2000 Cadillac Catera Owner's Manual - Page 133

Charging System Indicator Light When you turn the key to START, this light will come on briefly to show that the generator and battery charging systems are working. If this light stays on, you need service and you should take your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save the battery until you get there, turn off all accessories. Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter reading in the lower warning zone could drain or damage the battery. Driving with the voltmeter reading in the upper warning zone could cause bulbs to burn out (especially headlamp bulbs), various vehicle modules to shut down (due to overload protection) and the possibility of a battery acid leak. If you idle the engine for a while, the voltmeter reading might move into the red zone. If the reading stays in the red zone while you are driving, you may have a problem with the electrical charging system. Have it checked. While the voltmeter reads in the red zone, the battery may not be able to power certain electrical accessories, like ABS. (If this happens, the ABS light will come on. See "Anti-Lock Brakes System Warning Light" in this section.) If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter reading in a warning zone, turn off all the accessories, including the comfort controls and the audio system. Voltmeter You can read battery voltage on the voltmeter. If it reads less than 12 volts or more than 16 volts while the engine is running, and it stays there, you may have a problem with the electrical charging system. 2-68