prompted the motto by which Cadillachas been guided
over the years
- “Craftsmanship ACreed - Accuracy
A Law.”
The introduction
of the first four cylinder enginein 1905
led the industry and enabled Cadillacsto travel at speeds
up to
50 mph.
For attention to quality and innovation,the Royal
Automobile Clubof England awarded the prestigious
Dewar Trophy to Cadillactwice . . . first in 1908for
achieving perfect interchangeabilityof parts and again
for introducing theelectric self starter,electric lighting
and ignition systemon 19 12 models. Cadillac is the
only American manufacturerto win this honor and
the only manufacturerin the world to winit twice. As
commonplace as standardizedparts are today, in 1908
parts were still individuallyhand fitted both in
production and service.
V

1914 V8 Engine
1949 Overhead
Valve High
Compression
V8 Engine
VI
6 Engines
1930-1940
Standardization opened theeyes of the industrial world
and was
the cornerstone of modern assemblyline
production. From this achievement evolved the
reference to Cadillac as “Standardof the World.”
In
1909 Cadillac was purchasedby the then new
General Motors Corporation.
Convenience, cleanliness and all-weather comfort were
greatly enhanced
in 1910 when Cadillac became the first
manufacturer to offer closed bodies
as standard equipment.
“The Penalty of Leadership” first appeared in the
J‘anuary 2, 19 15 issue of The Saturday Evening Post as an
expression of the Cadillac commitment to leadership,
quality and innovation. It is widely regarded as one of the
vi

f‘inest documents ever written. It was published following
the introduction
of the first production V8 engine,
which was standard in all Cadillacs beginning with the
1915 model.
Many Cadillac “firsts”have followed overthe years,
including the synchro-mech clashless transmission,a
nationwide comprehensive servicepolicy, security plate
glass, chromeplating and the first car tobe designed by
a stylist (1927 LaSalleMarley Earl). The
’30s witnessed
production of the powerful, smoothand quiet V12 and
V16 engines.The crisp, contemporarylines of the 1938
60 Special seriesushered in a new era in styling.
VI 6 Engine
During World War 11, shortly after PearlHarbor,
Cadillac discontinued carproduction for the first time
since 1902
in order to construct light tanks, combat
vehicles and internal parts for Allison V1710 engines.
Two Cadillac V8 engines and Hydra-Matic
transmissions were used in each MSAI and
M24 tanks.
1931 VI 6 Sport Phaeton
vii

viii

...
For the 1948model, Cadillac introduced the legendary
tail
fin which once more set the trend in automotive
styling for nearly two decades. This was closely
followed with the two door hardtop Coupe DeVille and
the industry's first modem overhead valve, high
compression V8 engine onthe 1949model.
Engineering innovations, conveniences and styling
dominated the
'50s and '60s. Cruise control, automatic
climate control, tilt and telescoping steering wheels,
twilight sentinel and four door hard tops all debuted in
these years.
In 1957the Eldorado Brougham featured
advances such as air suspension, memory seat,
automatic electric door locks, transistor radio, a brushed
stainless steel roof and low profile tires.
1957 Eldorado Brougham
The Eldorado, introduced in 1953,was redesigned for
1967as the first front wheel drive personal luxury car.
The 472 cu. in.
V8 engine used in all Cadillacs in 1968
and 1969was enlarged to
500 cu. in. for all 1970
through 1976Eldorados. The Track Master
computerized skid control braking system option
debuted on 1970Eldorados.
A driver and passenger Air Cushion Restraint
system (air bag) was available on all 1974, 1975and
1976Cadillacs.
Analog Electronic Fuel Injection was available, on
1975Cadillacs and standard on the new international
size 1976Seville. In 1978,the Trip Computer option
incorporated the first on-board microprocessor.
ix

The electronics and computerization which were
pioneered by Cadillac
in the ’70s came of age in the
’80s with Digital Fuel Injection and On-Board
Diagnostics in
1980, four wheel Anti-lock Brakes on
1986 models and Traction Control in the fall of 1989.
The 1992 Seville STS was the first car ever to win all
three major automotive awards: Car
of the Year, Motor
Trend; Ten BestList, Car
& Driver; Car of the Year,
Automobile Magazine.
The year 1993saw the introduction
of the Northstar
system. The state of
the art system includes the 32 valve,
dual overhead camshaft, Northstar
4.6 liter V8 engine,
4T80-E electronically controlled automatic transaxle,
road sensing suspension, speed sensitivesteering,
anti-lock brakes and tractioncontrol. For more than nine decadesCadillac has been a leader in
quality and technical innovation.
Now more than ever,
Cadillac is “Creating
a Higher Standard.”
X

How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manualfrom beginning
to end when they first receivetheir new vehicle. If you
do this,
it will help you learn about the featuresand
controls foryour vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look forwhat you need is the Indexin
the back
of the manual.It’s analphabeticallist of all
that’s
in the manual,and the pagenumber where you’ll
find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will finda 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.
A CAUTION:
t-
L
These mean there issomethingthat could hurt
you or other people.
-1
In the caution area, we tell youwhat the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do to help avoid
or reduce the
hazard. Pleaseread these cautions. If you don’t, you
or
others could be hurt.
1 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.”
xi
I

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in thisbook you will find these notices:
I NOTICE:
Thesemean there issomethingthat could
damage your vehicle.
In the noticearea, we tell you aboutsomething that can
damage your vehicle. Manytimes, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, andit 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, CAUTIONor NOTICE.
xii

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you willfind on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BAITERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
n
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
FOG LAMPS
& 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING F’J
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
COOLANT
a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
cr
FUEL p3
xiii
,

NOTES

/:-* %\
Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your
Cadillac and how to useyour safety belts properly. You
can alsolearn about some things you should
not do with
air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the power seats --how to
adjust them, and also about reclining front seatbacks,
lumbar adjustments, head restraints, heated seats and
seatback latches.
Power Seats
1-1

The power seat controls are located on the outboard side
of the front seatcushion.
0 Move the front of the control in the direction of the
arrows to adjust thefront portion
of the cushion up
ordown.
Move the rear of the control in the directionof the
arrows to adjust therear portion of the cushion
up or
down.
0 Lift up or push down on both outer arrows at the
same time to move the entire seat up or down.
Power Lumbar Control (Option)
The lumbar control is
located on the outboard side
of each front seat. After you
have made your desired
seating adjustments, move
the lumbar control to the
maximum up and out
To move the whole seat forward or backward, slide
the control in thedirection of the center arrow.
To do this, press the controlforward to increase support
and upward to raise thesupport mechanism.
To adjust
the back support,press the control down and rearward.
Keep
in mind that as yourseating position changes, as it
may during long trips, so should the position of your
lumbar support. Adjust the seatas needed.
1-2

Memory Seat (Option)
Adjust the driver’s seat to a
comfortable position and
.. I . *.,%,. . then press the SETbutton.
Within five seconds, press
button
“1 .”A second
seating position may be
programmed by repeating
the above steps and pressing
button 1.
, .:.
..__.>..< :,,
3 “l*M* button “2” instead of
Note that each time a memory button is pressed a single
beep will sound through the radio.
If your vehicle is in PARK(P), you can recall a
seating position by briefly pressing button
1 or 2.
This will adjust the seat to where you have previously
programmed it. If you have accidently pressed one
of the memory recall buttons and want to stop seat
movement, press one of the manual seat control buttons.
This cancels a memory seatrecall.
You can alsorecall a seat position if your vehicle is not
in PARK (P). Press and hold either the
1 or 2 button
until seat movement is complete. Releasing the buttons
will stop seat adjustment.
The EXIT button can be programmedto allow easyexit
for up to two driver’s. Adjust theseat to
a comfortable
“exit” position and press theSET button followed by
the EXIT button. Withinfive seconds, press button1.
A second exit position may be programmedby repeating
the above steps andpressingbutton
2 instead of button 1.
Be awarethat theexit recall does not remember any
recline positions.
1-3

While yourvehicle is in PARK (P), briefly press the
EXIT button followed by either the
1 or 2 button to
recall your programmed exit position. The exit position
may also be recalledif the vehicle is not in
PARK (P) by
briefly pressing theEXIT button and then pressing and
holding either the
1 or 2 button until seat movement is
complete. Releasing the buttons will stop seat
adjustment.
Automatic seat movement will occurif the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is used to enter the
vehicle. The number
on the back of the transmitter
corresponds to the
1 or 2 seat position. After the unlock
button is pressed on the
RKE transmitter and the key is
placed in the ignition and turnedon, the seat will
automatically adjust to theappropriate position.
Heated Front Seat (Option)
1-4

The control is located in the
center console. Move the
switch to
LO or HI to turn
on the heating elements in
the seat. The LO setting
warms the seatback and
cushion until the seat
approximates body
temperature. The
HI setting
heats the seat to a slightly
higher temperature.
A telltale light in the control reminds you thatthe
heating system is in use. The heated seats can only be
used when the ignition is turned on.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
Press the control forward or
rearward to adjust the
seatback.
1-5