Cadillac CATERA 1999 User manual

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The 1999 Cadillac Catera Owner’s Manual
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 7-10.
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.
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
Litho in U.S.A.
E
Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998
Part No. 10407711 B First Edition All Rights Reserved

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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.
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.

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

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✍NOTES

1-
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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
1-10 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-15 Here are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-16 Driver Position
1-23 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-24 Right Front Passenger Position
1-24 Air Bag Systems
1-32 Safety Belt Pretensioners
1-32 Rear Seat Passengers
1-36 Children
1-39 Child Restraints
1-49 Larger Children
1-52 Safety Belt Extender
1-52 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-53 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

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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 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-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.
Power Seats
The power seat controls are located on the side of the
front seat cushions closest to the door.
D Lift up or push down on the front of the control 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.
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.

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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. To access, pull the red handle on the
passenger’s side of the trunk.
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.
To 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-activate power to the driver’s
seat as power to the driver’s seat “times out” after
30 seconds. (Power to the passenger’s seat is
always present.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
To unlock the rear seatback, press the pushbutton at the
top of the seat and fold the seatback forward. To 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.
To do so, slide the buckle
into the latch as shown.
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.)
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.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone on it.