Cadillac 2001 Catera User manual

Courtesy
Transportation
Every
2001 Catera
under warranty is
backed with the
following
services:
Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
1-800-882-1112
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-882-1112

i
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number 22619944 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved
2001 Cadillac Catera
Owner's Manual

ii
Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System
Trunk Release
Automatic Transmission
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Convenience Net
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
Sunroof (Option)
HomeLink® Transmitter (Option)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls

Section
3
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Section
4
Your Driving and the Road
Section
5
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player (If Equipped)
Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Steering Wheel Controls
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
iii

Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
See separate Maintenance Schedule Booklet
iv

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section 7
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual)
Reporting Safety Defects on page 7-10
Service Publications
Index
Section 8
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide
v

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath and
the name CATERA 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 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.
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:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

vii
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.
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.
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.”

viii
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.

ix
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
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
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
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

Service Station Guide
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Remote Fuel
Door Release
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Battery
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.

1- 1-1
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.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-13 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-17 Here are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-18 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-18 Driver Position
1-25 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-26 Right Front Passenger Position
1-26 Air Bag Systems
1-34 Safety Belt Pretensioners
1-34 Rear Seat Passengers
1-38 Children
1-42 Restraint Systems for Children
1-52 Older Children
1-55 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-55 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

1-2
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 Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat
is locked into place.
To tilt the front portion of the seat cushion up or down,
lift the seat lever located on the outboard side of the seat
cushion. Release the lever to lock the seat into place.

1-3
To raise or lower the seat cushion, press one of the
rocker switch buttons located on the side of the seat
cushion closest to the door. The top button raises
the seat cushion and the bottom button lowers the
seat cushion.
Vehicles with sport seats also include an adjustable seat
cushion which extends outward to provide additional
leg support.
To extend the bottom of the seat cushion, grasp the front
portion of the cushion and pull it towards the front of
the vehicle.
When additional support is no longer needed, return the
cushion to its original position by pushing it towards the
rear of the vehicle.
Manual Lumbar Support
The manual lumbar control
is located on the outboard
side of each front seatback.
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-wheel control. Turn the control forward to
increase support and rearward to decrease support.
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.

1-4
Power Seats (If Equipped)
The power seat controls are located on the outboard side
of each front seat cushion.
D Move the front of the control up or down to adjust
the front portion of the cushion up or down.
D Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust
the rear portion of the cushion up or down.
D To adjust the seat height, lift up or push down on
the center of the control.
D To move the seat forward or rearward, slide the
control in the desired direction.
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).
The crank handle is provided in the tool kit located in
the trunk (with the jack).
Turn the crank handle clockwise until you’ve reached
your desired seating position (manually moving the seat
requires turning the crank handle many times).

1-5
Memory Seat and Mirrors (If Equipped)
After adjusting the driver’s seat to a comfortable position,
also adjust the interior and exterior mirrors. To program
the memory seat and mirrors, press memory button “M”
and memory button “1” at the same time and hold for
five seconds.
These buttons are located on the outboard side of
the driver’s seat. 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.”
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.
If you try to adjust the driver’s memory seat and it
doesn’t move, try opening the driver’s door. This
will reactivate power to the driver’s seat. (Power to
the driver’s seat “times out” after 30 seconds.
Power to the passenger’s seat is always present.)

1-6
Heated Front Seats (Option)
The controls for the heated
front seats are located next
to the climate controls on
either side of the center
console. Turning the
driver or passenger side
thumbwheel control
counterclockwise from
the off position activates
the heated seat.
The control can be adjusted to one of five heat settings,
numbered “1 through 5”, with 1 being the lowest setting
and 5 being the highest setting.
An indicator light in the control reminds you that the
heating system is in use. The heated seats can only be
used when the ignition is turned on.
To turn the heated seat off, turn the thumbwheel control
clockwise to the off position.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
The manual recliner
control is located
on the side of the
seatback closet to
the door, below the
lumbar control.
To movetheseatback forward,turnthehand-wheel control
forward. Turn the control rearward to recline the seatback.
If you have a power
recliner, the power control
is located on the outboard
side of each front seatback.
Press the control forward
or rearward to adjust
the seatback.

1-7
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
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.

1-8
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.
The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle are
adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head
restraints, except they do not tilt forward or rearward.
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.