1999 Cadillac Catera Owner's Manual - Page 85

yellowblue DRIVE (D): Use this for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you're: D Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down. D Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. The transmission will shift down to the next gear. THIRD (3): This position is not used for normal driving. It offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D): D When driving on hilly, winding roads. D When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears. D When going down a steep hill. SECOND (2): Driving in this position gives you more power than driving in THIRD (3). Use it on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use the brakes off and on. FIRST (1): This position gives you more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won't shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. NOTICE: If the rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to drive. This might happen if you were stuck in very deep sand or mud or you were up against a solid object. You could damage the transmission. Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the transmission. Use the brakes to hold your vehicle in position on a hill. Note: When you start your vehicle and the engine temperature is below 86_F (30_ C), upshifting of the transmission will be delayed for about one minute. This is normal. The engine's catalytic converter is warming up during this time. Upshifting and downshifting of the transmission is automatically modified to prevent undesired shifting when your vehicle is towing a trailer or when you are driving in hilly or mountainous terrain. This is also normal. 2-23